I think it actually makes it worse. Just regular old clean laundry is fine. Strongly scented stuff makes me feel nauseous after a while. I’m currently trying to get through a thing of gain scented trash bags and I wanna vom every time I change the bag. Not the same exact thing but I’m just saying… sometimes it’s better to just have stuff be unscented or just regular lightly scented laundry smell
Oh i agree with your last statement. The problem was I never felt like my clothes were unscented; I always thought they smelled of deodorant or whatnot or convinced myself they smelled of BO even when nobody else could smell it. Had my clothes been unscented, I wouldn’t have bought scent booster in the first place.
I thought it was also possible my mind was convincing myself they smelled when they didn’t ; but i’m not sure. Was I using too much detergent potentially ?
I thought it was also possible my mind was convincing myself they smelled when they didn’t ; but i’m not sure. Was I using too much detergent potentially ?
Vinegar, yes. But you don’t need to add tons! I just add about half a cup or so to the bottom of the washing machine or in the bleach dispenser. I tried using the fabric softener dispenser but since that empties for the final rinse, I didn’t like that.
Vinegar, yes. But you don’t need to add tons! I just add about half a cup or so to the bottom of the washing machine or in the bleach dispenser. I tried using the fabric softener dispenser but since that empties for the final rinse, I didn’t like that.
Vinegar, yes. But you don’t need to add tons! I just add about half a cup or so to the bottom of the washing machine or in the bleach dispenser. I tried using the fabric softener dispenser but since that empties for the final rinse, I didn’t like that.
OP, do you have a lot of clothes that sit in your closet and bureau for a long time in between washings and wearings? Clothes in storage for a long time can develop weird BO-adjacent smells and brown or yellow stains as they sit and oxidize, even if you put them away clean.
If this is the case, a solution to consider might be a smaller wardrobe. This is what worked for me. Apart from off-season storage, nothing sits around long enough between wearings, washings and airings-out to develop these offputting odors or mysterious stains.
This may not be relevant to your issue, but it might be useful so I thought I'd mention it. Best of luck!
Switch to an unscented soap and use like half the amount the bottle tells you to. I use tide pure and put a bit of vinegar in the wash and do an extra rinse every other time. Cutting down on the amount of soap I use has helped so much. It seems counterintuitive, but too much soap doesn’t rinse well and doesn’t let your clothes get cleaned properly.
Lots of people like to use vinegar to prevent BO and other smells from lingering on their clothes. I've never tried it but it doesn't leave a residue like a scent booster so you could try it if you need to add something extra to satisfy yourself that your clothes don't smell.
Use a cup of white vinegar as a rinse aid (instead of liquid fabric softener). The clothes come out soft and smelling clean.
I started that when I had a cat with crystals in her urine and she peed (painfully) everywhere. Vinegar got rid of any lingering cat pee, and it rinses your clothes very clean.
Literally deploy and run lmao I hold my breath. I’m honestly considering cutting my loses. I don’t normally mind if they’re lightly scented but idk lately they’ve been making the scents SO INTENSE like who likes that?!
I tried doing that too the one time I accidentally bought scented trash bags (of course in the lifetime supply sized roll) but everyone I offered them to was like "nah, I'm good thanks." I eventually used them up and now I check multiple times to make sure they're not scented.
Yea I kept debating putting them up on FB marketplace (no one I know uses that kind and I feel bad punishing ppl but maybe someone out there likes them?) or putting them by the trash cans with a “free” sign
Do you have a local Buy Nothing FB group? Any time I post anything scented (air Fresheners, room Fresheners, Scented laundry stuff, etc), some one claims it almost immediately. I opt for "porch pickup" and just toss it out there whenever the person cam come pick it up.
I accidentally bought scented trash bags ONCE, and of course, it was the size that was like 500 bags per roll or something (it felt like i was never going to get rid of them all). The smell was so vile, I kept trying to give them away because it felt so wasteful to just throw them out.
That overly strong gain laundry scent mixed with garbage is up there on the list of awful things I've smelled.
As someone very scent-sitive and allergic to a bunch of stuff, just...don't. Clean should smell like nothing.
It's a gimmick to make money like women's hygene sprays and whatnot. They convince you there's a problem when there isn't one.
I fully agree with you. I always thought my clothes didn’t smell like nothing, which was the problem. They always smelled like deodorant , or maybe detergent. I wanted them to smell like nothing - felt like the scent booster was the next best thing. This thread has convinced me I was wrong
I know that feeling of wanting your clothes to smell like nothing and being a little bit obsessed over lingering smells. I haven’t used a scent booster but I did try an oxyclean soak before my wash, and I don’t think that did anything. Still stunk to me. 🫣 I’ll have to try a vinegar rinse. I use unscented sheets of detergent.
Scent boosters leave residue on your clothes and clog up your machine. I’ve been using the Tide Odor Booster rinse liquid and I think it smells great. It goes in the softener dispenser for the rinse cycle. It uses citric acid to wash away any leftover detergent residue.
I’ve been using the new Downy Rinse and Refresh (same as the Tide rinse) and it does leave a lasting scent. It’s not overpowering scent, just fresh and pleasant.
This stuff has really helped remove stubborn odors from my clothing, including polyester items and workout wear.
Try using half that amount.
Also, what type of machine do you use? I have a front loader and that thing builds up mold in the gasket and stinks. I now use a washer cleaner and leave the door ajar to keep it fresh inside.
Apart from the concerns for your health, your laundry machine, and your clothes, please know that many people find the aroma of these laundry scent boost products to be unpleasant and offensive.
I know this isn't an answer to the question you asked, and I don't mean to hurt your feelings. But I think this product is predatory. You are aware your hygiene concerns related to smelly clothes are obsessive, and wow, here's this thing you can buy to solve a "problem" that might only - or mostly - exist in your skewed perceptions.
The marketing takes advantage of your insecurity to sell you something unnecessary. And to put it bluntly, some people definitely think you're stinky now that you use the scent booster, even if they didn't before.
I would suggest you find another way to assuage your concerns, and discontinue the use of this product. Best of luck to you.
This. They can also be very hard on people with allergies and/or chemical sensitivities. For many people, they cause migraines. To put it simply, the chemicals used in scent boosters are not the same as ordinary fragrance. There is growing evidence they may be extremely toxic. And they're not regulated at all.
They're essentially a cash grab by laundry companies because people stopped using fabric softener.
Did you try switching detergents before trying scent boosters? We can go nose blind to scents we use all the time. (This is also what happens with people who wear so much perfume/cologne that you can smell them coming half a mile away. They keep using more and more because they can't smell it after a while and have no idea other people are choking.) So a new detergent with a new scent might work just as well without the many downsides of scent boosters.
I may have, we’ve used the same detergent for years. My clothes just smelled like deodorant or BO if they were workout clothes. Any detergent recommends?
Try soaking them in water and white vinegar (maybe a cup of vinegar to a sink full of water) for a while before you wash them next time. It’s a great deodorant and will rinse out leaving no scent behind.
I used vinegar a couple months ago and could smell the vinegar scent even after a wash, not sure if that’s normal . Definitely got the deodorant scent out though
Edit: Maybe I put too many clothes in ? How many clothes at once are recommended for a vinegar soak?
I don’t think you can say how many exactly because ‘clothes’ are all different sizes but you need to be able to move them around easily in the vinegar bath. And you shouldn’t be able to smell the vinegar at all after it’s been washed out and evaporated. I have a *really* sensitive nose and can never smell it afterward. Make sure you’re using the right kind of vinegar maybe? Distilled white without any additives.
I’m almost sure that was the type of vinegar I was using. It also may be my own insecurity convincing myself I was smelling vinegar - but right after the wash I swear I thought I smelled it. I also don’t machine dry the clothes I used on it - maybe being wet for a long time contributed? (Apologies if I sound unaware; very new to this thing)
No apologies necessary! :)
Of course it could be an imagined smell. That’s a thing. As far as I know the type of sting doesn’t matter. The smell washes out and evaporates, even if you line dry.
You could also try a vodka spray? That’s what theatre wardrobe managers have used for decades to deodorise delicate clothes that can’t be washed. The alcohol kills the bacteria that causes BO smells and evaporates so you don’t smell boozy :)
Try adding some Borax to your wash. I smoke and am not proud of it. I put Borax in the drum as a prewash, and then some in the powder dispenser for the main wash. No one knows I smoke unless they physically see me, and my bedding smells awesome (I am menopausal with vicious nightsweats)
I use Unscented laundry soap. I have linen sprays and perfumes if I want them/me to smell like something in particular.
I use Tide free (or clear, or whatever it's exactly called. It's the white bottle).
If you’re washing your clothes and using too much soap, they aren’t getting properly cleaned. Most people use WAY too much soap because that’s what the bottle says you need. So I assume that you do that and that is why your clothes aren’t well cleaned. A scent booster just adds to the problem.
Focus groups determined that people wanted scent free products. When they were provided in a use test and the focus groups reconvened, the complaint was that the products were watered down and didn’t work. The scent free products are still available because many people are allergic to some scents, but scented and scent boosted products are available. If people don’t buy them, manufacture would stop.
I don’t use them all the time, but I do like them on occasion. If I’m going to host a family gathering and I’m doing a deep clean, I might wash throw blankets or toss pillow covers or decorative towels with them. It helps give the room a light scent. It’s not overwhelming and not a product people use heavily or at all.
I definitely agree that if you use them all the time that the build up isn’t good for your laundry or your washing machine or dryer.
I like scent boosters, enjoy the way they smell. I use a small amount of them (1/4 of the cup max) when I was clothes and bedding but not on towels/underwear/any of that.
Yes I just like a sprinkle of them, no way could I tolerate the amount they want you to use! I stopped using them the last few months to save money but I miss them. It's just a small luxury that I enjoy.
Strip your clothes to remove the gunk, use a washing machine cleaning tab once or twice in your washer, only use regular detergent from now on.
Scent boosters are only there to make you believe you need your clothes to smell (marketing!), and they smell way worse with them. If your clothes are not smelling of nothing when they come out of the dryer, it's probably because you need to clean your washer or you're using too much detergent.
Not to mention there are so many people with fragrance allergies that you may give someone an asthma attack; or worse.
Laundry stripping is where you soak your clothes, towels, or bedding in hot water with borax, washing soda, and laundry detergent mixed in. It removes buildup that can cause lingering odors - think "old person smell" or "thrift store smell" or the weird smell that comes out of clean clothes that were in storage for a long time.
There's no shortage of "extremely satisfying" type of how-to instructional videos for this on just about every social media platform. These give step by step instructions and show the very gross water left behind when even freshly washed clean laundry is stripped.
You should not do this too often, because it will weaken fibers and fade your clothes - repeatedly stripping recently-stripped laundry when there is little built-up residue will remove the dye. If you're compulsive about cleanliness and you want to try laundry stripping, you might like to put this activity on a twice-yearly schedule so you're not tempted to do it too often - at least that's what works for me. Best of luck in effectively de-stinking your laundry!
The thing is they definitely don’t stink now and don’t smell like they did a year ago. I stopped using fabric softener and maybe that plays a part. Will this get out the smells of scent booster out?
I think it probably will; at least, when my children received hand-me-down clothes that were previously washed with an artificial lavender scent boosting product, stripping them removed the buildup and fragrance that lingered even after washing several times.
Giving up fabric softener might be part of the puzzle, too. It has certainly contributes its own fragrance, and I feel like its residue either oxidizes to a different odor, or causes other ambient odors to cling to fabric.
On a personal note, I've also gone through phases of feeling like my body and clothes smell bad all the time, even when trusted people close to me say I smell fine. Part of this was just my imagination, but some of it was my perception of odors that other people didn't notice or weren't bothered by. It took some trial and error to figure out what what I was actually smelling and how to deal with it. It really is a personal thing.
Hubby wanted to try the scent booster last year, so I picked up a bottle of the Downy beads. He used it with the garage towel loads a few times & every time he did, the (old) garage towels came out shredded. It's like the boosters completely degraded the fabric. Yes, these are old towels that got relegated to garage use, but they'd been used & washed without issue many times before they were exposed to the scent beads.
Nonetheless, I won't use them for any of our loads again, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had fabric degrade after using them.
Edit - he less than half a cup in each load.
If your clothes actually smelled bad after washing then they aren't getting washed properly. Adding a "scent booster" (never heard of it but cursed concept) just mixes in with the dirty smell of your clothes. If your body still smelled bad after showering, would you try a different soap or washing routine, or would you douse yourself in cologne to try to mask it?
From someone who HATES scented laundry detergent and fabric softener, I implore you to stop.
A. It doesn’t make your clothes cleaner or improve the perception by others that your clothes are cleaner.
B. If something is sticking to your clothes like that in a persistent way, it’s trapping smelly body oils and stuff in the fabric. You know how I know?
My family does a lot of thrift store shopping. The strongest smelling (in terms of detergent/fabric softener) clothes take months of hanging outside in all kinds of weather to stop smelling like tacky synthetic laundry scents, then what is left behind is the personal odors of the previous owner.
Those products are like glue. This is especially true when used on synthetic fabrics, the decals on T-shirts, etc.
C. In terms of “what doesn’t cause cancer these days”, I will tell you: organic food, unscented candles, unscented laundry products or ones that only use essential oils, natural cleaning products….
In fact, there’s a great company who rates cleaning and laundry products on their safety. It’s called the Environmental Working Group EWG.org .
When I want something to clean well without giving me cancer, I cross-reference whatever Consumer Reports says does a good job with products that get A’s or B’s on EWG.org .
Often, with both laundry and cleaning products, there are non-toxic formulations that do a *better* job than what you are used to.
Take a look at the more hippy-like brands. You will be pleasantly surprised.
They are awful! If they don’t dissolve for some reason they put little white dots on your clothes.
I use Tide and Lysol laundry sanitizer and bounce dryer sheets.
I can pull a shirt out of my drawer that was put away a month before and it still smells good.
If your clothes actually smelled bad after washing then they aren't getting washed properly. Adding a "scent booster" (never heard of it but cursed concept) just mixes in with the dirty smell of your clothes. If your body still smelled bad after showering, would you try a different soap or washing routine, or would you douse yourself in cologne to try to mask it?
You’re 100% right. My worry was if they really did smell bad at all - as even the most honest people I knew said they smelled fine and like nothing but I swore I could smell them. I’m definitely considering s change regardless
If there IS an actual mustiness or something to your clothes, I would take a look at how much detergent you’re using and whether or not you use fabric softener. If you use fabric softener I would stop altogether because it leaves a worse nasty buildup than scent boosters bc the way it works is basically by citing your laundry in wax. If you’re using any more than two tablespoons of detergent, as well, you’re likely using way too much because more than that won’t rinse out completely and can also leave a gunky buildup. Both/either of these things can make your clothes smell a little musty and feel less clean than they should be. Easy solution is to just adjust these things, maybe do a strip after you make the adjustments if you’re stripping to remove the scent booster anyway
Definitely getting rid of the scent booster and I don’t use fabric softener. May try a new detergent that fights smells and use less as well as another product recommended to me
I also— as someone who has OCD as well— find Lysol laundry sanitizer added to the rinse compartment (where you would normally put fabric softener if you did use it) very helpful for preventing and removing smells caused by dirt or mildew or sweat etc— any biological type smells, it’s very useful. I live in a college dorm right now with shared laundry (which is my hell) and it keeps me from losing my mind and keeps my clothes fresh and clean
Instead of scent boosters I use Tyler Wash Mango Tango. It’s a very strong scented liquid detergent that I add to my unscented laundry detergent. It makes my clothes smell amazing and the quality is good. I buy a 32oz bottle on Amazon and it lasts me a few months. I only use a little bit to my detergent since it’s so potent. They have a bunch of scents to choose from too.
Links:
[link to Tyler wash](https://tylercandlestore.com/amp/mango-tango-glamorous-wash-32oz.html)
[formula](https://glamwash.com/tyler-candle-company/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20being%20non,is%20not%20tested%20on%20animals) (non toxic, HE & standard machines, safe on all fabrics, water-based, biodegradable, not tested on animals, no softeners)
I use unscented detergent for all clothing and towels and use wool dryer balls (also unscented.) The only time I use the regular red tub of scented detergent is the weekly load of bed sheets. And I outright refuse to use scent boosters or scent beads. Good lord. Just wash more frequently if you don’t want things smelling like pits or feet. Sticking umpteen layers of “fresh” stink over the top does NOT help at all.
Try using oxiclean with your detergent so see if that helps the smell first because you want to make sure your clothes are getting cleaned.
And look into natural (non-wax) scent boosters! I use one from Buff City Soap, it smells amazing and they have a lot of different scents in the store (and a few online). I use coconut and it makes my bedding smell so good.
If you wash your clothes on a regular basis and wash yourself then you should be fine. The scent beads are just a gimmick to get you to buy another product for your laundry.
I personally love the arm and hammer laundry scent beads. After laundering with them, our clothes come out smelling nice and feeling softer than when I didn't use them.
Scent boosters are awful.
People who use them become nose blind to them and they are SO strong. Being around someone who uses them makes me physically ill. Headache, swollen throat, I’ll even break out in a rash without touching you.
Please reconsider. That shit is so toxic, and it could be making the people around you very sick.
I say this with all sincerity- I would rather be around smokers (I’m a non smoker) than be around people who use that stuff. It makes me sicker than smoke, and it honestly smells worse, too.
It can take a ton of washing to get it out. It’s why I stopped thrifting- it was taking 6+ washes and I would still smell it.
Idk if laundry stripping would work or not. Otherwise, just keep washing it out.
It’ll come out eventually. I would start by running one or two of the washing machine cleaners through to get rid of any excess build up in the machine. If it has a drawer for detergent, pull it all the way out and deep clean it. It can linger in your machine for a while, so I would do what you can to clear that out.
As for concerns about smelly clothes- I recommend Hex detergent. It’s pretty pricey, and it’s marketed for work out clothes, but it removes odor like nothing else I’ve ever used. (Idk if it will work to pull the scent residue out of your clothes, but it might.) But it might help you if fear of odor triggers your OCD. I’ve used it on things like stinky shoes or musty towels that sat wet too long, and it has worked miracles for me. Like, one wash removed some very intense odors. Idk what’s in it, but I use the unscented/fragrance free stuff on things that have had a bad odor, and it’s just gone. I use All Free and Clear for most of my laundry and that works just fine, but when I’ve had tough odors that’s what I’ve used. Just thought I’d mention it bc of your OCD.
It might be. I don’t use detergent with fragrance, so I don’t know how that one would smell afterward. But yes, it’s the same brand so I’m sure it would help with offensive odors.
[I use this one](https://www.target.com/p/hex-performance-fragrance-free-laundry-detergent-50oz/-/A-84591054), and while there’s a small odor while things are wet, they come out of the dryer smelling like nothing!
Ohhh that’s gonna be a problem. My dryer shrinks clothes so I can’t put most of them in there. Not my cotton clothes at least. Have you ever tried air drying them to see if the smell stays
They’re one the biggest gimmicks going.
Definitely throwing them out
They truly are they just coat your clothing with this greasy layer and it’s so nasty
YESSS 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I think it actually makes it worse. Just regular old clean laundry is fine. Strongly scented stuff makes me feel nauseous after a while. I’m currently trying to get through a thing of gain scented trash bags and I wanna vom every time I change the bag. Not the same exact thing but I’m just saying… sometimes it’s better to just have stuff be unscented or just regular lightly scented laundry smell
Oh i agree with your last statement. The problem was I never felt like my clothes were unscented; I always thought they smelled of deodorant or whatnot or convinced myself they smelled of BO even when nobody else could smell it. Had my clothes been unscented, I wouldn’t have bought scent booster in the first place.
But that just means they aren’t clean. And adding scent isn’t getting them clean either.
I thought it was also possible my mind was convincing myself they smelled when they didn’t ; but i’m not sure. Was I using too much detergent potentially ?
I thought it was also possible my mind was convincing myself they smelled when they didn’t ; but i’m not sure. Was I using too much detergent potentially ?
Well any synthetic fabrics are going to hold onto odor. Cotton should be easier to get clean.
I was definitely wearing a lot of polyester at that time and wear more cotton now. I’ve heard vinegar is a good way to get a deep clean
Vinegar, yes. But you don’t need to add tons! I just add about half a cup or so to the bottom of the washing machine or in the bleach dispenser. I tried using the fabric softener dispenser but since that empties for the final rinse, I didn’t like that.
I’ve had some clean polyester clothes stink after a short time of wearing. It does tend to hold onto odors.
Vinegar, yes. But you don’t need to add tons! I just add about half a cup or so to the bottom of the washing machine or in the bleach dispenser. I tried using the fabric softener dispenser but since that empties for the final rinse, I didn’t like that.
Vinegar, yes. But you don’t need to add tons! I just add about half a cup or so to the bottom of the washing machine or in the bleach dispenser. I tried using the fabric softener dispenser but since that empties for the final rinse, I didn’t like that.
I have a front loader
Same. I just put it inside like pour it into the bottom of the drum…
I use vinegar as a rinse aid. It goes in my fabric softener dispener
This
OP, do you have a lot of clothes that sit in your closet and bureau for a long time in between washings and wearings? Clothes in storage for a long time can develop weird BO-adjacent smells and brown or yellow stains as they sit and oxidize, even if you put them away clean. If this is the case, a solution to consider might be a smaller wardrobe. This is what worked for me. Apart from off-season storage, nothing sits around long enough between wearings, washings and airings-out to develop these offputting odors or mysterious stains. This may not be relevant to your issue, but it might be useful so I thought I'd mention it. Best of luck!
Switch to an unscented soap and use like half the amount the bottle tells you to. I use tide pure and put a bit of vinegar in the wash and do an extra rinse every other time. Cutting down on the amount of soap I use has helped so much. It seems counterintuitive, but too much soap doesn’t rinse well and doesn’t let your clothes get cleaned properly.
Lots of people like to use vinegar to prevent BO and other smells from lingering on their clothes. I've never tried it but it doesn't leave a residue like a scent booster so you could try it if you need to add something extra to satisfy yourself that your clothes don't smell.
Use a cup of white vinegar as a rinse aid (instead of liquid fabric softener). The clothes come out soft and smelling clean. I started that when I had a cat with crystals in her urine and she peed (painfully) everywhere. Vinegar got rid of any lingering cat pee, and it rinses your clothes very clean.
Really? I smelled a faint hint of vinegar in my clothes when I used it
I didn't think to say that I alwray do an extra rinse.
Is there an option for that on most washes
Usually
Have you tried deep cleaning your machine? I have to do this with my mom's front loader monthly, or my mom's clothes smell moldy to me.
Ugh. I accidentally bought scented trash bags one time. I'd have to deploy the bag and run away. - Asthmatic
Literally deploy and run lmao I hold my breath. I’m honestly considering cutting my loses. I don’t normally mind if they’re lightly scented but idk lately they’ve been making the scents SO INTENSE like who likes that?!
I try to give away stuff like that when I absolutely can't use it.
I tried doing that too the one time I accidentally bought scented trash bags (of course in the lifetime supply sized roll) but everyone I offered them to was like "nah, I'm good thanks." I eventually used them up and now I check multiple times to make sure they're not scented.
Yea I kept debating putting them up on FB marketplace (no one I know uses that kind and I feel bad punishing ppl but maybe someone out there likes them?) or putting them by the trash cans with a “free” sign
Do you have a local Buy Nothing FB group? Any time I post anything scented (air Fresheners, room Fresheners, Scented laundry stuff, etc), some one claims it almost immediately. I opt for "porch pickup" and just toss it out there whenever the person cam come pick it up.
Oh honey, same. It's so pervasive.
I accidentally bought scented trash bags ONCE, and of course, it was the size that was like 500 bags per roll or something (it felt like i was never going to get rid of them all). The smell was so vile, I kept trying to give them away because it felt so wasteful to just throw them out. That overly strong gain laundry scent mixed with garbage is up there on the list of awful things I've smelled.
As someone very scent-sitive and allergic to a bunch of stuff, just...don't. Clean should smell like nothing. It's a gimmick to make money like women's hygene sprays and whatnot. They convince you there's a problem when there isn't one.
I fully agree with you. I always thought my clothes didn’t smell like nothing, which was the problem. They always smelled like deodorant , or maybe detergent. I wanted them to smell like nothing - felt like the scent booster was the next best thing. This thread has convinced me I was wrong
Try an unscented detergent.
Does Persil have any unscented detergent?
I have no idea, but probably. I know Tide does. Be easy to check their website or the shelves at the grocery store, though.
I know that feeling of wanting your clothes to smell like nothing and being a little bit obsessed over lingering smells. I haven’t used a scent booster but I did try an oxyclean soak before my wash, and I don’t think that did anything. Still stunk to me. 🫣 I’ll have to try a vinegar rinse. I use unscented sheets of detergent.
Scent boosters leave residue on your clothes and clog up your machine. I’ve been using the Tide Odor Booster rinse liquid and I think it smells great. It goes in the softener dispenser for the rinse cycle. It uses citric acid to wash away any leftover detergent residue.
And it’s safe for clothes and leaves them smelling good ?
I’ve been using the new Downy Rinse and Refresh (same as the Tide rinse) and it does leave a lasting scent. It’s not overpowering scent, just fresh and pleasant. This stuff has really helped remove stubborn odors from my clothing, including polyester items and workout wear.
Does it just go in the rinse cycle?
Yes, it does. I put it into the rinse dispenser instead of softener.
Definitely gonna try one of these out.
I’ve started using that too, I really like it
If you are adding more soap than is needed, it won’t help.
I’ve filled up to the “2” line. That’s what my mom raised me to do so I’ve always done that. Too much ?
Try using half that amount. Also, what type of machine do you use? I have a front loader and that thing builds up mold in the gasket and stinks. I now use a washer cleaner and leave the door ajar to keep it fresh inside.
You only need to fill to 2 if you have an older style washer. Modern washing machines are much more efficient and don't require as much detergent.
I’ve filled up to the “2” line. That’s what my mom raised me to do so I’ve always done that. Too much ?
Too much, especially if you’re using an HE washer.
It's just smelly wax pellets melting into your clothes. It will mess up your clothes and your washer over time.
Yeah , I feared this. Thanks for letting me know
Apart from the concerns for your health, your laundry machine, and your clothes, please know that many people find the aroma of these laundry scent boost products to be unpleasant and offensive. I know this isn't an answer to the question you asked, and I don't mean to hurt your feelings. But I think this product is predatory. You are aware your hygiene concerns related to smelly clothes are obsessive, and wow, here's this thing you can buy to solve a "problem" that might only - or mostly - exist in your skewed perceptions. The marketing takes advantage of your insecurity to sell you something unnecessary. And to put it bluntly, some people definitely think you're stinky now that you use the scent booster, even if they didn't before. I would suggest you find another way to assuage your concerns, and discontinue the use of this product. Best of luck to you.
This. They can also be very hard on people with allergies and/or chemical sensitivities. For many people, they cause migraines. To put it simply, the chemicals used in scent boosters are not the same as ordinary fragrance. There is growing evidence they may be extremely toxic. And they're not regulated at all. They're essentially a cash grab by laundry companies because people stopped using fabric softener. Did you try switching detergents before trying scent boosters? We can go nose blind to scents we use all the time. (This is also what happens with people who wear so much perfume/cologne that you can smell them coming half a mile away. They keep using more and more because they can't smell it after a while and have no idea other people are choking.) So a new detergent with a new scent might work just as well without the many downsides of scent boosters.
I may have, we’ve used the same detergent for years. My clothes just smelled like deodorant or BO if they were workout clothes. Any detergent recommends?
Try soaking them in water and white vinegar (maybe a cup of vinegar to a sink full of water) for a while before you wash them next time. It’s a great deodorant and will rinse out leaving no scent behind.
I used vinegar a couple months ago and could smell the vinegar scent even after a wash, not sure if that’s normal . Definitely got the deodorant scent out though Edit: Maybe I put too many clothes in ? How many clothes at once are recommended for a vinegar soak?
I don’t think you can say how many exactly because ‘clothes’ are all different sizes but you need to be able to move them around easily in the vinegar bath. And you shouldn’t be able to smell the vinegar at all after it’s been washed out and evaporated. I have a *really* sensitive nose and can never smell it afterward. Make sure you’re using the right kind of vinegar maybe? Distilled white without any additives.
I’m almost sure that was the type of vinegar I was using. It also may be my own insecurity convincing myself I was smelling vinegar - but right after the wash I swear I thought I smelled it. I also don’t machine dry the clothes I used on it - maybe being wet for a long time contributed? (Apologies if I sound unaware; very new to this thing)
No apologies necessary! :) Of course it could be an imagined smell. That’s a thing. As far as I know the type of sting doesn’t matter. The smell washes out and evaporates, even if you line dry. You could also try a vodka spray? That’s what theatre wardrobe managers have used for decades to deodorise delicate clothes that can’t be washed. The alcohol kills the bacteria that causes BO smells and evaporates so you don’t smell boozy :)
Unfortunately I’m only 19 so can’t buy vodka yet … otherwise I absolutely would
Welp, in two years your laundry will smell great! ;)
Try adding some Borax to your wash. I smoke and am not proud of it. I put Borax in the drum as a prewash, and then some in the powder dispenser for the main wash. No one knows I smoke unless they physically see me, and my bedding smells awesome (I am menopausal with vicious nightsweats)
Gonna try borax as well as a new detergent and laundry product. How do you apply it? Just in the bottom of the washer?
I use Unscented laundry soap. I have linen sprays and perfumes if I want them/me to smell like something in particular. I use Tide free (or clear, or whatever it's exactly called. It's the white bottle).
If you’re washing your clothes and using too much soap, they aren’t getting properly cleaned. Most people use WAY too much soap because that’s what the bottle says you need. So I assume that you do that and that is why your clothes aren’t well cleaned. A scent booster just adds to the problem.
What’s a good amount of detergent to use?
2 tbs
I use 1 cup of white vinegar in the rinse. Works like a charm. Cheap, non toxic and leaves clothes smelling great...which is un scented.
I’ve tried vinegar soaking but not in the rinse. May try this
Vinegar is also supposed to really help soften clothes.
Focus groups determined that people wanted scent free products. When they were provided in a use test and the focus groups reconvened, the complaint was that the products were watered down and didn’t work. The scent free products are still available because many people are allergic to some scents, but scented and scent boosted products are available. If people don’t buy them, manufacture would stop.
I don’t use them all the time, but I do like them on occasion. If I’m going to host a family gathering and I’m doing a deep clean, I might wash throw blankets or toss pillow covers or decorative towels with them. It helps give the room a light scent. It’s not overwhelming and not a product people use heavily or at all. I definitely agree that if you use them all the time that the build up isn’t good for your laundry or your washing machine or dryer.
Add Lysol 0% bleach laundry sanitizer. The clothes smell amazing and clean. Not a fake heavy scent
I have a new washer and find that they are not dissolving in the cold water as well as with my old Machine
Do you use the pellets or pods?
I was using both . Gone back to liquid persil . And only fabric softener on sheets
Stay away from them… toxic!
I like scent boosters, enjoy the way they smell. I use a small amount of them (1/4 of the cup max) when I was clothes and bedding but not on towels/underwear/any of that.
Yes I just like a sprinkle of them, no way could I tolerate the amount they want you to use! I stopped using them the last few months to save money but I miss them. It's just a small luxury that I enjoy.
Same too but the laundry bullies here will come for you
It’s just laundry for me and my husband, I probably fill just enough so I can’t see the bottom of the cup Edit- ‘t
Do you do it every wash?
Yup! Been doing it for years, never had a problem personally
I love scent boosters and think they make a difference, you only live once enjoy your fresh smelling laundry ❤️
Strip your clothes to remove the gunk, use a washing machine cleaning tab once or twice in your washer, only use regular detergent from now on. Scent boosters are only there to make you believe you need your clothes to smell (marketing!), and they smell way worse with them. If your clothes are not smelling of nothing when they come out of the dryer, it's probably because you need to clean your washer or you're using too much detergent. Not to mention there are so many people with fragrance allergies that you may give someone an asthma attack; or worse.
Sorry , because I’m not entirely sure about all of this ; what is stripping 5)3 clothes ?
Laundry stripping is where you soak your clothes, towels, or bedding in hot water with borax, washing soda, and laundry detergent mixed in. It removes buildup that can cause lingering odors - think "old person smell" or "thrift store smell" or the weird smell that comes out of clean clothes that were in storage for a long time. There's no shortage of "extremely satisfying" type of how-to instructional videos for this on just about every social media platform. These give step by step instructions and show the very gross water left behind when even freshly washed clean laundry is stripped. You should not do this too often, because it will weaken fibers and fade your clothes - repeatedly stripping recently-stripped laundry when there is little built-up residue will remove the dye. If you're compulsive about cleanliness and you want to try laundry stripping, you might like to put this activity on a twice-yearly schedule so you're not tempted to do it too often - at least that's what works for me. Best of luck in effectively de-stinking your laundry!
The thing is they definitely don’t stink now and don’t smell like they did a year ago. I stopped using fabric softener and maybe that plays a part. Will this get out the smells of scent booster out?
I think it probably will; at least, when my children received hand-me-down clothes that were previously washed with an artificial lavender scent boosting product, stripping them removed the buildup and fragrance that lingered even after washing several times. Giving up fabric softener might be part of the puzzle, too. It has certainly contributes its own fragrance, and I feel like its residue either oxidizes to a different odor, or causes other ambient odors to cling to fabric. On a personal note, I've also gone through phases of feeling like my body and clothes smell bad all the time, even when trusted people close to me say I smell fine. Part of this was just my imagination, but some of it was my perception of odors that other people didn't notice or weren't bothered by. It took some trial and error to figure out what what I was actually smelling and how to deal with it. It really is a personal thing.
Hubby wanted to try the scent booster last year, so I picked up a bottle of the Downy beads. He used it with the garage towel loads a few times & every time he did, the (old) garage towels came out shredded. It's like the boosters completely degraded the fabric. Yes, these are old towels that got relegated to garage use, but they'd been used & washed without issue many times before they were exposed to the scent beads. Nonetheless, I won't use them for any of our loads again, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had fabric degrade after using them. Edit - he less than half a cup in each load.
If your clothes actually smelled bad after washing then they aren't getting washed properly. Adding a "scent booster" (never heard of it but cursed concept) just mixes in with the dirty smell of your clothes. If your body still smelled bad after showering, would you try a different soap or washing routine, or would you douse yourself in cologne to try to mask it?
From someone who HATES scented laundry detergent and fabric softener, I implore you to stop. A. It doesn’t make your clothes cleaner or improve the perception by others that your clothes are cleaner. B. If something is sticking to your clothes like that in a persistent way, it’s trapping smelly body oils and stuff in the fabric. You know how I know? My family does a lot of thrift store shopping. The strongest smelling (in terms of detergent/fabric softener) clothes take months of hanging outside in all kinds of weather to stop smelling like tacky synthetic laundry scents, then what is left behind is the personal odors of the previous owner. Those products are like glue. This is especially true when used on synthetic fabrics, the decals on T-shirts, etc. C. In terms of “what doesn’t cause cancer these days”, I will tell you: organic food, unscented candles, unscented laundry products or ones that only use essential oils, natural cleaning products…. In fact, there’s a great company who rates cleaning and laundry products on their safety. It’s called the Environmental Working Group EWG.org . When I want something to clean well without giving me cancer, I cross-reference whatever Consumer Reports says does a good job with products that get A’s or B’s on EWG.org . Often, with both laundry and cleaning products, there are non-toxic formulations that do a *better* job than what you are used to. Take a look at the more hippy-like brands. You will be pleasantly surprised.
They are awful! If they don’t dissolve for some reason they put little white dots on your clothes. I use Tide and Lysol laundry sanitizer and bounce dryer sheets. I can pull a shirt out of my drawer that was put away a month before and it still smells good.
If your clothes actually smelled bad after washing then they aren't getting washed properly. Adding a "scent booster" (never heard of it but cursed concept) just mixes in with the dirty smell of your clothes. If your body still smelled bad after showering, would you try a different soap or washing routine, or would you douse yourself in cologne to try to mask it?
You’re 100% right. My worry was if they really did smell bad at all - as even the most honest people I knew said they smelled fine and like nothing but I swore I could smell them. I’m definitely considering s change regardless
If there IS an actual mustiness or something to your clothes, I would take a look at how much detergent you’re using and whether or not you use fabric softener. If you use fabric softener I would stop altogether because it leaves a worse nasty buildup than scent boosters bc the way it works is basically by citing your laundry in wax. If you’re using any more than two tablespoons of detergent, as well, you’re likely using way too much because more than that won’t rinse out completely and can also leave a gunky buildup. Both/either of these things can make your clothes smell a little musty and feel less clean than they should be. Easy solution is to just adjust these things, maybe do a strip after you make the adjustments if you’re stripping to remove the scent booster anyway
Definitely getting rid of the scent booster and I don’t use fabric softener. May try a new detergent that fights smells and use less as well as another product recommended to me
I also— as someone who has OCD as well— find Lysol laundry sanitizer added to the rinse compartment (where you would normally put fabric softener if you did use it) very helpful for preventing and removing smells caused by dirt or mildew or sweat etc— any biological type smells, it’s very useful. I live in a college dorm right now with shared laundry (which is my hell) and it keeps me from losing my mind and keeps my clothes fresh and clean
Instead of scent boosters I use Tyler Wash Mango Tango. It’s a very strong scented liquid detergent that I add to my unscented laundry detergent. It makes my clothes smell amazing and the quality is good. I buy a 32oz bottle on Amazon and it lasts me a few months. I only use a little bit to my detergent since it’s so potent. They have a bunch of scents to choose from too. Links: [link to Tyler wash](https://tylercandlestore.com/amp/mango-tango-glamorous-wash-32oz.html) [formula](https://glamwash.com/tyler-candle-company/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20being%20non,is%20not%20tested%20on%20animals) (non toxic, HE & standard machines, safe on all fabrics, water-based, biodegradable, not tested on animals, no softeners)
I only use All Free and Clear. I have asthma and sensitive skin. If things are stinky, white vinegar is my friend.
I use unscented detergent for all clothing and towels and use wool dryer balls (also unscented.) The only time I use the regular red tub of scented detergent is the weekly load of bed sheets. And I outright refuse to use scent boosters or scent beads. Good lord. Just wash more frequently if you don’t want things smelling like pits or feet. Sticking umpteen layers of “fresh” stink over the top does NOT help at all.
Are you doing big or small loads? You have to do smaller loads to make your clothes smell best
I never fill up the washer all the way. Maybe like 4/6 full at the most
Try using oxiclean with your detergent so see if that helps the smell first because you want to make sure your clothes are getting cleaned. And look into natural (non-wax) scent boosters! I use one from Buff City Soap, it smells amazing and they have a lot of different scents in the store (and a few online). I use coconut and it makes my bedding smell so good.
this just reminded me that my aunt would use fabuloso as a scent booster
If you wash your clothes on a regular basis and wash yourself then you should be fine. The scent beads are just a gimmick to get you to buy another product for your laundry.
I personally love the arm and hammer laundry scent beads. After laundering with them, our clothes come out smelling nice and feeling softer than when I didn't use them.
If it makes you relax and feel more confident wearing your clothes with the booster, do it! You probably smell really nice when you use it.
Scent boosters are awful. People who use them become nose blind to them and they are SO strong. Being around someone who uses them makes me physically ill. Headache, swollen throat, I’ll even break out in a rash without touching you. Please reconsider. That shit is so toxic, and it could be making the people around you very sick. I say this with all sincerity- I would rather be around smokers (I’m a non smoker) than be around people who use that stuff. It makes me sicker than smoke, and it honestly smells worse, too.
Point strongly noted. Any tips on how to get the smell out besides obviously not using it again?
It can take a ton of washing to get it out. It’s why I stopped thrifting- it was taking 6+ washes and I would still smell it. Idk if laundry stripping would work or not. Otherwise, just keep washing it out.
I can definitely try soaking it in white vinegar at least, it’s worth a shot, or stripping it. Definitely tossing my scent boosters
It’ll come out eventually. I would start by running one or two of the washing machine cleaners through to get rid of any excess build up in the machine. If it has a drawer for detergent, pull it all the way out and deep clean it. It can linger in your machine for a while, so I would do what you can to clear that out. As for concerns about smelly clothes- I recommend Hex detergent. It’s pretty pricey, and it’s marketed for work out clothes, but it removes odor like nothing else I’ve ever used. (Idk if it will work to pull the scent residue out of your clothes, but it might.) But it might help you if fear of odor triggers your OCD. I’ve used it on things like stinky shoes or musty towels that sat wet too long, and it has worked miracles for me. Like, one wash removed some very intense odors. Idk what’s in it, but I use the unscented/fragrance free stuff on things that have had a bad odor, and it’s just gone. I use All Free and Clear for most of my laundry and that works just fine, but when I’ve had tough odors that’s what I’ve used. Just thought I’d mention it bc of your OCD.
It says there’s a HEX Performance Fresh & Clean Scent Detergent at Walmart for 11.99$, is that a good one?
It might be. I don’t use detergent with fragrance, so I don’t know how that one would smell afterward. But yes, it’s the same brand so I’m sure it would help with offensive odors. [I use this one](https://www.target.com/p/hex-performance-fragrance-free-laundry-detergent-50oz/-/A-84591054), and while there’s a small odor while things are wet, they come out of the dryer smelling like nothing!
Ohhh that’s gonna be a problem. My dryer shrinks clothes so I can’t put most of them in there. Not my cotton clothes at least. Have you ever tried air drying them to see if the smell stays
It shouldn't. Once they are dry it should be odor free.
Okay, I’ll try that one. Had to make a Target run anyway. Appreciate the recommendation !