How do I make my washing smell scrumptious?

mineallmine

Hi cady - invest in a box of ariel powder and run the machine empty and on a hot setting with a dose of ariel biological. It freshens up the machine no end. If you feel guilty running it empty just pop a couple of tea-towels in. Best of luck.

cady

hiya i have tried this and there is still that smell i put the powder in on a 90 wash in an empty machine did i do something wrong? is there anything else i could try ???

mineallmine

Try (if safe to do, ie no kids around) leaving the washing machine door open after each wash. Also try rinsing out the drawer powder tray thingie (can be fiddly to remove) - or try wiping this with disinfectant. Lastly, check the filter - it may nedd cleaning out. Best of luck

broclo

Not really money saving, but just know you old stylers will have an answer

My children and myself can not use over perfumed laundry items. I alternate between using Boots Sernsyive laundry liquid and softner with Fairy Sensitive and Comfort Pure depending on offers etc.

In the winter it is worse due to indoor drying on racks, but even when line drying the washing, although it smells clean, does not have that lovely fresh smell. I'm not overly bothered by general washing like jeans and T-Shirts etc, but miss that lovely smell on my bedding and baby blankets(I was not sensitive till my mid twenties).

Febreze and simmilar brands make the children itch, so that is not an option as occasionaly I will let the eldest sneak under my duvet in the morning.

I was thinking of putting washing that does not come in contact with skin directly(like childrens vests etc) on another rinse and spin with a few drops of essential oils(I know hardly water and electric saving!) but I am always rather confused which ones are child friendly.

Does anyone know which ones are child friendly? Google is giving me conflicting info!

Or does anyone have any other ideas?

Also, I can't find the link that had (I have searched!) the info about making the house smelling nice as I know there were great tips on there for things when you have little children too. At the moment I do the old oils on cotton wool down the back of radiators etc, but am sure there were loads more ideas. New place i'm living in has not got patio doors, just a single and so the air flow is not as great and so it can be a bit musty at times.

Thanks in advance

Pink.

Hi broclo,

There's a recent thread that should help with the washing:

How do I make my washing smell scrumptious?

and is this the one about making the house smell nice?

OS (nice) smelly homes?

I'll add your thread to the first link later to keep the ideas together.

Pink

broclo

Thanks Pink-winged, your a Star!

Justamum

There's nothing nicer than the smell of line-dried clothes. I don't use any fabric conditioners - I don't really like the artificial smells. I've tried using essential oils, but they don't really seem to leave a smell, so fresh air smell is fine for me!

broclo

Justamum wrote: »

There's nothing nicer than the smell of line-dried clothes. I don't use any fabric conditioners - I don't really like the artificial smells. I've tried using essential oils, but they don't really seem to leave a smell, so fresh air smell is fine for me!

Oh I agree, but unfortunately the boots stuff, which is kinder to the littluns skin(they are bad) leaves a smell a bit like bleach, so it is a clean smell, but not nice if that makes sense

bare_foot_hippy

@broclo: If you really need fabric conditioner have you tried using hair conditioner? If the kids are ok with one that isn't too expensive that is! It's recommended for wool but it's fine for all other fibres too.
I have sensitive skin too. I use a scoop of sodium carbonate (soda crystals) or sodium bicarbonate in the drawer, with some grated hand soap I know I'm ok with if it's a particularly dirty wash, and a drop of essential oil in the conditioner slot. As far as I'm aware the teeny amount of essential oil over a whole wash shouldn't be any problem for kiddies. If in doubt stick to lemon/orange oils which are very benign.

In general, if you have a short cycle option it's better to use this at 50/60C than a long one at 30/40C - higher temperature kills more nasties, and short cycles are less wearing on your clothes/ your electricity bill! My American and Aussie friends can't believe how long UK wash cycles are - even my short one is 40minutes and some regular ones last 90mins!

And of course I echo all the other advice about putting the machine on an empty hot wash occasionally - use biological powder for the best clean. And remove the drawer fully to clean - lots have removable bits which collect gunk/ fiddly bits which need a pipecleaner/cotton bud to get at! And definitely spread that drying out - never fold it or layer it on the airer. Yuk!