How can I get my laundry to smell nice?

[miceonabranch]

I've always used Persil bio powder, but lately it doesn't seem to have any smell and my laundry just smells of nothing. I always use laundry cleanser, white vinegar to freshen and never use fabric conditioner because I don't like the way it makes the fabrics feel and also the oily build up.

The laundry is air dried, not tumbled. I did try using Formil bio powder, but the laundry smelled stale so I gave up on that and went back to Persil. I just want that old fashioned clean laundry smell back. I'm also finding the Persil isn't getting things as clean as it used to so I've bought some Oxy powder to boost the wash.

I was a Bold girl .. loved all of them

Have recently been converted to an Aldi liquid wash with coconut.. everything smells so nice , especially when line dried like today , washing on clothes horse now just in case of any damp , house smells lovely , will put it all away AM and it will still smell nice till worn

What programs and temps are you using?

They cost a fortune but those little scent pearl things (like wax melt stuff) smell amazing for a really long time.

I mainly use a cotton or eco wash at 40 degrees.

Ooh, I looked at that today but was a bit confused by it. It is called a cleanser, but says you put it in the softener drawer. I don't like softener - so didn't buy it but is it actually something different?

This is what I have , never read the instructions, I just tip a capful on top of the clothes 🤭

It really is lovely

Try different powders and softeners. You get used to one smell, which is why you can't smell it any more. All the supermarket own brand powders are good. And quite a lot cheaper. I wash at 30C.

Bold or Ariel also Surf, line drying also helps with that fresh laundry smell.

When was the last time you cleaned your machine? I always find that makes a huge difference.

DH bought a load of Ariel pods from Costco. Previously I'd been using Persil, I don't know if I got used to the smell of it but the Ariel ones smell lovely.

I hate persil! Try fairy non bio. The powder tabs.

Also, have you put your machine through a boil wash lately with nothing in? Do it and check to see if the glass gets hot. It could be that it needs a clean, or that the hot water element has stopped working, in which casez you're washing your clothes in cold water every time, which doesn't help. In fact, the last time I had this problem, that was the issue. New machine, fresh laundry!

I do think you just get used to the smell of the same liquid/ pods etc
I change every 2 or 3 months. I’ve just changed to Dreft (remember that from my childhood!) it’s gorgeous!

Do a 90 degree wash once a month with either nothing in, white vinegar in, or one of the washing machine gunk cleaners in. Wipe around drum and seal Always leave the door open when you're not using it, check your filter.
Also agree re: trying different detergents.

Formerly a Bold user and it always smelled so much better in a particular European country I used to live. I would look forward to washing 😂
I use the Aldi Coconut crush liquid and it definitely says to use it in the powder dispenser.
I think they must mean the liquid dispenser though. 🤔

I also use the little laundry ball thingies. Tesco blue sapphire is my favourite, but yes they do all cost an arm and a leg.

A few drops of lavender oil in the rinse slot.

Can you dry it outside? That's the best smell for laundry

I came on to say this too. Make sure your machine is super clean or the laundry doesn't come out fresh.

I agree. I rotate through different fabric softeners for that reason.

IMO swapping from powder to liquid makes a big difference, even if you buy the same scent. I notice my washing smells nice when I use liquid, it doesn't seem to smell of anything if I use powder

There are 2 different products:

Laundry liquid which is used as a detergent like laundry powder so goes where you'd put your powder

Laundry sanitiser which goes in the fabric dispenser bit of the drawer. It is clear and very liquid unlike the detergent

I use Fairy non-bio Platinum, and the house smells lovely when laundry is drying.

Lidl do a new coconut liquid, I was using bold but I've swapped to this. Not too strong smelling just a hint of coconut

If your heating element has failed you would not know but thungs would not clean properly or smell clean. Do a hot wash and check your machine is heating the water.

Smol biological pods, since I started using them I've had so many comments about nice smelling clothes and family have switched to them as they like them so much
No fabric softener at all just one pod per wash and the smell lasts ages.

What washing settings are you using?

I use a matching laundry liquid and softener + some scent beads and my washing always smells amazing. The winter Mrs Hinch (grr) scent is fab, as is Golden Orchid. They both have laundry liquids/gels.

If you don't want to use softener, try the scent beads. You can even get fairy beads now that smell like their non-bio softener and they're amazing.

Put a capful (or 3 if your me ) in the drum before your laundry.

Echoing others too, put your washing machine on a hot wash and make sure it's getting hot. Give it a good, hot cleaning cycle as well and clean in between the rubber seal.