Vinegar - 1001 uses!

PoshPaws_3

tawnyowls wrote:

Absolutely! I've never quite seen the point of FC - even jeans don't seem to cause that much of a problem; the clothes all soften up within minutes with body heat anyway.

Tell that to my nooks and crannies, not to mention my crevices or DH's super-tender psoriasis skin! By the time he'd warmed up his clothes, sometimes they'd drawn blood, so its really not working for him at all.

I can see how having a tumble drier would pulverise the fabrics into being softened, I can remember when I used one for a couple of years, my clothes never lasted as long and I put it down to the beating they took in the drier and stopped using it.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who has given up on it. :T :laugh:

mrcow

shammyjack wrote:

Nothing more invigorating than a rub down with a rough towel !

:rotfl:

And there's nothing more snug than curling up in a ultra soft warm bath sheet!

(Each to their own :rotfl:)

jackieb

If your dh has psoriasis is using scented fabric conditioner such a good idea? When my son was little he had terrible excema and I used washing powder and fabric conditoner for sensitive skins from Boots. I don't know if they still do them though. Have you tried something like Surcare?

PoshPaws_3

jackieb wrote:

If your dh has psoriasis is using scented fabric conditioner such a good idea?

Thanks for that. In fact, things like fragrances, or biological powder, don't seem to make any difference to his psoriasis. Its mostly his lifestyle (smoking, drinking, spicy foods etc.) and that's entirely in his own hands to do something about. :rolleyes:

rainbowrisin

I've never used fabric conditioner, so don't know what i'm missing, but do feel the same way about using anything other than branded washing powder - I've tried making gloop, cutting my washing powder with various things (soda and so on), using cheapy washing powder, using eco balls and all sorts of variations, but nothing seems to get the washing as stain free as a brand name biological.

I know I'm damaging the environment with every wash, and should be more stalwart and persevere, but I can't abide strange grey clothes with marks on themz\:eek: , which is how mine end up without a good detergent.

And no, OP, you're not a wuss - we live in the 21st century and millions of pounds have been invested in developing fabric conditioner so we don't rub ourselves raw on sand paper towels. Enjoy, I say!

stuart264

Borax? I just put 2-3 tablespoons in with the powder, its a de-greaser and water softener so it helps the detergent and the towels fluff up nicely.

Similar to washing soda but doesn't attack any aluminium parts in the washer.

Pooky

I use shops own powder (not the value one), huge box, mixed with 2 bags of soda crystals and a glug of vinegar in the drawer....never had a problem. Yes the towles are a little crispy - but that's how towles should be to actually dry you, coating all the fibres in silicon sort of defeats the object if you ask me.

When anyone comes in to the house now all I can smell is the overpowering scent of fabric conditioner, makes me sneeze more often than not.

For bedding, I use a spray bottle, water and orange oil or lavender oil and give it a fine misting every other day just to give it a slight scent but couldn't go back to fabric conditioner.

But as has been said - each to their own.

pawpurrs

I have to say that I didnt get on with the old vinegar thing too, and really it isnt that much cheaper, I use Fc on my towels as I hate crispy towels, and I find I dry very nicely!

I am back on to the soapnuts for colours, they leave the clothes lovely and soft, but sticking to a normal washing method for whites.

Am now just using the quick wash for colours and the coloured cyle for whites,cutting down on the leccy a little.

skim

When I used to work in a dyehouse - we used to pay 20p per litre for basic cationic softener!!!

Vinegar on its own will not soften clothes - all you are doing is lowering the pH of the water.

Better using someting like Citric acid (liquid) & some softener. I guess most domestic softeners have ph buffers in to alter the pH of the water anyway.

PoshPaws_3

Thanks for the science, Skim! That makes loads of sense.