What do you add to your laundry? Find out what Mumsnet users told Fairy Non Bio

[JustineBMumsnet]

NOW CLOSED

Laundry can be a personal thing, and with many products you can add to your detergent to ensure your laundry is just how you like it, Fairy Non Bio would like to hear about the things you choose to add to your wash - and why.

Here’s what Fairy Non Bio has to say: “What are you looking for to give a little extra 'oomph' in your washing - stain removal action? Softness boost? Colour care? anti-odour or allergy protection? If you could add one power you wish your detergent did for you without the extras what would it be”

Do you add fabric softener to all of your washes, or omit it when you’re washing towels or bedding? Perhaps you have a preferred method for adding stain removers? Maybe you use colour catchers so you don’t need to do separate washes? If you use fabric softener, do you follow pack recommendations for dosage or gleefully pour it in?

All who post on the thread below 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

[PrinceOfCheeses]

I use a generic version of oxy clean for my white washes. We haven't used fabric softner since the kids were born though. Too fake smelling and didn't want to add anything unecessary to their sensitive skin. (they all have sensitive skin!) My youngest gets his own special wash with no detergent at all because he has very bad ezcema.

[bigfishlittlefishtupperwarebox]

I occasionally use a stain remover if I fdon't nd something I've missed and not had a chance to soak. Otherwise it's a glug of washing liquid and a glug of softener. Never measured as it makes the bottles sticky!! It's probably always less than the dosage should be but always looks ok!

[DuskPanda]

I don't add anything!

[HoneyDragon]

Disinfectant for sports stuff
dishwasher tablet to revive whites.

[GreasyFryUp]

I live in a soft water area so use soap based powders that use vegetable based surfactants. Hate the smell of fabric conditioners. Add white vinegar to towel wash when I remember. Non-chlorine bleach when whites need a bit of an uplift.

[Thishatisnotmine]

Bio washing powder for anything white or that I feel needs a 'thorough wash' and a lovely scented eco liquid for the delicate things and anything which is only a bit grubby.

I add Bio-tex powder to whites and stained baby things and a splash of fabric conditioner sometimes, mostly when the load is mainly dh's as he likes soft, scented clothes! I have started using these sheets which are supposed to keep black things black. I think they are working

I also use soda crystals sometimes to get towels really clean on a hot wash. I swear by an anti bacterial liquid for sports clothes or anything swaty, really gets nasty smells out!

[Thishatisnotmine]

I am embarassed by how long that was! I do things other than laundry, honest! Fun things!

[YayImALlamaAgain]

I don’t separate my colours and use colour catchers and always use fabric softeners. For a particularly smelly load I add some bicarbonate soda to help lift bad smells.

[JustGettingStarted]

Just colour catchers. They work really well.

I never use softeners, although dryer sheets were necessary to combat static when I lived in a cold, dry climate.

[ShatnersBassoon]

Sometimes soda crystals, to keep the machine's innards clear.
Always softener, Comfort Intense in a blue bottle.

[allthingsred]

I always add an extra dose of fabric softner in all my washes. With my partners work clothes I put in a little zoflora

[MargoLovebutter]

Do you add fabric softener to all of your washes, or omit it when you’re washing towels or bedding? I hate fabric softener, so never add it to any of my washing.

Perhaps you have a preferred method for adding stain removers? I apply stain removers before I put the clothes in the machine.


Maybe you use colour catchers so you don’t need to do separate washes? I always do separate washes for whites, lights & darker colours, so not need for colour catchers.

If you use fabric softener, do you follow pack recommendations for dosage or gleefully pour it in? N/A

[TarragonChicken]

Never use fabric softener and wouldn't buy a product that had it in. Use colour catchers if I'm doing a mixed wash. Sometimes use a vanish stain remover bar pre wash.

[MrsFTigalar]

Fabric softener and Napisan/ stain remover as necessary.

[papaver]

Sometimes a little lavender oil. Stain remover directly onto stained items.

[QueenOfPharts]

Always Fairy fabric conditioner and sometimes extra stain remover. Often a random sock but thats not intentional

[NannyR]

I don't use fabric softener, I don't like my clothes to smell too fragrances and I'm not bothered about them being too soft. I add oxi bleach powder (the home bargains version of vanish) if I'm doing a whites wash.

[CantStandMeow]

A scoop of Vanish if the DC uniform/nursery clothes have been particularly filthy. Other than that I only use the washing powder/pod.

[keepingbees]

I use fabric softener on everything except towels. I don't usually measure it exactly as pouring it in the cap then makes the cap and bottle go gunky.

I wish there was an antibacterial extra in detergents, or as an option at least. It would be handy if there were illness, for sports/gym clothes etc, or even just towels and underwear, especially as we are encouraged to cool wash. It would also give peace of mind for machine cleanliness as bacteria can build up over time. The laundry antibacterial liquids you buy seperately are expensive.

[Verbena87]

We use surcare powder or little sachet thingies. Sometimes a scoop of vanish on very grubby whites, and a slosh of white vinegar if I’m washing nappies. HATE washing that smells perfumed!

[youmeandconchitawurst]

live in a soft water area

i use non-bio for most washes, add in a quarter scoop of vanish to the pre-wash for the whites (no normal powder), then add another quarter to the powder for the main wash for whites only. if i don't, the many many many shirts all look kind of grey.

if i forget the washing and it gets that nasty mouldy smell i use bio liquid to get rid of the smell

never ever ever use fabric conditioner - it makes everything slimy

wash whites, colours, darks, mixes (blue with white etc), towels, bedding etc seperately. colour catchers don't work.

have been known to chuck in a wee bit of lavender or rose essence when i'm doing a handwash cycle because the pure liquid soap smells like cum

if i could have one power it'd be for non-bio to make whites properly white on low temperature - then I'd stop using vanish

or maybe a better smelling pure liquid handwash soap.

[VilootShesCute]

White vinegar as a softener. I can't stand the smell of any laundry products so this is perfect as no chemicals and no smell when it comes out.

[MontyPants]

A nicely-scented detergent that’s safe for babies and sensitive skin would be great

[CopperPan]

Depends on the type of load, but we often use soda crystals to bulk out washing powder, napisan for extra stain removal, and sometimes fabric softener.

[susej]

Zoflora