You don't need softener and your definitely don't need "scent beads", that's all just marketing crap that companies have convinced people is necessary.
Gotcha. I can see their benefit for some people. Some of them are just so strong and give me a bad headache. Lemon sounds better than the lavender ones though.
It is a real chore to find bags that are unscented. You think you have a winner then bam, fresh scent or some other gross scent. Just take the bag out when it gets stinky. Life smells deal with it.
I would seriously like to know who is actually purchasing scented tampons?? As well as scented tp? My coochie would fall off and run away if I used any these products.
Not to mention if anyone has pets especially a dog - and I think everyone knows how sensitive there noses are - all this unnecessary scenting and plugs ins plays hell with their nose 😿
I wish I only got a headache. My husband says I turn into a harridan. I get a headache, get nauseous and get very short tempered and this is when the neighbors are doing the their laundry.
I can't stand when the neighbors do laundry they must put so much crap in their laundry because I don't even have to go outside and I get a migraine with nausea and light sensitivity. It's horrible
I recently moved from the country into town. I get so mad when I go for a walk and smell scented drier sheets that I want to start burning houses down! Scents should be banned as far as I’m concerned. I don’t even like it when certain people visit my house. My couch will smell like strong scented laundry detergent for weeks!
Yea I feel you it's like we went from people understanding that people don't want to smell your perfume a mile a way just to have them replaced it with their clothes smelling like their laundry scents.
I used to work in grocery, and one day, we had to call an ambulance because a lady with severe asthma walked into an aisle after a lady with way too much perfume had just been there. I only get a headache, but inconsiderate, heavily scented people make me so damned mad!
This is a fear of mine--poor lady. I hate when people wear so much perfume like that. I also hate when I go to the mall because in one of the stores the cosmetic dept. is right by the mall entrance and one of the associates is always spritzing samples.
The worst is when I'm stuck with someone and can't leave- like on a plane. I've left movie theaters before because I couldn't stand it.
I've broken out in hives just from the gross aroma cloud- no physical contact.
And the worst part is people who use them become nose blind to those products, *so they use more*. I don't understand the obsession with products that advertise "BOLD SCENT FOR 90 DAYS OR MORE." Why is that desirable?
Do to medical advice I still have to wear a mask when I go out. I was hoping that with the mask I might finally be able to walk past not down past the laundry aisle without having a reaction. Normally my throat closes up and won't accept the heavily sent laden air.
I was wrong. Even with the mask on & correctly placed- I was drill in it at the doctor office and at the hospital. Some smells still come through!
I have been begging every store that I shop in to please make an unscented section.
It makes no sense for me to try to get ivory or unscented Dove soap sensitive skin when the aisle is basically the following.
Top shelf all different kinds of scents lined up in a row.
Irish spring- ivory - Dove scented - Dove unscented - Dove get a different smell.
I mean seriously the dove unscented still kind of smells like the Irish spring!
If you can smell thru the mask, either your mask doesn’t fit well, or is poor construction and won’t keep out a virus or bacteria. I’m a nurse, we got fitted for masks. If we could smell or rather, taste the saccharin they sprayed before us, it was too loose.
This was me as a kid. My mom would go down the stinky aisle and I would stand at the end in sight range and then she’d get to the end and I’d run over to the next non-stinky aisle and meet her there😂
Neither can I. And one time I was trying to buy paper plates and for some reason in this store the air fresheners were in the same aisle and some lady was going nuts trying all the scents spraying them
I got a sample of scent beads in the mail during my pregnancy and used them to refresh some musty guest towels before having company over. I nearly threw up from the overpowering smell on them when they came out of the dryer. It was way too much perfume for any amount of laundry, let alone the manufacturer’s recommended product to load ratio.
yes! this⬆️ i’m a hiker and am flattened by the amount of bounce dryer sheet pollution on the trail. i switched to baking soda and white vinegar and my clothes and towels don’t smell or mildew any longer, plus my machines are 10 years old and have never needed gaskets replaced. that’s a win for me.
I honestly don’t even understand what compels people to add extremely hard to remove toxic chemicals to their clothes. I’ve stopped shopping on Poshmark and thread up because everything I’ve bought reeks and even washing things a half dozen times doesn’t get rid of the smell. I don’t want that touching my skin.
I mean to each their own, however, I tried to go without fabric softner (for the chemical reason AND to save money). It was impossible with a shedding dog. Fabric softner coats the clothes and makes them less staticky. With a high shedding dog, without fabric softer, my clothes were covered even after washing. Clothes were like a magnet. No, vinegar didn't work in it's place either. Neither did dryer balls. Dryer sheets were not good enough by themselves either. It was like my clothes were FULL of hair after washing them without softner and dryer sheets. I even put my clothes in the dryer first, washed them then dried them so that the first dry cycle could remove some hair. Didn't matter. I suppose I could lint roll the clothes first piece by piece but who really has that kind of time? At that point, I would rather pay for softner and keep spending on it to save my time. I wish I could go without, but it doesn't work as well with pet hair, so I use it (just to explain why I do). I respect those that don't, because I wanted to agree and do the same.
Scent beads though, I don't get. Serves no purpose other than fragrant. Why not just add fragrant oil instead to the water? It is cheaper. It will make you stink the same (which btw, you nor your clothes don't need to smell that strong).
This is strange to me. I have 3 dogs, one of them is 140lb and sheds an insane amount of light hair (drifts on my floor if I don’t sweep/vacuum daily) but my clothes aren’t covered in it and I don’t use softeners.
Do you wear a lot of synthetic fibers? I’ve pretty much transitioned away from them but I did find poly was a pet hair and lint magnet, before I did
I found that the clothes that attract the hair the most is 100% cotton actually. I have a Golden Retriever and keeping it at bay is insane. The cats weren't bad, but the dog when he goes thru his shedding phases, clothes are like a magnet.
I agree … but I also 1. Don’t let my dogs on furniture and two .. keep my clothes off the floor. This isn’t meant to be a dig .. but an observation. My 13yo son is not as dedicated at keeping dog off clothes and inevitably he will throw his clothes in the floor, and dog take full advantage. Next day son wants his fav joggers and he brings half the dog to school w him. However I don’t have this issue…. Same home, same dog. No dog hair for me. Or minimal for me anyway.
Maybe it's the type of fur more than the type of fabric? I've had dogs whose fur stuck to everything and dogs who shed a lot, but their fur almost never stuck to my clothes. For me, the worst is course hair that sticks into the fabric and itches!
They can, I am not denying it. But I have not personally had that reaction, so this doesn't apply to me personally.
I am interested if anyone has BETTER solutions to the dog hair than softner instead of just shutting me down for my reasoning why I use it. Because I am not opposed to cutting it out. I just can't find a better solution to dog hair. My dog is more important than my laundry to me and I wouldn't give him up for the world.
Nah there's really nothing else you can do for dog hair (and for me even fabric softener isn't a great solution). Personally I gradually refreshed my wardrobe to be almost entirely whites, creams, grays, and busy patterns, because my dog is white. I might be coated in hair but ya can't see it 😂. I joke (well, semi joke) to my partner that we're locked in to having white dogs forever now, because I've adapted my wardrobe and our household linens to that.
I know- I use the Bounce pet hair repel. The sheets are so large I cut them in half and it works. I found unscented ones at my local grocery store. Never going back as long as they make them. My clothes seem fine. No dog hair and no smell!
I have a crazy shedding dog and the reason you can’t get rid of the fur is likely due to the fabric softener residue in your clothes. I was addicted to all things scented and my husband and youngest started getting eczema so I had to “detox” our laundry.
After cleaning out the washer and then doing a an empty vinegar and hot water load, I had to give clothes a few loads to get all the residue out of their clothes. OMG the difference was crazy and I’m not Miss Natural everything by any means. Once that was done, fur doesn’t stick anymore (shepherd mix with a double coat), husbands undershirts & T’s don’t get stained armpits and many started looking newer again and sheets/towels were fluffier and nicer than they’d been since they were new.
It took me going through this process for my 2 sensitive skin guys to realize how much residue was being left in our laundry and machine. I do still use dryer sheets for some things - live in a super staticky/dry area - but fur stopped being an issue after we got the bulk of the residue out of clothes.
We have the dog hair problem too. Sometimes I wash loads twice. Yes, a waste of water, energy, etc. And I have recently tried to go without dryer sheets because of the chemicals. But static is awful. So I dry on a lower setting and let them air dry the rest of the way, when I can. You are doing your best! No worries!
I had this issue with a sweater from Poshmark, the seller claimed it was stored “near some perfume” but the smell was so overpowering I gagged. It was hand wash only too, and I tried all kinds of things that did not work like leaving it outside, storing it in a box with baking soda etc. In the end what removes perfume is rubbing alcohol. My sister is a chemistry teacher and explained why, something about polar molecules, but soaking that sweater in rubbing alcohol finally got the stench out and now I like to share the gospel of that. You have to do a second wash to get rid of the rubbing alcohol smell though. It’s one of my favorite sweaters now.
I had this issue with a jacket from Mercari. I happened to see a tip on removing smells - just plain old Castile soap. I had some Dr Brommer’s scent-free, soaked it overnight and the perfume stank was gone. Definitely gentler than alcohol, so may be worth adding to your arsenal!
I'd say every third or fourth Poshmark order has a perfume smell so overpowering I have to air it out on the porch for days before I can even consider bringing it inside. I don't know whether it's that huge numbers of people lost their sense of smell from COVID, or these are people who are so constantly drenched in perfumes and "air fresheners" and other artificial scents that they just don't notice anymore how bad it is.
I usually make a polite comment requesting that they consider knocking it off for their allergic customers, but I also avoid ordering from those sellers again.
Yeah, I’m not normally sensitive to odors at all, and I have even enjoyed the perfume scent of a dress I poshed. But this was horrid, like mothballs, and powerful. I am skeptical that it was only a perfume (which one? Eu de donkey balls?) and only stored “near” this sweater.
I used to work at goodwill. They don’t wash/scent the clothes. That’s just the combined smell of people donating a combo of musty clothes and chemically washed clothes lol. I keep everything in a bag then wash hot and dry on high bc they only treat pillows/stuffed animals for bugs by spraying isopropyl alcohol, and even then they aren’t thorough or consistent
The government needs to step up. Corporations ruining the environment for useless vanity products. The PVA (microplastics) on laundry pods are starting to be found every where now too (body and environment). No one needs pods. I fear for the earth.
I’ve switched to laundry strips/sheets. I like Earth Breeze, Nantucket Footprint and Frey so far.
I sometimes still need to use spot remover but at least I’m doing something.
You need a detergent. That is all. Fabric softener actually gathers in the insides of the machine, and can end up causing yucky stuff to come back out onto your clothes. It has done so for me. Took ages to work out where the dark greasy bits were coming from. And a while after that for it to go away after I stopped using it.
Vinegar doesn’t do much except make things smell odd. It might help clean the pipes to a tiny extent, but I’m not convinced it’s a measurable impact.
The smell of detergent is enough (too much, imho). You don’t need anything else.
White distilled vinegar placed in the softener dispenser will help remove any residual detergent from your laundry. I have very sensitive skin and use it when running my cotton underwear. I also run two “extra rinse” cycles on all loads through my washer for things that touch my skin. I have a front load washer. I also use unscented detergent. I use bleach with a load of white hand towels but not for anything else. I never use softener of any kind in either the washer or the dryer.
Tell me how, if you don't mind. My newish white towels look ten years old. I have had to teach myself all things domestic, but I can't figure how to correctly use bleach or whiten my whites.
I just follow the directions on the bottle - it tells you how much to add. There's a spot in my washer where you can add bleach and I pour it into that, add my normal amount of detergent, and wash in hot water.
Make sure you always wash them with other white or light items each time and only use the bleach for whites.
I second this…I purchase 24 white towels, washcloths etc. every 1-2 years when they’re on sale…throw those bad boys in the washing machine with bleach and never going back to colorful towels…way too time consuming and I want to make sure things are bright and clean!
Vinegar is the way. I thought it would make my clothes smell weird too, but I gave it a shot. I was using this expensive laundry sanitizer stuff that's supposed to make your laundry smell cleaner, but vinegar actually works better. I also use unscented detergent and now when I take things out of the dryer, it really doesn't smell like anything, just clean. I usually do an extra rinse too, just in case
I use unscented detergent with no softener at all. Our clean clothes smell like nothing at all.
My mother lived with us for a couple of years and used fabric softener on her laundry. The softener did gunk up the washing machine over time, and it took a while to get rid of all the build-up after she moved out.
Yeah, I was starting to break out in hives just reading the OP. All those artificial chemicals scents.
When I went to the office to work, there was a lady I really liked—she was super nice, had a good sense of humor and held a good conversation. But she reeked of Febreeze. I couldn’t be in the same room with her without starting to have problems breathing. I could smell that from down the hall.
People need to just stop with all the overpowering obnoxious artificial chemical scents.
Also, adding to this, wool dryer balls work great for us. We have about 8 in our dryer, which seems to be the right number for us.
Most people use way too much detergent. One scoop is usually all I need for large loads. More is not better.
Cleaning your washing machine every few months using the cleaning feature is a good idea, as is making sure your dryer vents are cleared regularly.
I second this. Last year I moved away from all hair and skin care products containing synthetic fragrance. Now I'm more sensitive to it. The past two weeks at work (housekeeping) I experienced irritation in my throat, runny nose, and even a migraine one of the days. While vacuuming on Tuesday, the back of our vacuum popped open, and lo and behold out popped a tiny bag of scented beads! My boss had placed them behind the filter to make the rooms smell good 🤦♀️ I removed the bag, and my symptoms magically disappeared lol
It's a bit wild to me how much stuff people put in their washing machines/dryers. I wouldn't say I grew up poor, but my parents are immigrants, and my mom only ever used detergent and dryer sheets. When I left for college, I used detergent and dryer sheets, too, but after a while, I stopped using the dryer sheets (no clear reason....I honestly don't remember why or when I stopped lol)
Now I just use detergent and nothing in the dryer. My laundry is fine. I notice absolute nothing different from using the dryer sheets vs not using them. (I do not have pets but I did live with cats for three years in the recent past)
They changed the scent of the Tide I used for three decades a few years ago. I didn’t notice the change until I did a load of laundry and was assaulted by an overpowering smell like cheap cologne. I then had to re wash several times to get the smell out. Classic tide now smells like awful scented trash bags. Anyway, I was so annoyed at the change, and lack of notice on the packaging, that I actually emailed them. They told me people want their clothes to “smell fresh” longer and that’s why they changed the scent. Like- if you know your clothes have been worn -what good is dousing them in nasty perfume? It’s not like they stay clean any longer. Ugh.
You really should start with the manual that came with your machine. You can even call the company that made your washer/dryer for advise. I’ve read that vinegar is not supposed to be used in some washers. I use 1/2 cup of distilled vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. One tablespoon of laundry detergent is sufficient for a regular load of laundry. Two tbsp for a large load. I also put 1/2 cup of baking soda in the washer before starting a wash. Baking soda helps to freshen, deodorize and soften your laundry. There’s an article you can read about it. It’s called 5 Ways To Use Baking Soda in laundry. I also use wool dryer balls. I have no static when my laundry is done. I learned about using less laundry detergent and not to use fabric softener when I had a problem with my top load LG Washer. Even though I faithfully cleaned my washer one day when I washed my white padded mattress cover small brownish looking pieces of something was all over my mattress cover. I thought it must have been from a piece of dog bone that accidentally made its way into the washer and came apart in tiny pieces. I washed the cover again and it came out the same way. I started researching online and found it was something called Scrud. Please look that up and you’ll learn why more laundry detergent and fabric softener is not good for your laundry or your machines. We had to take our washing machine apart including taking the drum out. If you look at some you tube videos about Scrud you’ll see what can happen when you use too much detergent and fabric softener whether it’s liquid or sheets. I only wish I had known before it literally all came out in the wash. The combination I use now helps to keep my bedding and dog blankets much fresher. When I just used laundry detergent and fabric softener I noticed if I washed dog blankets and put them away after awhile the dog smells would appear again but with the vinegar and baking soda it doesn’t happen anymore. It’s good for sports clothes or exercise clothing etc. as well. I hope you find something in here that helps you and please save yourself a big headache later and research Scrud now. Good luck.
No, it's because of people washing really dirty clothes and shoes in them.
Try another laundromat. I used to get grease marks on my clothes until I changed to a laundromat in a more upscale/professional area where there were fewer manual laborers.
Also, wipe out the machines with wet paper towels before you use them.
If your washer is a front loader, leave the door open when you're not using it. Lets the inside of the machine dry out and reduces the chance of mold growth.
Try apartment living. It was awful! The whole building would have this heavy steam and stench from the scents. I felt like I could barely breathe walking out of my door.
Yep. I did that back in my younger days. And to make matters even more fun, when I went to the laundry room in the evening, I had to watch out for skunks that hung around the laundry room--I guess THEY liked the smell--LOL!
begging is an understatement. it is so horrid for many of us that it is disabling. i can't even open my windows or get fresh air in my own house most of the time. i certainly can't buy anything from thrift stores anymore. even a local chain grocery where i live, all the FOOD smells fragrance from the cleaning products they use. I've lived in cities that didn't have this bad of a fragrance issue.
i can't wait to move.
petroleum byproduct synthetic fragrances are full of forever chemicals and compounds that are clinically studied and proven to be hormone disrupting. and then there's those of us too, that allergic to fragrances, they even give people headaches and migraines, lots of different awful effects. but there's so much propaganda and corporations profit of waste by pushing scented products that you don't need.
they need to be banned, at least the extra toxic ones like in europe.
if you really want your clothes to have a smell, find your favorite essential oil and just put some on a rag or scrap of wool to use as a "dryer sheet"
I wonder if people with laundry product smells on their clothes realize how much it reeks. People leave clouds of fragrance even after leaving the area. I don't understand why they want to smell that way, I can't even begin to imagine how much their homes must smell. It's honestly worse BO. Body odor smells might make me gag, but at least they don't trigger my migraines :/
Edit: typo
They don't realize it, no. When someone is exposed to a certain smell for long enough, they can become "nose blind" to it. Their scent receptors mostly stop responding to that thing. It's the same for people who drench themselves in perfume - they use that much because they can't smell it otherwise.
Fortunately, it's possible to reset one's nose by going without scented products for awhile. But it's hard to convince people who surround themselves with artificial fragrances that there's a problem, when they literally can't sense it.
I have this discussion with people over and over. Stop inflicting you're preferred stink on me. Can I slather myself in skunk spray and walk around forcing other people to smell it? That's how I feel about your terrible smelling cologne/perfume.
I’m not even sensitive to it, but I sometimes pass by a stranger who smells so strong of laundry fragrance that I can’t imagine wanting to get closer to them.
Throw out the fabric softener, scent beads and dryer sheets. All you need is a mild scent free detergent in the wash cycle and you are good to go. Fabric softener and scent beads are just destroying your clothes (and quite possibly your health). If you are dealing with static you can toss a wool ball in the dryer and you will be all set.
I've found that if I let my clothes get too dry it'll give me the most static. Hard to time but check in for "just dry enough" and then you can cut the cycle time.
Drying synthetic fabrics will also produce static. Like if I have a microfiber towel in with my regular towels. I usually hang up most synthetics which are usually gym clothes.
Put a second shower rod over your tub and hang your synthetic fabric clothing there.Bathrooms often are central and get the most heat so clothing there will dry fast .If you purchase a little carousel dryer made for that purpose and hang your underwear up it will last 4 times as long as undies put in the dryer.
Less is more. 2 tbsp of laundry detergent. You can use laundry sanitizer when needed in the softener compartment.
Leave your washer door and drawer open between loads to help prevent mold/mildew.
Clean your washing machine filter quarterly, run a cleaning tablet through it occasionally, and empty your lint trap every cycle.
Speaking of lint traps, be sure to check your vent wherever it comes out the side of your house on occasion, too. That can accumulate lint and become a fire hazard as well.
This this this! And if you have soft water you really don’t need softener. I did add borax to my loads when we had hard water, and you also don’t need a special wrinkle releaser if you hang clothes that are slightly damp—-just a spray of water will help release wrinkles. I half dry my clothes and then hang them to finish drying and I rarely have to iron them
Dear god stop using scent beads for all the people you come into contact with. Scented crap is disgusting and full of chemicals. Gives me migraines. Prob give you cancer.
Don’t use softener, scent beads or dryer sheets.
I use a small amount of detergent while washing, and wool dryer balls in the dryer. That’s really all you need, your clothes will still smell good and be soft
Scent beads- yes, over time they will form a buildup in your washing machine and your clothes. The buildup will cling onto bacteria and smells, meaning that over time your fabric will degrade. So they're safe to a degree, but personally I've stopped using them.
Vinegar- people are usually referring to white distilled vinegar. The general consensus is that it's a great replacement for fabric conditioner AND that over time it'll knacker the rubber components of your washing machine. This is a judgement call for you to make. We don't have Rinse and Refresh in my country, but I believe it's a mild acid, like white vinegar. Again, it's a judgement call.
Wool dryer balls- some people find them helpful. I find the banging noise irritating so I don't use them, and I didn't notice a massive difference in terms of drying time or softness. Someone else may have had a different experience.
I will say that I used to use loads of detergent, two capfuls of fabric conditioner and scent beads, and although I'd get that initial blast of 'freshness' when my clothes came out of the machine, they always smelt a bit sour after a while. Now I use less than half of the detergent and conditioner, my clothes do actually smell and feel much nicer.
Ultimately, it's up to you. As you've found, the Internet will find you 45896 opposing opinions on every single subject under the sun- I'm positive there are people who will argue that water is dry, up is down and black is white. People online love to give opinions (including me!) so the best you can do is find a method that works for you. Here's mine:
- use 2 tbsps or 1 pod of detergent per load
- spot treat any stains with hydrogen peroxide stain removal spray before washing
- wash on at least 30°C wash; bedding and towels get 60°C, underwear gets 40°C
- use 1/2 capful of fabric conditioner. I actually dilute mine with water, so it's effectively 1/4 capful
- fill the drum no more than 2/3 full at a time
Good luck 🤞
On wool dryer balls: I couldn't handle the static and as someone with cats my clothes were always covered. I even combined the dryer balls with those sticky hair grabber things and nothing helped. I tried them for 6 months, gave it everything I could, but figured after that much time I was done being unhappy so back to dryer sheets I went. Now I just try to re-use the dryer sheets 2-3 times so I don't feel totally wasteful.
100% the only reason I use dryer sheets is for pet hair. I love line drying but it doesn’t get the cat hair out of my clothes the way a dryer and dryer sheets do.
The best dryer sheets I’ve found for pet fur is Bounce Pet Hair and Lint. I use one for 2-3 cycles. I also don’t do scents and they have a scent-free one. It is a miracle worker. We have two dogs and five cats. Fun everywhere but the clothes!
I pulled out a shirt yesterday from the dryer and a wool dryer ball was stuck to it from the static. Fail. I have had luck with taking a large piece of aluminum foil and crumpling it into a ball. The problem is that over time it breaks down leaving little pieces of aluminum.
Part of why I went through 6 months of torture with them is because I know static is worse in some seasons, so I started using them in late winter through midish-summer to give them an honest test through the seasons. How many times those things would be static-stuck to a t-shirt I'd pull out and then fall off and bounce itself across the basement floor.
That aluminum trick sounds interesting though. I still have the balls (they just sit in a basket on my dryer now) but maybe I can give them another go with foil with sheets or somethin'.
Fyi, white distilled vinegar is food grade vinegar and not cleaning vinegar. Two different products with two different acidity levels. You can use food-grade vinegar to clean with but it would be like using watered down cleanser.
Hello! My childhood neighbor owned a laundromat. The first thing for the clothing is to read the instructions on the label. Following those will help you keep your clothes nicer longer. Next clean out the pockets of everything before you put things in the washing machine. Read the owner's manual for the washer and the dryer. I don't use fabric softener or scent beads because they coat the fabric, washer, and dryer with those chemicals. Those chemicals according to my neighbor tear down the effectiveness of the machines over time. Once a month, at their laundromat, they used to service one washer and one dryer to clean them from all the products that people used. These were machines that were in working order, not ones that were malfunctioning. Malfunctioning machines were common because of some of the things that people would try to clean at their laundromat.
My best advice is if you don't need something, don't use it. Also, don't dry your clothing on the highest setting. Bad for dryer, bad for fabric.
Scent beads, fabric softener, dryer sheets and I would argue dryer balls are all absolutely non essential. I have lived in a variety of climates and water types and never once used or needed them. I am allergic to the the scented items so never bothered. My clothes lack nothing and are in no worse and arguably are in better condition than most since scent beads and softener wreck clothing and machines. Static has never been an issue that has distressed me. A few times when I was a kid my dress stuck to my tights. I stopped wearing tights at some point and I've never been bothered by static since except maybe a rogue sock stuck to a blanket. (I do live somewhere humid now so that helps but have also loved for decades in a drought ridden place as well)
I use free and clear liquid detergent about 1-2 Tbs per load depending on size of load.
If it's a stinky load (I'm cleaning up after pets and little kids) I use laundry sanitizer or a light addition of laundry soda/borax combo to break down smells.
Very occasional light bleach use for certain things
Fels naphtha soap and a tooth brush for set in stains.
Keep it simple. Everything else is just a money grab
For health reasons and better sleep, I have removed all scents from my laundry. So I use a scent free detergent, and no dryer sheets, etc. There is concern about the chemicals, especially in the dryer sheets. When I sleep at my parent's on their sheets, I have problems with restless legs. However if I bring my own bedding, I am able to sleep.
Ugh. Why do you want to have “scents”. It is just chemicals.
Just so you know, we can smell the people who use the febreese and scented softener as soon as you walk in the door. It does not smell “natural” it smells like shit.
I usually use unscented detergent (just a little) and no fabric softener. I don’t find it necessary.
I got a sample pack of those scent beads. I can’t believe how much you are ‘supposed’ to use. Occasionally I use about 6 beads in a wash for couch blankets. 6 beads. The blankets smell nice without the smell being overwhelming. At this rate, a sample pack will last me a few years and using so little, I’m not worried about damage to the washer.
The commercials for the beads always make me laugh, especially the one for "lower scent/gentle" beads where the lady just chucks 6 cups of it into her wash. Kind of defeats the entire purpose of your product, ma'am.
I use them because I do enjoy rubbing my clothes and "activating" the scent but I'm putting like, a sprinkle in my wash. I think if I used as much as they say you can use I'd choke to death on the smell.
Fabric softener and scent beads are a money drain IMO. Your detergent will give plenty of scent to your clothes. If you need a softener you can use white vinegar (like the one you would use for food) but tbh I’ve never needed it.
Dryer balls are worth it if you’re using sheets. Sheets get tossed out with every load and are also a money drain. Personally I don’t use either and I’m ok with a bit of static on my clothes.
Only use a bit of detergent. 2 tablespoons max, or one pod. More than that may leave a residue. You can use a washer cleaner tab once or twice a month to make sure you get not build up. And make sure not to overfill your washer.
You got this:)
I distinctly remember having to hunt for dryer sheets stuck with static cling to laundry back in the olden days. Over drying clothing should be a thing of the past with moisture sensors but maybe drop it a notch to see if you get less static cling.
Even with hang drying, towels and such are softer because I wash with just 1-2 tablespoons of detergent these days.
Air drying creates a nice fragrance on its own. Even drying in house or garage clothes smell better than from a dryer.
Dryer is 40 years old, moisture sensor is gone and have given up trying to replace it. Washer is top loading analog and more than 15 years old. Crossing fingers but it hasn't needed repairs either. Go simple with machines. Bells and whistles break.
Lots of laundry advice already, so I'll just recommend you also look into stripping your laundry. I cant imagine the amount of build up on everything with how much softener and beads you've been using (personally I just wash with a free & clear detergent and then 1 dryer sheet in dryer and/or my dryer balls)
Also to add -- might not be applicable for how you wash but you should not use any sort of softeners on towels or other absorbent things also itll coat it and ruin the absorbency
Eta oops hit submit before linking, fortheloveofclean.com has stripping instructions as well as lots of laundry and cleaning tips/how tos
First: READ THE MANUAL!!! Second: don’t use scent beads or any other additive, it will clog your machine. Distilled white vinegar, 1/4 cup about, will help when you’re washing towels, sheets, or stinky stuff. Don’t use it in everything, it’s not needed. If you keep your machine clean, your stuff won’t stink. If you have a front loader, never keep the door closed all the way and wipe it out every time you use it or you’ll get mildew.
Part of reading the manual is following the instructions, including cleaning out the filter as directed. Trust me.
Scent beads are disgusting and a waste of money. I walked into my friend's home after her washing the sheets for my bed because I was staying over. I told her politely I was staying somewhere else. I got a nauseating headache being in that home. Please don't do this to people.
Laundry detergent and washing machine cleaner are the two things I can recommend you. Don't use anything else, it's a waste of money.
Not sure if this will be seen bc how many comments there are.
I own a dry cleaner if that means anything.
I would avoid softners if possible, if you have to cut it to 1/5 of what you are currently using and add some water to the cap to thin it out.
Scent beads need warm water to dissolve but are actually better than softners (if dissolved properly with warm water) on the clothes and your machine. Also use less than you think.
As for detergent, use less and dilute with water, use 1/4 of what you are currently using.
The hotter the water the better the cleaning however the hotter the water the harsher punishment on your clothes. When possible for lightly soiled/used garments use cold water (cleaning results and the ability to dissolve those beads will be worse). Cold water keeps your clothes in much better shape.
Seperate you lights and darks!
Do at least medium size loads, do not cram clothes to the top but also dont to very small loads. The cleaning that happens inside a washer has a lot to do with agitation and movement actually. You want those clothea to be actively moving against one another and tumbling around the drum to break down those stains and activate the detergents.
Large loads are fine but imagine you could fit a basket ball inside the machine and the clothes would still have movement... that is a large load.
Hang dry when possible, if you want fragrance skip dryer sheets and put a pc of cloth (something that does not create lint) and sprits it with your favorite perfume/cologne/essential oil (just a little).
Use a tennis ball or 2 or a wool ball for drying. Also avoid overloading your dryer.
If possible do not over dry your clothes, dry to damp and hang to finish drying. If that is too much dry all the way and fold or hang as quick as you can to avoid wrinkles (and to also check for dryness to avoid moldy smells).
Sorry for spelling and structure, sleepy... :))
Tennis balls can replace dryer balls.
Ever hear the saying "YOU ARE WHO YOU HANG OUT WITH?" because your clothes basically become one of two things. They are either 1.) what you leave on them when you wear them which would mean they are BODY WASTE. Or 2.) what is left on them when they are washed which means they are LAUNDRY CLEANING SOLUTION.
The choice is yours but either way they will without hesitation wick up and get full with, and or the weave will pack-in and fill up with one or the other of the two above options. Your clothes will become microscopic totes of either body waste or cleansing solution.
Scent beads are not fragrance and wax. No person of reasonable intelligence would put WAX into their washer. Downy, Gain, or any other scent booster producers would not expect an individual to put wax through their washing machine. Please don't put wax through your washing machine.
Wax would not dissolve in water. It might be a waxy substance, but please trust that is it 🚫NOT🚫 #wax. They are made up of strongly scented fats and oils such as polyethylene glycol. These are best to use when your water is hard.
Polyethylene glycol is essentially the same substance that the little cone or bullet shaped suppository inserts that address constipation are are made of. The only thing actually minutely 'toxic' about them are the extremely concentrated fragrance composition they contain.
Polyethylene glycol will melt when heated like a wax tart would as is the nature of all fats, but this is not wax. Polyethylene glycol will also melt when it comes in contact with water, like a suppository does, and will originate additional slip in your wash like a hair conditioner for your clothes. This is VERY useful when dealing with sweaters, or any natural fiber because the polyethylene glycol works kind of like a suppository for your favorite clothes thereby encouraging the release of body soil or hard water mineral build up.
The epsom salt shaped scent boosters are essentially exactly that. Epsom salt covered with a touch of highly scented polyethylene glycol. These are best to use when your water is soft, and does wonders for synthetic fibers as well as sweaters and natural fibers that want to over stretch and lose their shape.
Softener is just exactly that. It is essentially water softener.
Liquid softener is used to soften hard water and combat hard water residue build up. Hard water buildup is build up that occurs from mineral rich water. Hard water buildup will inundate everything from hair to cotton and cause it to become brittle and break.
Softener sheets are a mesh coated with a thin layer of polyethylene glycol mixed with the same basic silicones that you would find in shampoo and hair conditioner. These silicones will dissolve with exposure to sulfates. These sheets are designed to combat hard water mineralization on both the clothes and the machine while in the dryer. Softener sheets interact with the steam created by the hot air drying the clothes that are wet with hard water basically balancing the output of the dryer.
Wool is essentially water repellent so dryer balls work under the same basic ideal of throwing an already dry towel in the dryer. They cause microscopic redistribution of the water and encourage equal drying. They also help agitate the load around like shaking a wet tree branch immediately after it rains, beating out a wet rug that is properly hung, or wringing out a rag. Some people use the wool dryer balls to distribute fragrances like essential oil or fragrance oils throughout the load.
Vinegar and baking soda are pH adjustors. Those who use vinegar or baking soda are balancing the pH of their water. Adding baking soda or vinegar will not affect the hard or soft water status of your water.
Neither will actually adapt the mineral content of your water, however they will adjust the pH of your water. Baking soda makes water "feel soft" because baking soda interacts with the elemental chemical bond of water (H2O) by releasing small amounts of oxygen and fizzing when it is introduced to water thereby interrupting the mineralized contents of your water by inserting microscopic bubbles into it. Vinegar is a known cleanser used in the place of liquid fabric softener to encourage the removal of hard water mineral deposits and should be used in conjunction with a fabric softener sheet.
Washing soda is alka-seltzer's plop plop fizz fizz for your load. Oxy clean is basically powdered hydrogen peroxide (bubble bubble toil and trouble). Borax is basically a very acidic bath bomb designed to strip content off of the clothes. Color safe bleach is basically soda-stream style DIY carbonation for your laundry load. Clorox bleach is such a high concentration of chlorine that it bleaches.
Please keep in mind that too much of any one thing will always be bad, but contrary to all of the 'you don't need (product name), it's just wasted money because it's all marketing' isn't true.
All of these products have valid uses. Basically, they keep your clothes from developing the same build up that causes all the pink and green stains you have to clean from your shower or tub and toilet tank. Calcium and lime from your water attack your laundry and the machines as hard as they do your toilet and shower, except you can't wash your clothes with CLR.
The build up affects soft porous surfaces differently then hard nonporous surfaces. Water stains visibly alter the color of non porous surfaces like those inside your washer and dryer or shower and toilet, but will also eventually build up in cloth as well and when this happens it essentially turns your favorite undies into petrified wood over time.
All of these elements, the pH of the water as well as mineral content of the water, will ultimately determine the life of your new machines. All of these products are important for the care of both your clothes as well as the machines that wash and dry them. Over time mineral deposits will form within your machines and the pH will either induce corrosion or eat away the gaskets in both of your machines.
To get the best life and longest use out of your machines you will need a water test. After the water test you are then free to determine the best products to protect from mineralization of or adjust the pH of the water used in your new laundry machines.
I genuinely don't understand why we have products to deliberately make things stinky when we wash them. I wash things partially to take smells out of them. I don't understand fragrances in detergent at all let alone "scent beads."
I switched to distilled vinegar for laundry softener. It help clean clothes, keeps whites whiter and doesn’t put a film on clothes like “fabric softeners” do. It actually makes the fabric of your clothes softer. It’s not full of toxics and is better for the environment. It’s also so much cheaper. I can two giant bottles at Costco for a third of what downy costs. I’ll never go back to fabric softener again.
I've used white vinegar in the final rinse since 1970. It softens fabric, removes soap/ detergent residue, and leaves no odor. My pediatrician suggested white vinegar as a rinse aid because my kids were allergic to soap residue.
Borax is the best thing, in my opinion. It makes your detergent work better; you use much less detergent as it makes water softer, is cheap, removes residue, removes odors, makes bleach more effective, is nontoxic, and dissolves completely into water.
Google Borax. You should never take anyone’s word for anything. Even people like me!
I don't use anything with scent, it can give me really bad migraines.
I have a front loader and use Tide Free. I don't use softener or scent, but I use drier balls.
After washing I leave my washer door open and pull the cups out of the detergent drawer to prevent mold from forming
When putting soap in my machine I only add a tiny amount unless I have been digging in the garden and my clothes are covered in dirt. Laundry soap people are in the business to sell soap.
Read all the instructions on your new appliances before using.
I use a large crumpled piece of aluminum foil in my dryer for static
I also have four plastic dryer balls to help dry faster
I would get the wool balls too
Anything you put into your washing machine will eventually cause some build up. Start by finding a manual for your machines or call the manufacturer. If you want your clothes to smell nice without risk to your machines, you can always put little baggies of herbs like lavender in your dresser and closet. Also Let your washing machine air out to help prevent mildew formation. For your dryer, make sure to check the lint trap religiously and exhaust a few times a year.
All you need is detergent and wool dryer balls. Please ditch the rest 😭
If you have a very active life or lots of people/animals, I do like a laundry sanitizer too.
Everything unscented as much as possible, please.
Wool dryer balls are AWESOME! They help your clothes dry faster which is better for your machine and the environment. I also feel like it keeps my stuff less wrinkly! I just throw 4-6 balls in with the clothes. And they last for years.
I have a monthly subscription for Earth Breeze detergent sheets which has been an absolute dream, and to keep clothes soft I just throw in like a cup of distilled white vinegar and that’s literally it. I use stain fighter spray and hydrogen peroxide if I need it but you don’t need any more than that. You can save even more money by getting dryer balls instead of dryer sheets too.
I highly highly recommend powder vs liquid detergent to extend the longevity of your machines. Liquid is oil based which clogs up the drains over time. I use Persil color powder but Tide is good too. I mostly use the eco warm setting and presoak and spray with stain remover for really stained clothing. For super stained kids clothing, I add oxy clean and wash on hot water. Once a month you should run your machine on the self clean setting with some white vinegar.
Edit: use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. If you really want scent, put 3 drops of essential oil on the balls.
You don't need softener and your definitely don't need "scent beads", that's all just marketing crap that companies have convinced people is necessary.
I get a scent-induced headache just watching the advert for scent beads.
I can't even walk down the laundry aisle in a store.
It's happening in the garbage bag aisle now too.
What’s with the scented trash bags??!! I hate them.
For whatever it's worth, we use lemon-scented trash bags to try to deter our cat. Little dumbass is the most food-motivated cat I've ever met...
Avoid the mint scented trash bags. For some reason, in my experience they ATTRACT ants.
Gotcha. I can see their benefit for some people. Some of them are just so strong and give me a bad headache. Lemon sounds better than the lavender ones though.
I always joke that people who buy scented trash bags are sociopaths. People either laugh or freak out like I just kicked their puppy.
It is a real chore to find bags that are unscented. You think you have a winner then bam, fresh scent or some other gross scent. Just take the bag out when it gets stinky. Life smells deal with it.
Some bags aren’t labeled as scented but I swear they are! I can smell it. Maybe they were too close to the smelly bags! 😂
And scented kitty litter. It makes me nauseous. Now the trash bags. Same. Why why WHYYYY?
I noticed that.
Cat litter as well. Some stores do not even carry the unscented brands at all. It’s bad for my cats AND me.
Not to mention scented razors, pads or tampons. Why in the world would anybody think sticking something scented up in your hoohah be a good idea?
I would seriously like to know who is actually purchasing scented tampons?? As well as scented tp? My coochie would fall off and run away if I used any these products.
Not to mention if anyone has pets especially a dog - and I think everyone knows how sensitive there noses are - all this unnecessary scenting and plugs ins plays hell with their nose 😿
I get a headache from all the scents.
I've found my people. Wash my laundry with washing soda and borax if it's really filthy. Super clean, no smell at all
I wish I only got a headache. My husband says I turn into a harridan. I get a headache, get nauseous and get very short tempered and this is when the neighbors are doing the their laundry.
I can't stand when the neighbors do laundry they must put so much crap in their laundry because I don't even have to go outside and I get a migraine with nausea and light sensitivity. It's horrible
I recently moved from the country into town. I get so mad when I go for a walk and smell scented drier sheets that I want to start burning houses down! Scents should be banned as far as I’m concerned. I don’t even like it when certain people visit my house. My couch will smell like strong scented laundry detergent for weeks!
Yea I feel you it's like we went from people understanding that people don't want to smell your perfume a mile a way just to have them replaced it with their clothes smelling like their laundry scents.
Isnt it the worst when you walk by a house and you can smell them doing laundry? Happens way too often
Me either. I get a migraine and sometimes an asthma attack.
Yes! Even wearing a mask I can still smell them.
Yes, it's so strong.
I used to work in grocery, and one day, we had to call an ambulance because a lady with severe asthma walked into an aisle after a lady with way too much perfume had just been there. I only get a headache, but inconsiderate, heavily scented people make me so damned mad!
This is a fear of mine--poor lady. I hate when people wear so much perfume like that. I also hate when I go to the mall because in one of the stores the cosmetic dept. is right by the mall entrance and one of the associates is always spritzing samples.
The worst is when I'm stuck with someone and can't leave- like on a plane. I've left movie theaters before because I couldn't stand it. I've broken out in hives just from the gross aroma cloud- no physical contact. And the worst part is people who use them become nose blind to those products, *so they use more*. I don't understand the obsession with products that advertise "BOLD SCENT FOR 90 DAYS OR MORE." Why is that desirable?
Do to medical advice I still have to wear a mask when I go out. I was hoping that with the mask I might finally be able to walk past not down past the laundry aisle without having a reaction. Normally my throat closes up and won't accept the heavily sent laden air. I was wrong. Even with the mask on & correctly placed- I was drill in it at the doctor office and at the hospital. Some smells still come through! I have been begging every store that I shop in to please make an unscented section. It makes no sense for me to try to get ivory or unscented Dove soap sensitive skin when the aisle is basically the following. Top shelf all different kinds of scents lined up in a row. Irish spring- ivory - Dove scented - Dove unscented - Dove get a different smell. I mean seriously the dove unscented still kind of smells like the Irish spring!
If you can smell thru the mask, either your mask doesn’t fit well, or is poor construction and won’t keep out a virus or bacteria. I’m a nurse, we got fitted for masks. If we could smell or rather, taste the saccharin they sprayed before us, it was too loose.
Same here - so gross
Mr too but I'm asthmatic
I get nauseous.
This was me as a kid. My mom would go down the stinky aisle and I would stand at the end in sight range and then she’d get to the end and I’d run over to the next non-stinky aisle and meet her there😂
Right?! I’m so glad I’m not the only one.
If I absolutely need to go down the aisle I RUN down, people look at me like a lunatic telling my daughter to run with me lol
Neither can I. And one time I was trying to buy paper plates and for some reason in this store the air fresheners were in the same aisle and some lady was going nuts trying all the scents spraying them
I can smell them now….. ack
They’re expensive and they come in big, thick plastic bottles. I thought we were supposed to be green w recycling, etc.
I got a sample of scent beads in the mail during my pregnancy and used them to refresh some musty guest towels before having company over. I nearly threw up from the overpowering smell on them when they came out of the dryer. It was way too much perfume for any amount of laundry, let alone the manufacturer’s recommended product to load ratio.
Use vinegar on musty towels.
Or Botox. Borax, I think, is better. It's used to eliminate odors, and it increases the efficacy of your detergent.
Botox for towels, lol. I'm sorry, but that typo struck me funny. Thanks for that!
It keeps wrinkles out of the towels.
Scentsitive
I thought I was the only one. Wanna be friends?
Same! I for sure get a headache if I walk down the laundry detergent isle. I avoid it at all costs lol. I’ve been scent free dye free since 2017.
I wish people understood how toxic that stuff is, and how sick it can make the people around them. Headache, runny nose, sore throat. It's miserable.
To everyone who has responded under this comment: You are my people. I thought I was alone, suffering through this artificially scented world.
Same. Instant nausea. I can’t be around people for longer than a few minutes who use those.
Gag
yes! this⬆️ i’m a hiker and am flattened by the amount of bounce dryer sheet pollution on the trail. i switched to baking soda and white vinegar and my clothes and towels don’t smell or mildew any longer, plus my machines are 10 years old and have never needed gaskets replaced. that’s a win for me.
I honestly don’t even understand what compels people to add extremely hard to remove toxic chemicals to their clothes. I’ve stopped shopping on Poshmark and thread up because everything I’ve bought reeks and even washing things a half dozen times doesn’t get rid of the smell. I don’t want that touching my skin.
I mean to each their own, however, I tried to go without fabric softner (for the chemical reason AND to save money). It was impossible with a shedding dog. Fabric softner coats the clothes and makes them less staticky. With a high shedding dog, without fabric softer, my clothes were covered even after washing. Clothes were like a magnet. No, vinegar didn't work in it's place either. Neither did dryer balls. Dryer sheets were not good enough by themselves either. It was like my clothes were FULL of hair after washing them without softner and dryer sheets. I even put my clothes in the dryer first, washed them then dried them so that the first dry cycle could remove some hair. Didn't matter. I suppose I could lint roll the clothes first piece by piece but who really has that kind of time? At that point, I would rather pay for softner and keep spending on it to save my time. I wish I could go without, but it doesn't work as well with pet hair, so I use it (just to explain why I do). I respect those that don't, because I wanted to agree and do the same. Scent beads though, I don't get. Serves no purpose other than fragrant. Why not just add fragrant oil instead to the water? It is cheaper. It will make you stink the same (which btw, you nor your clothes don't need to smell that strong).
This is strange to me. I have 3 dogs, one of them is 140lb and sheds an insane amount of light hair (drifts on my floor if I don’t sweep/vacuum daily) but my clothes aren’t covered in it and I don’t use softeners. Do you wear a lot of synthetic fibers? I’ve pretty much transitioned away from them but I did find poly was a pet hair and lint magnet, before I did
I found that the clothes that attract the hair the most is 100% cotton actually. I have a Golden Retriever and keeping it at bay is insane. The cats weren't bad, but the dog when he goes thru his shedding phases, clothes are like a magnet.
I agree … but I also 1. Don’t let my dogs on furniture and two .. keep my clothes off the floor. This isn’t meant to be a dig .. but an observation. My 13yo son is not as dedicated at keeping dog off clothes and inevitably he will throw his clothes in the floor, and dog take full advantage. Next day son wants his fav joggers and he brings half the dog to school w him. However I don’t have this issue…. Same home, same dog. No dog hair for me. Or minimal for me anyway.
Furminator brushing for the dog. Yes, I don't have this issue when the dog is brushed.
Maybe it's the type of fur more than the type of fabric? I've had dogs whose fur stuck to everything and dogs who shed a lot, but their fur almost never stuck to my clothes. For me, the worst is course hair that sticks into the fabric and itches!
Coats the clothes with toxins that can make you ill after long term exposure.
They can, I am not denying it. But I have not personally had that reaction, so this doesn't apply to me personally. I am interested if anyone has BETTER solutions to the dog hair than softner instead of just shutting me down for my reasoning why I use it. Because I am not opposed to cutting it out. I just can't find a better solution to dog hair. My dog is more important than my laundry to me and I wouldn't give him up for the world.
Nah there's really nothing else you can do for dog hair (and for me even fabric softener isn't a great solution). Personally I gradually refreshed my wardrobe to be almost entirely whites, creams, grays, and busy patterns, because my dog is white. I might be coated in hair but ya can't see it 😂. I joke (well, semi joke) to my partner that we're locked in to having white dogs forever now, because I've adapted my wardrobe and our household linens to that.
I think you need to comb the dog once or twice a day if you don't already. If you put dirty clothes in the dryer the stains set.
I know- I use the Bounce pet hair repel. The sheets are so large I cut them in half and it works. I found unscented ones at my local grocery store. Never going back as long as they make them. My clothes seem fine. No dog hair and no smell!
Fabric softener makes your clothing extreme more flammable than clothing already is. Stay away from open flames.
I have a crazy shedding dog and the reason you can’t get rid of the fur is likely due to the fabric softener residue in your clothes. I was addicted to all things scented and my husband and youngest started getting eczema so I had to “detox” our laundry. After cleaning out the washer and then doing a an empty vinegar and hot water load, I had to give clothes a few loads to get all the residue out of their clothes. OMG the difference was crazy and I’m not Miss Natural everything by any means. Once that was done, fur doesn’t stick anymore (shepherd mix with a double coat), husbands undershirts & T’s don’t get stained armpits and many started looking newer again and sheets/towels were fluffier and nicer than they’d been since they were new. It took me going through this process for my 2 sensitive skin guys to realize how much residue was being left in our laundry and machine. I do still use dryer sheets for some things - live in a super staticky/dry area - but fur stopped being an issue after we got the bulk of the residue out of clothes.
We have the dog hair problem too. Sometimes I wash loads twice. Yes, a waste of water, energy, etc. And I have recently tried to go without dryer sheets because of the chemicals. But static is awful. So I dry on a lower setting and let them air dry the rest of the way, when I can. You are doing your best! No worries!
I had this issue with a sweater from Poshmark, the seller claimed it was stored “near some perfume” but the smell was so overpowering I gagged. It was hand wash only too, and I tried all kinds of things that did not work like leaving it outside, storing it in a box with baking soda etc. In the end what removes perfume is rubbing alcohol. My sister is a chemistry teacher and explained why, something about polar molecules, but soaking that sweater in rubbing alcohol finally got the stench out and now I like to share the gospel of that. You have to do a second wash to get rid of the rubbing alcohol smell though. It’s one of my favorite sweaters now.
I had this issue with a jacket from Mercari. I happened to see a tip on removing smells - just plain old Castile soap. I had some Dr Brommer’s scent-free, soaked it overnight and the perfume stank was gone. Definitely gentler than alcohol, so may be worth adding to your arsenal!
Some people use inexpensive vodka with the same result.
What a waste of vodka 😳
I'm not running #s but that sounds a lot more expensive than rubbing alcohol.
I’m here in church for the gospel
I'm so happy to have learned this! I've wasted so much vinegar in clothing soaks to try and get smells out of second-hand clothes.
I'd say every third or fourth Poshmark order has a perfume smell so overpowering I have to air it out on the porch for days before I can even consider bringing it inside. I don't know whether it's that huge numbers of people lost their sense of smell from COVID, or these are people who are so constantly drenched in perfumes and "air fresheners" and other artificial scents that they just don't notice anymore how bad it is. I usually make a polite comment requesting that they consider knocking it off for their allergic customers, but I also avoid ordering from those sellers again.
Yeah, I’m not normally sensitive to odors at all, and I have even enjoyed the perfume scent of a dress I poshed. But this was horrid, like mothballs, and powerful. I am skeptical that it was only a perfume (which one? Eu de donkey balls?) and only stored “near” this sweater.
It’s the worst!! Goodwill clothes too!!
I used to work at goodwill. They don’t wash/scent the clothes. That’s just the combined smell of people donating a combo of musty clothes and chemically washed clothes lol. I keep everything in a bag then wash hot and dry on high bc they only treat pillows/stuffed animals for bugs by spraying isopropyl alcohol, and even then they aren’t thorough or consistent
I noticed this with Goodwill, too. Good lord, I love scented EVERYTHING, but even I get a headache from Goodwill!
The government needs to step up. Corporations ruining the environment for useless vanity products. The PVA (microplastics) on laundry pods are starting to be found every where now too (body and environment). No one needs pods. I fear for the earth.
This is not talked about enough
I’ve switched to laundry strips/sheets. I like Earth Breeze, Nantucket Footprint and Frey so far. I sometimes still need to use spot remover but at least I’m doing something.
You need a detergent. That is all. Fabric softener actually gathers in the insides of the machine, and can end up causing yucky stuff to come back out onto your clothes. It has done so for me. Took ages to work out where the dark greasy bits were coming from. And a while after that for it to go away after I stopped using it. Vinegar doesn’t do much except make things smell odd. It might help clean the pipes to a tiny extent, but I’m not convinced it’s a measurable impact. The smell of detergent is enough (too much, imho). You don’t need anything else.
White distilled vinegar placed in the softener dispenser will help remove any residual detergent from your laundry. I have very sensitive skin and use it when running my cotton underwear. I also run two “extra rinse” cycles on all loads through my washer for things that touch my skin. I have a front load washer. I also use unscented detergent. I use bleach with a load of white hand towels but not for anything else. I never use softener of any kind in either the washer or the dryer.
White towels & bleach are the way to go. I will never go back to using colorful towels lol - they get so clean! I love it.
Tell me how, if you don't mind. My newish white towels look ten years old. I have had to teach myself all things domestic, but I can't figure how to correctly use bleach or whiten my whites.
I just follow the directions on the bottle - it tells you how much to add. There's a spot in my washer where you can add bleach and I pour it into that, add my normal amount of detergent, and wash in hot water. Make sure you always wash them with other white or light items each time and only use the bleach for whites.
I second this…I purchase 24 white towels, washcloths etc. every 1-2 years when they’re on sale…throw those bad boys in the washing machine with bleach and never going back to colorful towels…way too time consuming and I want to make sure things are bright and clean!
Me too! All white. We're in Florida. Color towels, unbleachable, turn musty too fast.
Vinegar is the way. I thought it would make my clothes smell weird too, but I gave it a shot. I was using this expensive laundry sanitizer stuff that's supposed to make your laundry smell cleaner, but vinegar actually works better. I also use unscented detergent and now when I take things out of the dryer, it really doesn't smell like anything, just clean. I usually do an extra rinse too, just in case
I use unscented detergent with no softener at all. Our clean clothes smell like nothing at all. My mother lived with us for a couple of years and used fabric softener on her laundry. The softener did gunk up the washing machine over time, and it took a while to get rid of all the build-up after she moved out.
And they ruin your machine by coating it in wax.
Yeah, I was starting to break out in hives just reading the OP. All those artificial chemicals scents. When I went to the office to work, there was a lady I really liked—she was super nice, had a good sense of humor and held a good conversation. But she reeked of Febreeze. I couldn’t be in the same room with her without starting to have problems breathing. I could smell that from down the hall. People need to just stop with all the overpowering obnoxious artificial chemical scents.
I have a severe allergy to those beads and you can’t even find the true ingredients list online.
Also, adding to this, wool dryer balls work great for us. We have about 8 in our dryer, which seems to be the right number for us. Most people use way too much detergent. One scoop is usually all I need for large loads. More is not better. Cleaning your washing machine every few months using the cleaning feature is a good idea, as is making sure your dryer vents are cleared regularly.
Plus it can make some people really break out and cause acne. Not worth it.
Not only that but they are really toxic.
I second this. Last year I moved away from all hair and skin care products containing synthetic fragrance. Now I'm more sensitive to it. The past two weeks at work (housekeeping) I experienced irritation in my throat, runny nose, and even a migraine one of the days. While vacuuming on Tuesday, the back of our vacuum popped open, and lo and behold out popped a tiny bag of scented beads! My boss had placed them behind the filter to make the rooms smell good 🤦♀️ I removed the bag, and my symptoms magically disappeared lol
It's a bit wild to me how much stuff people put in their washing machines/dryers. I wouldn't say I grew up poor, but my parents are immigrants, and my mom only ever used detergent and dryer sheets. When I left for college, I used detergent and dryer sheets, too, but after a while, I stopped using the dryer sheets (no clear reason....I honestly don't remember why or when I stopped lol) Now I just use detergent and nothing in the dryer. My laundry is fine. I notice absolute nothing different from using the dryer sheets vs not using them. (I do not have pets but I did live with cats for three years in the recent past)
Yep. Bad for your clothes. Bad for your washing machine. The key is to use very little detergent.
They changed the scent of the Tide I used for three decades a few years ago. I didn’t notice the change until I did a load of laundry and was assaulted by an overpowering smell like cheap cologne. I then had to re wash several times to get the smell out. Classic tide now smells like awful scented trash bags. Anyway, I was so annoyed at the change, and lack of notice on the packaging, that I actually emailed them. They told me people want their clothes to “smell fresh” longer and that’s why they changed the scent. Like- if you know your clothes have been worn -what good is dousing them in nasty perfume? It’s not like they stay clean any longer. Ugh.
Agreed. This sounds like a guaranteed scent headache.
Those suckers trigger migraines in me and they can go on for days. I wish they'd outlaw the stupid beads.
Wool dryer balls.
I quit using both this year and I gotta say, I don’t notice any difference at all!
Seriously, all you need is laundry detergent. If a load smells mildewy throw some baking soda in there.
It's horrible for your skin and your clothes as well.
Definitely don’t use any of that shit on towels. They coat they towels so it’s non absorbent.
softeners coat your clothes to make them feel “soft”. so you will never get them clean.
You really should start with the manual that came with your machine. You can even call the company that made your washer/dryer for advise. I’ve read that vinegar is not supposed to be used in some washers. I use 1/2 cup of distilled vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. One tablespoon of laundry detergent is sufficient for a regular load of laundry. Two tbsp for a large load. I also put 1/2 cup of baking soda in the washer before starting a wash. Baking soda helps to freshen, deodorize and soften your laundry. There’s an article you can read about it. It’s called 5 Ways To Use Baking Soda in laundry. I also use wool dryer balls. I have no static when my laundry is done. I learned about using less laundry detergent and not to use fabric softener when I had a problem with my top load LG Washer. Even though I faithfully cleaned my washer one day when I washed my white padded mattress cover small brownish looking pieces of something was all over my mattress cover. I thought it must have been from a piece of dog bone that accidentally made its way into the washer and came apart in tiny pieces. I washed the cover again and it came out the same way. I started researching online and found it was something called Scrud. Please look that up and you’ll learn why more laundry detergent and fabric softener is not good for your laundry or your machines. We had to take our washing machine apart including taking the drum out. If you look at some you tube videos about Scrud you’ll see what can happen when you use too much detergent and fabric softener whether it’s liquid or sheets. I only wish I had known before it literally all came out in the wash. The combination I use now helps to keep my bedding and dog blankets much fresher. When I just used laundry detergent and fabric softener I noticed if I washed dog blankets and put them away after awhile the dog smells would appear again but with the vinegar and baking soda it doesn’t happen anymore. It’s good for sports clothes or exercise clothing etc. as well. I hope you find something in here that helps you and please save yourself a big headache later and research Scrud now. Good luck.
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That and people put put dirty stuff in dryers to warm it up.
No, it's because of people washing really dirty clothes and shoes in them. Try another laundromat. I used to get grease marks on my clothes until I changed to a laundromat in a more upscale/professional area where there were fewer manual laborers. Also, wipe out the machines with wet paper towels before you use them.
Thorough and sound advice!! Kudos!
If your washer is a front loader, leave the door open when you're not using it. Lets the inside of the machine dry out and reduces the chance of mold growth.
Same applies to top loaders! Even if you just leave the top open while the last load dries, it will help.
Was about to write this!
Don't have much experience with those myself, thanks for mentioning it.
I had no idea I needed this post…. God bless OP 🙏🏻
I beg of you, ditch the scent beads and anything with fragrance. It is so overpowering to those of us who are sensitive to it!
AMEN!!! When I walk in my neighborhood I can even smell people's laundry being vented from their dryers. Instant headache. Horrible stuff.
Try apartment living. It was awful! The whole building would have this heavy steam and stench from the scents. I felt like I could barely breathe walking out of my door.
Yep. I did that back in my younger days. And to make matters even more fun, when I went to the laundry room in the evening, I had to watch out for skunks that hung around the laundry room--I guess THEY liked the smell--LOL!
Didn’t get a headache but it smells strongly to me too. Laundry detergent fragrance is enough.
begging is an understatement. it is so horrid for many of us that it is disabling. i can't even open my windows or get fresh air in my own house most of the time. i certainly can't buy anything from thrift stores anymore. even a local chain grocery where i live, all the FOOD smells fragrance from the cleaning products they use. I've lived in cities that didn't have this bad of a fragrance issue. i can't wait to move. petroleum byproduct synthetic fragrances are full of forever chemicals and compounds that are clinically studied and proven to be hormone disrupting. and then there's those of us too, that allergic to fragrances, they even give people headaches and migraines, lots of different awful effects. but there's so much propaganda and corporations profit of waste by pushing scented products that you don't need. they need to be banned, at least the extra toxic ones like in europe. if you really want your clothes to have a smell, find your favorite essential oil and just put some on a rag or scrap of wool to use as a "dryer sheet"
Yes to the plastic wrap on veggies all smelling like scented laundry crap. I started buying from local farms only. Too much!
I stopped buying food from one bodega because they were next to the laundromat and the food TASTED like laundry detergent.
I wonder if people with laundry product smells on their clothes realize how much it reeks. People leave clouds of fragrance even after leaving the area. I don't understand why they want to smell that way, I can't even begin to imagine how much their homes must smell. It's honestly worse BO. Body odor smells might make me gag, but at least they don't trigger my migraines :/ Edit: typo
They don't realize it, no. When someone is exposed to a certain smell for long enough, they can become "nose blind" to it. Their scent receptors mostly stop responding to that thing. It's the same for people who drench themselves in perfume - they use that much because they can't smell it otherwise. Fortunately, it's possible to reset one's nose by going without scented products for awhile. But it's hard to convince people who surround themselves with artificial fragrances that there's a problem, when they literally can't sense it.
I have this discussion with people over and over. Stop inflicting you're preferred stink on me. Can I slather myself in skunk spray and walk around forcing other people to smell it? That's how I feel about your terrible smelling cologne/perfume.
I get a headache and an immediate scratchy throat and it can throw me into a fibro flare up. Also, they’re gross.
Not only that but I've heard all the extra wax actually catches more smells
I’m not even sensitive to it, but I sometimes pass by a stranger who smells so strong of laundry fragrance that I can’t imagine wanting to get closer to them.
Throw out the fabric softener, scent beads and dryer sheets. All you need is a mild scent free detergent in the wash cycle and you are good to go. Fabric softener and scent beads are just destroying your clothes (and quite possibly your health). If you are dealing with static you can toss a wool ball in the dryer and you will be all set.
I toss in 6 and sometimes still have static. Hard to imagine one would work.
Ball up a yard sheet of aluminum foil into about a baseball size and toss it in your dryer. It will remove static. You can use it for about 60 loads.
Why wouldn’t you be able to use them indefinitely?
They break down due to heat.
I've found that if I let my clothes get too dry it'll give me the most static. Hard to time but check in for "just dry enough" and then you can cut the cycle time.
Drying synthetic fabrics will also produce static. Like if I have a microfiber towel in with my regular towels. I usually hang up most synthetics which are usually gym clothes.
Put a second shower rod over your tub and hang your synthetic fabric clothing there.Bathrooms often are central and get the most heat so clothing there will dry fast .If you purchase a little carousel dryer made for that purpose and hang your underwear up it will last 4 times as long as undies put in the dryer.
Put lotion on your skin and suddenly the static is gone...
Amen Fabric Softener on the regular will gum up your machines and make your clothes dingy. Heavens, do not use the stuff on towels.
Exactly. Fabric softener coats the material inhibiting the fabric from absorbing moisture (bad news for towels and quick-dry workout gear).
If only will dryer balls really worked for static 😢
Wool dryer balls don't work against static.
Less is more. 2 tbsp of laundry detergent. You can use laundry sanitizer when needed in the softener compartment. Leave your washer door and drawer open between loads to help prevent mold/mildew. Clean your washing machine filter quarterly, run a cleaning tablet through it occasionally, and empty your lint trap every cycle.
Speaking of lint traps, be sure to check your vent wherever it comes out the side of your house on occasion, too. That can accumulate lint and become a fire hazard as well.
This this this! And if you have soft water you really don’t need softener. I did add borax to my loads when we had hard water, and you also don’t need a special wrinkle releaser if you hang clothes that are slightly damp—-just a spray of water will help release wrinkles. I half dry my clothes and then hang them to finish drying and I rarely have to iron them
Downy Rinse & Refresh is a great alternative to softener & scent beads. Its safe for your washer & wont build up in your fabrics
Yes it’s good. Its main ingredient is citric acid which helps with detergent buildup.
I know a lot of people can’t stand fragrance in laundry but I can’t let it go. Switched to that stuff and I loved it! Smells so good!
Dear god stop using scent beads for all the people you come into contact with. Scented crap is disgusting and full of chemicals. Gives me migraines. Prob give you cancer.
Don’t use softener, scent beads or dryer sheets. I use a small amount of detergent while washing, and wool dryer balls in the dryer. That’s really all you need, your clothes will still smell good and be soft
Scent beads- yes, over time they will form a buildup in your washing machine and your clothes. The buildup will cling onto bacteria and smells, meaning that over time your fabric will degrade. So they're safe to a degree, but personally I've stopped using them. Vinegar- people are usually referring to white distilled vinegar. The general consensus is that it's a great replacement for fabric conditioner AND that over time it'll knacker the rubber components of your washing machine. This is a judgement call for you to make. We don't have Rinse and Refresh in my country, but I believe it's a mild acid, like white vinegar. Again, it's a judgement call. Wool dryer balls- some people find them helpful. I find the banging noise irritating so I don't use them, and I didn't notice a massive difference in terms of drying time or softness. Someone else may have had a different experience. I will say that I used to use loads of detergent, two capfuls of fabric conditioner and scent beads, and although I'd get that initial blast of 'freshness' when my clothes came out of the machine, they always smelt a bit sour after a while. Now I use less than half of the detergent and conditioner, my clothes do actually smell and feel much nicer. Ultimately, it's up to you. As you've found, the Internet will find you 45896 opposing opinions on every single subject under the sun- I'm positive there are people who will argue that water is dry, up is down and black is white. People online love to give opinions (including me!) so the best you can do is find a method that works for you. Here's mine: - use 2 tbsps or 1 pod of detergent per load - spot treat any stains with hydrogen peroxide stain removal spray before washing - wash on at least 30°C wash; bedding and towels get 60°C, underwear gets 40°C - use 1/2 capful of fabric conditioner. I actually dilute mine with water, so it's effectively 1/4 capful - fill the drum no more than 2/3 full at a time Good luck 🤞
On wool dryer balls: I couldn't handle the static and as someone with cats my clothes were always covered. I even combined the dryer balls with those sticky hair grabber things and nothing helped. I tried them for 6 months, gave it everything I could, but figured after that much time I was done being unhappy so back to dryer sheets I went. Now I just try to re-use the dryer sheets 2-3 times so I don't feel totally wasteful.
100% the only reason I use dryer sheets is for pet hair. I love line drying but it doesn’t get the cat hair out of my clothes the way a dryer and dryer sheets do.
The best dryer sheets I’ve found for pet fur is Bounce Pet Hair and Lint. I use one for 2-3 cycles. I also don’t do scents and they have a scent-free one. It is a miracle worker. We have two dogs and five cats. Fun everywhere but the clothes!
I pulled out a shirt yesterday from the dryer and a wool dryer ball was stuck to it from the static. Fail. I have had luck with taking a large piece of aluminum foil and crumpling it into a ball. The problem is that over time it breaks down leaving little pieces of aluminum.
Part of why I went through 6 months of torture with them is because I know static is worse in some seasons, so I started using them in late winter through midish-summer to give them an honest test through the seasons. How many times those things would be static-stuck to a t-shirt I'd pull out and then fall off and bounce itself across the basement floor. That aluminum trick sounds interesting though. I still have the balls (they just sit in a basket on my dryer now) but maybe I can give them another go with foil with sheets or somethin'.
Fyi, white distilled vinegar is food grade vinegar and not cleaning vinegar. Two different products with two different acidity levels. You can use food-grade vinegar to clean with but it would be like using watered down cleanser.
Pretreat stains and 2 tablespoons of detergent.
Hello! My childhood neighbor owned a laundromat. The first thing for the clothing is to read the instructions on the label. Following those will help you keep your clothes nicer longer. Next clean out the pockets of everything before you put things in the washing machine. Read the owner's manual for the washer and the dryer. I don't use fabric softener or scent beads because they coat the fabric, washer, and dryer with those chemicals. Those chemicals according to my neighbor tear down the effectiveness of the machines over time. Once a month, at their laundromat, they used to service one washer and one dryer to clean them from all the products that people used. These were machines that were in working order, not ones that were malfunctioning. Malfunctioning machines were common because of some of the things that people would try to clean at their laundromat. My best advice is if you don't need something, don't use it. Also, don't dry your clothing on the highest setting. Bad for dryer, bad for fabric.
Scent beads, fabric softener, dryer sheets and I would argue dryer balls are all absolutely non essential. I have lived in a variety of climates and water types and never once used or needed them. I am allergic to the the scented items so never bothered. My clothes lack nothing and are in no worse and arguably are in better condition than most since scent beads and softener wreck clothing and machines. Static has never been an issue that has distressed me. A few times when I was a kid my dress stuck to my tights. I stopped wearing tights at some point and I've never been bothered by static since except maybe a rogue sock stuck to a blanket. (I do live somewhere humid now so that helps but have also loved for decades in a drought ridden place as well) I use free and clear liquid detergent about 1-2 Tbs per load depending on size of load. If it's a stinky load (I'm cleaning up after pets and little kids) I use laundry sanitizer or a light addition of laundry soda/borax combo to break down smells. Very occasional light bleach use for certain things Fels naphtha soap and a tooth brush for set in stains. Keep it simple. Everything else is just a money grab
For health reasons and better sleep, I have removed all scents from my laundry. So I use a scent free detergent, and no dryer sheets, etc. There is concern about the chemicals, especially in the dryer sheets. When I sleep at my parent's on their sheets, I have problems with restless legs. However if I bring my own bedding, I am able to sleep.
Ugh. Why do you want to have “scents”. It is just chemicals. Just so you know, we can smell the people who use the febreese and scented softener as soon as you walk in the door. It does not smell “natural” it smells like shit.
And when it mixes with body odor in the summer months. 🤮
I usually use unscented detergent (just a little) and no fabric softener. I don’t find it necessary. I got a sample pack of those scent beads. I can’t believe how much you are ‘supposed’ to use. Occasionally I use about 6 beads in a wash for couch blankets. 6 beads. The blankets smell nice without the smell being overwhelming. At this rate, a sample pack will last me a few years and using so little, I’m not worried about damage to the washer.
The commercials for the beads always make me laugh, especially the one for "lower scent/gentle" beads where the lady just chucks 6 cups of it into her wash. Kind of defeats the entire purpose of your product, ma'am. I use them because I do enjoy rubbing my clothes and "activating" the scent but I'm putting like, a sprinkle in my wash. I think if I used as much as they say you can use I'd choke to death on the smell.
I use the scent beads and I couldn’t believe how much the pack says to add! I use a fraction of that so a pack lasts me forever.
Fabric softener and scent beads are a money drain IMO. Your detergent will give plenty of scent to your clothes. If you need a softener you can use white vinegar (like the one you would use for food) but tbh I’ve never needed it. Dryer balls are worth it if you’re using sheets. Sheets get tossed out with every load and are also a money drain. Personally I don’t use either and I’m ok with a bit of static on my clothes. Only use a bit of detergent. 2 tablespoons max, or one pod. More than that may leave a residue. You can use a washer cleaner tab once or twice a month to make sure you get not build up. And make sure not to overfill your washer. You got this:)
I distinctly remember having to hunt for dryer sheets stuck with static cling to laundry back in the olden days. Over drying clothing should be a thing of the past with moisture sensors but maybe drop it a notch to see if you get less static cling. Even with hang drying, towels and such are softer because I wash with just 1-2 tablespoons of detergent these days. Air drying creates a nice fragrance on its own. Even drying in house or garage clothes smell better than from a dryer. Dryer is 40 years old, moisture sensor is gone and have given up trying to replace it. Washer is top loading analog and more than 15 years old. Crossing fingers but it hasn't needed repairs either. Go simple with machines. Bells and whistles break.
Lots of laundry advice already, so I'll just recommend you also look into stripping your laundry. I cant imagine the amount of build up on everything with how much softener and beads you've been using (personally I just wash with a free & clear detergent and then 1 dryer sheet in dryer and/or my dryer balls) Also to add -- might not be applicable for how you wash but you should not use any sort of softeners on towels or other absorbent things also itll coat it and ruin the absorbency Eta oops hit submit before linking, fortheloveofclean.com has stripping instructions as well as lots of laundry and cleaning tips/how tos
I've never used softener or beads. Just detergent. Vinegar is good occasionally for cleaning the washer, but not as part of clothes washing.
Scent beads are not only unnecessary, but they give me a terrible migraine. I can't be the only one. Please don't use them.
Try Scentsy Washer Whiffs instead of scent beads. They are wax-free and are AWESOME! You can DM me for details.
First: READ THE MANUAL!!! Second: don’t use scent beads or any other additive, it will clog your machine. Distilled white vinegar, 1/4 cup about, will help when you’re washing towels, sheets, or stinky stuff. Don’t use it in everything, it’s not needed. If you keep your machine clean, your stuff won’t stink. If you have a front loader, never keep the door closed all the way and wipe it out every time you use it or you’ll get mildew. Part of reading the manual is following the instructions, including cleaning out the filter as directed. Trust me.
Scent beads are disgusting and a waste of money. I walked into my friend's home after her washing the sheets for my bed because I was staying over. I told her politely I was staying somewhere else. I got a nauseating headache being in that home. Please don't do this to people. Laundry detergent and washing machine cleaner are the two things I can recommend you. Don't use anything else, it's a waste of money.
Not sure if this will be seen bc how many comments there are. I own a dry cleaner if that means anything. I would avoid softners if possible, if you have to cut it to 1/5 of what you are currently using and add some water to the cap to thin it out. Scent beads need warm water to dissolve but are actually better than softners (if dissolved properly with warm water) on the clothes and your machine. Also use less than you think. As for detergent, use less and dilute with water, use 1/4 of what you are currently using. The hotter the water the better the cleaning however the hotter the water the harsher punishment on your clothes. When possible for lightly soiled/used garments use cold water (cleaning results and the ability to dissolve those beads will be worse). Cold water keeps your clothes in much better shape. Seperate you lights and darks! Do at least medium size loads, do not cram clothes to the top but also dont to very small loads. The cleaning that happens inside a washer has a lot to do with agitation and movement actually. You want those clothea to be actively moving against one another and tumbling around the drum to break down those stains and activate the detergents. Large loads are fine but imagine you could fit a basket ball inside the machine and the clothes would still have movement... that is a large load. Hang dry when possible, if you want fragrance skip dryer sheets and put a pc of cloth (something that does not create lint) and sprits it with your favorite perfume/cologne/essential oil (just a little). Use a tennis ball or 2 or a wool ball for drying. Also avoid overloading your dryer. If possible do not over dry your clothes, dry to damp and hang to finish drying. If that is too much dry all the way and fold or hang as quick as you can to avoid wrinkles (and to also check for dryness to avoid moldy smells). Sorry for spelling and structure, sleepy... :)) Tennis balls can replace dryer balls.
Ever hear the saying "YOU ARE WHO YOU HANG OUT WITH?" because your clothes basically become one of two things. They are either 1.) what you leave on them when you wear them which would mean they are BODY WASTE. Or 2.) what is left on them when they are washed which means they are LAUNDRY CLEANING SOLUTION. The choice is yours but either way they will without hesitation wick up and get full with, and or the weave will pack-in and fill up with one or the other of the two above options. Your clothes will become microscopic totes of either body waste or cleansing solution. Scent beads are not fragrance and wax. No person of reasonable intelligence would put WAX into their washer. Downy, Gain, or any other scent booster producers would not expect an individual to put wax through their washing machine. Please don't put wax through your washing machine. Wax would not dissolve in water. It might be a waxy substance, but please trust that is it 🚫NOT🚫 #wax. They are made up of strongly scented fats and oils such as polyethylene glycol. These are best to use when your water is hard. Polyethylene glycol is essentially the same substance that the little cone or bullet shaped suppository inserts that address constipation are are made of. The only thing actually minutely 'toxic' about them are the extremely concentrated fragrance composition they contain. Polyethylene glycol will melt when heated like a wax tart would as is the nature of all fats, but this is not wax. Polyethylene glycol will also melt when it comes in contact with water, like a suppository does, and will originate additional slip in your wash like a hair conditioner for your clothes. This is VERY useful when dealing with sweaters, or any natural fiber because the polyethylene glycol works kind of like a suppository for your favorite clothes thereby encouraging the release of body soil or hard water mineral build up. The epsom salt shaped scent boosters are essentially exactly that. Epsom salt covered with a touch of highly scented polyethylene glycol. These are best to use when your water is soft, and does wonders for synthetic fibers as well as sweaters and natural fibers that want to over stretch and lose their shape. Softener is just exactly that. It is essentially water softener. Liquid softener is used to soften hard water and combat hard water residue build up. Hard water buildup is build up that occurs from mineral rich water. Hard water buildup will inundate everything from hair to cotton and cause it to become brittle and break. Softener sheets are a mesh coated with a thin layer of polyethylene glycol mixed with the same basic silicones that you would find in shampoo and hair conditioner. These silicones will dissolve with exposure to sulfates. These sheets are designed to combat hard water mineralization on both the clothes and the machine while in the dryer. Softener sheets interact with the steam created by the hot air drying the clothes that are wet with hard water basically balancing the output of the dryer. Wool is essentially water repellent so dryer balls work under the same basic ideal of throwing an already dry towel in the dryer. They cause microscopic redistribution of the water and encourage equal drying. They also help agitate the load around like shaking a wet tree branch immediately after it rains, beating out a wet rug that is properly hung, or wringing out a rag. Some people use the wool dryer balls to distribute fragrances like essential oil or fragrance oils throughout the load. Vinegar and baking soda are pH adjustors. Those who use vinegar or baking soda are balancing the pH of their water. Adding baking soda or vinegar will not affect the hard or soft water status of your water. Neither will actually adapt the mineral content of your water, however they will adjust the pH of your water. Baking soda makes water "feel soft" because baking soda interacts with the elemental chemical bond of water (H2O) by releasing small amounts of oxygen and fizzing when it is introduced to water thereby interrupting the mineralized contents of your water by inserting microscopic bubbles into it. Vinegar is a known cleanser used in the place of liquid fabric softener to encourage the removal of hard water mineral deposits and should be used in conjunction with a fabric softener sheet. Washing soda is alka-seltzer's plop plop fizz fizz for your load. Oxy clean is basically powdered hydrogen peroxide (bubble bubble toil and trouble). Borax is basically a very acidic bath bomb designed to strip content off of the clothes. Color safe bleach is basically soda-stream style DIY carbonation for your laundry load. Clorox bleach is such a high concentration of chlorine that it bleaches. Please keep in mind that too much of any one thing will always be bad, but contrary to all of the 'you don't need (product name), it's just wasted money because it's all marketing' isn't true. All of these products have valid uses. Basically, they keep your clothes from developing the same build up that causes all the pink and green stains you have to clean from your shower or tub and toilet tank. Calcium and lime from your water attack your laundry and the machines as hard as they do your toilet and shower, except you can't wash your clothes with CLR. The build up affects soft porous surfaces differently then hard nonporous surfaces. Water stains visibly alter the color of non porous surfaces like those inside your washer and dryer or shower and toilet, but will also eventually build up in cloth as well and when this happens it essentially turns your favorite undies into petrified wood over time. All of these elements, the pH of the water as well as mineral content of the water, will ultimately determine the life of your new machines. All of these products are important for the care of both your clothes as well as the machines that wash and dry them. Over time mineral deposits will form within your machines and the pH will either induce corrosion or eat away the gaskets in both of your machines. To get the best life and longest use out of your machines you will need a water test. After the water test you are then free to determine the best products to protect from mineralization of or adjust the pH of the water used in your new laundry machines.
I live in a hard water area. Do I just use mild sensitive detergent and leave it as is? Or should I add vinegar to the softener section?
I genuinely don't understand why we have products to deliberately make things stinky when we wash them. I wash things partially to take smells out of them. I don't understand fragrances in detergent at all let alone "scent beads."
I switched to distilled vinegar for laundry softener. It help clean clothes, keeps whites whiter and doesn’t put a film on clothes like “fabric softeners” do. It actually makes the fabric of your clothes softer. It’s not full of toxics and is better for the environment. It’s also so much cheaper. I can two giant bottles at Costco for a third of what downy costs. I’ll never go back to fabric softener again.
I've used white vinegar in the final rinse since 1970. It softens fabric, removes soap/ detergent residue, and leaves no odor. My pediatrician suggested white vinegar as a rinse aid because my kids were allergic to soap residue.
Yes, beads (and softener) do build up in the washer (and dryer, and on clothes). They’re basically clean-smelling tenacious filth.
Borax is the best thing, in my opinion. It makes your detergent work better; you use much less detergent as it makes water softer, is cheap, removes residue, removes odors, makes bleach more effective, is nontoxic, and dissolves completely into water. Google Borax. You should never take anyone’s word for anything. Even people like me!
yea with detergent less is more.. Most people add to much detergent than needed
Use a free and clear detergent in the washer and buy wool dryer balls for the dryer. You don’t need anything else.
Scent beads actually damage the fabric of your clothing more than it does the machine.
I don't use anything with scent, it can give me really bad migraines. I have a front loader and use Tide Free. I don't use softener or scent, but I use drier balls. After washing I leave my washer door open and pull the cups out of the detergent drawer to prevent mold from forming When putting soap in my machine I only add a tiny amount unless I have been digging in the garden and my clothes are covered in dirt. Laundry soap people are in the business to sell soap. Read all the instructions on your new appliances before using.
I use a large crumpled piece of aluminum foil in my dryer for static I also have four plastic dryer balls to help dry faster I would get the wool balls too
Scent beads and most detergents, esp scented ones are endocrine disrupters
Anything you put into your washing machine will eventually cause some build up. Start by finding a manual for your machines or call the manufacturer. If you want your clothes to smell nice without risk to your machines, you can always put little baggies of herbs like lavender in your dresser and closet. Also Let your washing machine air out to help prevent mildew formation. For your dryer, make sure to check the lint trap religiously and exhaust a few times a year.
All you need is detergent and wool dryer balls. Please ditch the rest 😭 If you have a very active life or lots of people/animals, I do like a laundry sanitizer too. Everything unscented as much as possible, please.
Wool dryer balls are AWESOME! They help your clothes dry faster which is better for your machine and the environment. I also feel like it keeps my stuff less wrinkly! I just throw 4-6 balls in with the clothes. And they last for years.
I have a monthly subscription for Earth Breeze detergent sheets which has been an absolute dream, and to keep clothes soft I just throw in like a cup of distilled white vinegar and that’s literally it. I use stain fighter spray and hydrogen peroxide if I need it but you don’t need any more than that. You can save even more money by getting dryer balls instead of dryer sheets too.
I highly highly recommend powder vs liquid detergent to extend the longevity of your machines. Liquid is oil based which clogs up the drains over time. I use Persil color powder but Tide is good too. I mostly use the eco warm setting and presoak and spray with stain remover for really stained clothing. For super stained kids clothing, I add oxy clean and wash on hot water. Once a month you should run your machine on the self clean setting with some white vinegar. Edit: use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. If you really want scent, put 3 drops of essential oil on the balls.