What laundry detergent do you use and do you use fabric softener

[Mumof3onetwothree]

I often get given bags of hand me down clothes for my children and I'm always curious what detergents people use because the clothes smell different to ours (but I don't want to ask those mums in case it comes across as rude!).
We use Aldi non bio powder (seems to not smell of much) and sometimes if I can get them on offer fairy non bio pods (I like the smell of these). No fabric softener and never have because growing up a sibling had eczema which was aggravated by fabric softener.
I always think other people's clothes smell nicer than ours!! But maybe they are all using fabric softener...

Have you complained to your water company? Water from washing machines shouldn’t go straight into your nearest river. If it is then it means it’s goi g in with sewage and I doubt it would be smelling of Spring Awakening.

I usually use Tesco/aldi/lidl/costco own powders.

No softener.

When I used to use softener if I missed a wash with it the clothes felt hard and cardboardy but now there’s no softener residue in anything they feel soft without it. Plus stains and smells come out much better without it.

I never use fabric softener as I think it destroys washing machines.My last washing machine had a huge gel like build up inside the drawer which took ages to shift.The engineer who came to do very expensive repair said softener kills washers.
I now have a new machine which has never been graced by the stuff.
The currant ads on TV drive me mad, people getting high on sniffing fabric softener and raving abut their clothes smelling divine.