Be Canny With Fabric Softner

MATH

I know most of you are rinsing with vinegar but if like me you're sucker for the smell of alpin meadow or woodland dell and use softener to fragrance your wash, here's a couple of ways to make it go further.

Take one cap full and add to a spray bottle full of water and shake to mix.

If you use a tumble dryer, wet and wring out a face cloth and spray with the softner mix and throw it in with the load. The clothes smell nice and static is reduced.

If you dry on an airer load up the rods and then spray the clothes as they hang with a light mist of softner mix. The clothes and your house will smell nice.

I also use it to freshen up sofas, carpets, and jackets. I estimate that one cap which would usually only do one load, when mixed, will last about a month.

toozie_2

I'm even cannier, I don't use it!!!

Stems from when my second daughter was born, she had very sensative skin, my health visitor said fabric conditioner was the worst culprit for a flare up.

I think clothes are fresh enough if they've been blowing in the wind on the line.
If course some people may not have the facilities to hang clothes outside, or the whether for that matter.

I live in a very place!!

MATH

I agree, I love the smell of outside dried clothes, particularly bed linen but when the weather is wet indoor dried stuff smells Yuk without softner. I envy those who say they don't need softner cos their laundry smells naturally fresh, mines just smells of roast potatoes!

Bogof_Babe

I just use about 2 teaspoons of the concentrated Lenor (or whatever) per load, in the dispenser drawer, and it is sufficient to scent the whole wash rather pleasantly! I have a large drum machine too (can take our entire double bedclothes - fitted sheet, double duvet cover, 8 pillow cases, single duvet cover and fleece throw) in one load. (The single duvet and throw are for extra warmth at this time of year .)

Incidentally, the cheaper, non-concentrated brands are a false economy, as they make little difference and smell of nothing much, even when used by the capfull.

summerday

MATH wrote:

I agree, I love the smell of outside dried clothes, particularly bed linen but when the weather is wet indoor dried stuff smells Yuk without softner. I envy those who say they don't need softner cos their laundry smells naturally fresh, mines just smells of roast potatoes!

Mmmm that would really make me feel hungry!

I always use half a capful of fabric softener rather than a whole one and it works fine.

Queenie

MATH wrote:

I know most of you are rinsing with vinegar but if like me you're sucker for the smell of alpin meadow or woodland dell and use softener to fragrance your wash, here's a couple of ways to make it go further.

Take one cap full and add to a spray bottle full of water and shake to mix.

If you use a tumble dryer, wet and wring out a face cloth and spray with the softner mix and throw it in with the load. The clothes smell nice and static is reduced.

If you dry on an airer load up the rods and then spray the clothes as they hang with a light mist of softner mix. The clothes and your house will smell nice.

I also use it to freshen up sofas, carpets, and jackets. I estimate that one cap which would usually only do one load, when mixed, will last about a month.

Thanks for those tips, MATH. In addition, there have been times when I have used a spray bottle of diluted FC as an ironing spray.
I keep a plastic tub of diluted FC on top of the washing machine/dryer with a couple of old odd socks in it instead of your spray bottle/face cloth.

But I don't buy FC on a regular basis; I use vinegar in my final rinse and a drop or two of lavender essential oil (EO).
Same with the ironing spray ... water and lavender EO

Curry_Queen

I've noticed several posts mentioning using essential oils, either in with the washing or as a room spray etc, and it sounds like a great idea but I'm just a little worried about damaging fabrics and furniture with this

Some of my oils carry a warning on the labels not to let them come into contact with porous surfaces, so I wondered if there was any particular type/brand that was safe to use or whether any of you who have tried the above have had any adverse reactions?

Queenie

Using EO on it's own can cause problems, but, in a spray etc., it's diluted, so therefore doesn't (or rather *hasn't*) caused me any problems.

I use it on my lightbulbs, applied with a cotton bud, so when the bulb warms up, it fragrances the room - ok, so I'm using it neat in that example, but it hasn't harmed my lightbulbs.

My linen spray is water and EO - no problems.
Laundry: vinegar, EO.
Bath: I add the EO to a small amount of milk before putting it in my bath, simply because it seems to blend better in the water.
HM (salt) body scrub: EO is added to the mix as a couple of drops - no problems
HM (sugar) body scrub: as above
Heat Pads: EO added to initial rice mix; freshened up with a spritz of linen spray periodically - no problems

I don't use any regular brand; I buy it when I see it at a good price and I predominantly use Lavender both for it's fragrance and "calming" properties.

Austin_Allegro

I use EO on lightbulbs as well - got that tip from Kim and Aggie!

However....DON'T be like me and use it on radiators - it strips the paint right off!

In laundry it would be so diluted that I can't see it causing any problems.

Incidentally where do people buy their EOs? I get mine 3x10ml bottles for a pound from the 'Pahhhnd' shop.

Curry_Queen

Ok, I'm tempted to give it a go then

I've been using vinegar in place of fabric softener and been amazed at the results but have missed the fragrant smell!

This has been a godsend as usually I have to wash my son's football kit separately, as fabric conditioner damages the transfers and they crack and peel off, but now I can stick it in with the normal washing

My favourite is also Lavender for the same reasons and I like the tip about putting it in milk before adding to bath water as usually it just floats on the surface in globules :rolleyes:

Queenie

Austin - you *can* use it on your radiators (put a few drops of EO with a spoonful of oil ie: almond oil, olive oil if need be ... dip a piece of cotton wool into it and then either tuck it into the between bits of a double rad, or a little rub behind a single rad )