Mumsnet users' tips for making clothes smell great

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It can be difficult to ensure that clothes always smell good - especially if you have messy toddlers or teenagers that leave P.E kit in bags for weeks. Fairy Non Bio would like you to share your tips for making sure your clothes smell great.

Here’s what Fairy Non Bio has to say: “At Fairy Non Bio, we know that even if you have very sensitive skin, you still want that freshly washed smell on your clothes and fabrics. We have perfected our formula on our detergents and fabric conditioner so that you don’t have to compromise on either. We want to know your tips for great smelling clothes!”

Do you have a way of storing your clothes that means they don’t pick up nasty odours between wash and wear? Maybe your family has a laundry routine that prevents clothes from ever reaching a smelly stage? Perhaps you have a favourite product that’s become your family’s signature clothing scent?

Whatever tips for making sure clothes smell great, share them on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

I recently discovered putting tumble dryer scented sheets into my drawers keeps things smelling lovely

Wash on the hottest wash you can, smell comes form the bacteria, 40c wash does not kill them. if you can't do a hot wash, disinfecting your washing machine can help keep the bacteria count down , and doing a post wash rinse in a soda crystal wash. I put my machine on a rinse no spin setting with soda crystals in the conditioner draw, then leave it to soak for 30-35 mins after that I then flick the machine over for a rinse and spin cycle. Air drying really good in bright sunshine ..

I don't have a tumble dryer and quite often my drying space allocated to my flat is down wind of a local chippy...so I tend to dry my clothes & my daughter's on a clothes horse in my bedroom. I do little and often as result, and with two uniforms/PE kit/football kit/etc it does build up. I always take it out the machine straight away and dry as fast as possible to avoid a damp smell. I really don't like food smells on clothes either, so always put them away when cooking. I also try and match the wash liquid with the conditioner to build up the scent on clean clothes.

Drying clothes on the line and also extra outside on a Clothes Airer!! nothing is better than Air Smelling clothes lol FRESH!

I have recently discovered Lenor Parfum Kiss Fabric Conditioner. It's amazing clothes smell incredible.

For me it's to not over fill the washing machine, use a good amount of fabric softener, don't leave clothes sitting in the washing machine for too long after the wash has finished and get them out on the line if possible!

I store my scented candles in drawers..
I use those body spray bottles with water in once they are nearly finished to spray on clothes while I’m ironing and often spray said body/ fabric lotions on my clothes horse whilst stuff is drying..

Line drying if possible straight after the wash, if not use perfumed sheets in the tumble dryer - they do make a difference. I love scented soaps, and I've found that the wrappers keep their scent for quite a time, so are good for perfuming underwear and woolies once you put them away. If you iron (I don't these days), ironing water is very effective. Watch out though, as some of the bottles look like flavoured water bottles - I always stick a big "This is not a drink!" sticker on them, much to the family's amusement!

Can't beat getting washing dry on a line!

I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED KISS LENOR PARFUM DES SECRETS FABRIC CONDITIONER.
CLOTHES SMELL AMAZING.

Clothes are generally washed after 1 wear. DS is so mucky. Therefore clothes don't get a chance to smell. Not a particularly environmentally friendly option to keep clothes fresh...

I use Comfort fabric softener as I love the smell :) I make sure I take the load out the washing machine as soon as the cycle has finished & get it out on the line if possible.
In the winter - I pop it on an airer in the conservatory with the dehumidifer on for a few hours. It's not ideal, but I hate using the tumble dryer & it stops it from having that awful wet dog smell which you get when it's been wet for too long!

Keep the washing machine clean with an occasional hot wash.
For sports clothing if it begins to hold a smell (which is bacteria surviving the wash) then put them in a bag in the freezer for a few days to kill them off.

Yes a line drying fan here too ... hate it when it rains

Clothes never really get smelly if you wash them ASAP and dry outside whenever possible. Also I have recently started adding those pearls to the wash for dh’s shirts which can still be a bit smelly after the wash. Just use a very small amount and it does smell nice.

Also, zoflora in the iron (just a little added in to the ironing water).

Despite using fabric conditioner I never seem to keep the nice smell so reading with interest.

We use an EcoEgg, so no smell from detergents. The clothes smell wonderful after just being out on the line.

If we forget to take them out of the machine, a quick wash with white vinegar gets rid of any pong.

I use fabric conditioner and dry clothes on the washing line

Well I wouldn't use capsules. Nearly blinded my 3 year old when she inadvertently lightly squeezed one and it went in both eyes causing very serious chemical burns.

Empty the washer/dryer quickly. DH doesn't seem to make the connection between the clothes that smell fusty and the clothes that were left damp in the dryer over the weekend!

Using Fairy Non Bio and hanging them outside on the line on a lovely breezy day.

Can’t beat the smell of fresh line dried washing. So much better than drying in a tumble drier!

Wash in non bio with Comfort Pure
Remove quickly from washing machine
Hang so they air to avoid smelly clothes
Put away quickly
Don't buy too many so each gets a regular wear

My favourite tip is hanging a tumble dryer sheet in the wardrobe the keep the clothes smelling fresh.

I always use fairy fabric conditioner, and have used fairy since my children were new borns, it has a unique delicate fragrance which my whole family loves. I line dry whenever possible, and if tumble drying but avoid tumble dryer sheets and use an hypoallergenic eco egg when drying. I keep a compact dehumidifyer (from the £1 shop) at the back of my wardrobe to keep it dry,