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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Fragrant Washing...... Or not as the case may be!

16 replies

Paddlechick666 · 15/10/2007 09:09

Hi

I use Fairy powder which doesn't have a particularly strong fragrance.

I use the powder because it's more economical and for about a fiver I get a big box that lasts about 2 months I should think.

I don't have a tumble dryer so if things come in from the line still a little damp they go into the airing cupboard.

Also towels and bedding etc go in there.

Thing is, the clothes etc don't smell particularly fresh and nice when they come out of the airing cupboard.

Any suggestions for something (cheap) I could add to the wash or something I could put into the airing cupboard to keep things smelling nice and fresh?

TIA

OP posts:
throckenholt · 15/10/2007 09:13

maybe add a cup of white vinegar to the conditioner section.

And may do a hot wash every now and again to kill of any residual bacteria that the cooler wash is not zapping.

MeltingandScreamingIcarus · 15/10/2007 09:28

I think they are going in to damp tbh if they are getting whiffy.

Or you could stick lavender bags in the airing cupboard among the washing.

MeltingandScreamingIcarus · 15/10/2007 09:28

too ffs.

hoxtonchick · 15/10/2007 09:34

hmmm, i use fairy powder & dry things on the line & they smell delicious. i think it's bringing them in damp.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 15/10/2007 09:35

ah, good idea re: vinegar and hot wash. have done that now.

thanks!

it's not so much that they're whiffy, just smell a bit stale iyswim.

thanks for the suggestion of lavendar bags, i was thinking those drawer liners on the shelves of the airing cupboard.

OP posts:
MeltingandScreamingIcarus · 15/10/2007 09:36

Lavender bags cheaper lol! aand get the oil to freshen them up when they need it.

Carmenere · 15/10/2007 09:37

Now you won't find me on this board very often as house work and I are not friends BUT even I know that what is happening is that your clothes are going into the airing cupboard too damp, or else they are hanging around in the washing machine too long before you hang them out. They need air to circulate to prevent them getting whiffy, so I would stick them on a clothes horse when they come in from the line if they are not dry and make sure they are taken out of the machine as soon as it is finished.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 15/10/2007 09:39

yes sometimes they are still a bit damp, especially now the weather is turning a bit.

guess i'll just have to do what i did yesterday and re-hang onto the clothes-horse after a day on the line!

i'm moving soon and will have a new washing machine and tumble dryer.

OP posts:
Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 15/10/2007 09:43

carmenere, first time i ever posted on Good Housekeeping LOL!

it's deffo not the smell you get when you've left the washing in the machine too long. in fact, it goes on the line as soon as it's finished.

if they're really still damp i do hang on the airer but it's more like that "just" damp feel clothes have at the end of the day of the line when the temp has dropped.

i think lavender bags will help in the airing cupboard. plus the machine in this house is quite old and had some mould damage on the seal which i've worked hard to get rid off but i haven't done a hot wash with vinegar etc for a while.

thanks all, good suggestions.

here's to lovely fresh smelling clothes soon!

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 15/10/2007 09:48

Paddlechick666

I am a bit when you say that you spend £5 every two months on laundry detergent.

I spend over 40 euros a month on laundry detergent. We are a family of three full-time and two half-time.

Are you quite, quite sure you are using enough detergent? If you don't use enough, your laundry won't smell great.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 15/10/2007 10:02

Hi Anna

It's a 3.5kg box that's around £5.50 or something and there's only me and my 2yr old dd in my family.

Apart from bedding and towels the machine tends to be only half full most of the time so I don't put a full scoop of powder in.

I know it isn't massively eco friendly but if I waited till I had a machine-full of lights/darks we'd run out of clothes!

As I said, if everything comes in dry off the line it's fine.

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 15/10/2007 10:08

I'm sure a family of two fragrant girls is a lot more economical on laundry detergent than my family with a hulking man and two hulking boys as well .

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 15/10/2007 10:15

lol Anna.

there are some small advantages to H not living with us! at 6'5" not only was the washing pile enormous but it was exhausting hiking his jeans onto the line!

OP posts:
loler · 15/10/2007 10:24

Are you sure your washing doesn't smell nice?! Funny question but I thought the same about my washing.

But have just passed some of dds clothes onto a friend and she said 'your washing always smells so nice!'. I think you just get immune to the smell of your own washing powder. I'm tight and only use half the recommended dose!

Ask a friend to smell you -

MeltingandScreamingIcarus · 15/10/2007 10:29

More than one washing machine repair man has told me to always use half the recommended dose.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 15/10/2007 11:44

good point Loler, I do find other people's washing seems to smell heaps more than mine does. Maybe we do become to used to our own brands!

Well, the weekends' bedding is going thru now after a good hot wash with vinegar etc.

The sun is shining so we'll see how things turn out later.

Thanks all.

OP posts:
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