How do I get my washing to smell like its been washed?!

[LaTristesse]

Often I'll walk past someone in the street who smells of freshly washed clothes, and I love it! I use detergent (usually Ariel liquitabs), softener up to the level in the drawer and line dry where possible, but my laundry still just smells ordinarily clean. I do wash full loads, could this be the issue? Do people who have super fresh laundry do tiny loads and use loads of washing powder?! Any tips for super smelling products, or different methods gratefully received, I want that fresh laundry smell!

[sniffy] I don't like to use very scented powders as I fear skin reactions among small people. DS1 had mild eczema as a baby and still has delicate skin.

Sorry that's not much help! My sister uses Persil and that smells quite fresh.

I use Fairy powder on my whites and that smells quite nice - not really really strong though.

Probably because you're used to the smell so don't smell it anymore iyswim?

We switched from ecover to fairy and the fairy really smelled strong. Really strong! But now I can't smell it - I use the same amount, I just assume I'm used to it now.

Fabric conditioner

Change your powder, it doesn't matter what to. You'll notice it then

I'm convinced that the only fabric softener to actually last and smell lovely is Lenor, the posh ones they do. I have friends asking what I use as they love the smell of my laundry. I have about 3 "flavours" on the go so have regular changes... Don't buy the blue one though, I don't like it

Flying, do you do tiny loads or full ones? I use Lenor, and agree it smells lovely, but only if I get right up on the laundry and inhale deeply! I want to stand at 10 paces and have it fill the air!

how do you dry it?

On the line if weather allows, tumble it if not, and stuff that can't tumble goes over the radiators.

Supermarket own brand fabric softener. Must be blue and have vaguely sensible name. Not 'glittering blossom and night blooming sapphire' shite

dry outside whenever possible and i reckon that most people with beautifully scented washing use far more washing powder and conditioner than recommended! Try M&S purple coloured bottle of liquid non bio and the purple conditioner, both have a fantastic and long lasting fragrance

Any old washing powder, comfort exhilirations fabric softener, line dry where possible, although tumble drying makes your house smell yummy too.

You need to add at least one GIANT bucket of washing powder to each wash. This is what DH does when he washes clothes and they always smell lovely. However I always tryu to get on a wash before he does because we would be spending a zillion euro per week on washing powder if he were to have his way.

Well at least we'd be fragrant. Destitute, but fragrant.

it could be the machine thats at fault,i was like you, wondering how other peoples stuff smelt so nice, untill i stood guard and kept pulling the drawer out and peeking to see when the softener went through,my machine was taking the softener too early in the cycle and it must have been getting diluted it was a beko i now have a hotpoint and my washing smells lovely

I am using Surf Ylang Ylang and Moonflower powder.

My washing smells very strongly of the fragrance which is much nicer than smelling like vomit. :)

Please don't do this, it is pollution and can be irritating especially in confined spaces

'Destitute but fragrant' :)

Persil small and mighty - non Bio. Smells gorgeous :)

Thanks all, a few things to try there...

Could it all be in the ironing? Does heat bring the fragrance out? (I haven't ironed anything for years, but would happily start for some sweet smelling clothes!)

Agree with Vezzie.

Comfort blue skies fab conditioner, I promise you won't be disappointed!!

It's in the ironing. When you iron your clothes, use a fragranced ironing water from the supermarket. It makes your clothes smell lovely.

Ironing? Pffft.

I sold my wedding dress last week and ironed it before the buyer came to view it. DS work up from his nap, saw me ironing and ask 'What ARE you doing?' He had never seen me ironing before... He's almost 3.

Could you just buy a strong smelling one such as Ariel Liquid or Comfort Rainforest which is green is strong smelling. Both very nice.

People often say my clothes smell nice - how kind! (Shame about the rest of me!)

I always use detergent (any) and fabric conditioner (branded), but am convinced that it is the drying that makes the difference - tumble dry = lovely, line dry = not so good.

Do try to line dry though, if possible.