If Only They Knew

[Deleted User]

Sorry i can't remember if this has been asked. But firstly if you have no chinese stores around and only a Tesco or Somerfield, Sainsbury at a push, where would you buy your white vinegar?

Secondly, the vinegar, does it need to go in the softner compartment when you put the powder in at the start of the wash, or do i need to select the programme to stop at the rinse bit, so i can then add the vinegar? Does it matter?

At the moment i have bought the Tesco value softner and can't decide if i like it or not, but it doesn't do the job that vinegar would in reducing limescale.

I put the machine on 1-2 times a week.

Thanks people. Great thread, really enjoyed reading this one.

[Deleted User]

Oh and another tip i meant to put in, i got some Bounce sheets through the door today, infact two packs, maybe i hit refresh button - lol. Great freebie.

Anyway I don't have a tumble dryer but they are useful for lining drawers with, my underwear and socks will be smelling sweet by tomorrow morn.

MATH

I noticed that the new bold flavour whiffed of cat pee after a few days:o .

I'm in a total fuddle with washing powder flitting from one brand to another. I know I should stop my detergent tarty ways and attach myself to a solid, dependable biological but I just can't settle. The laundry aisle is starting to look like a line up of past lovers, used once and then rejected. They look at me with reproachful eyes as I wheel my lastest laundry paramour towards the checkout. The fabirc softners purse their lips at the sight of me picking up yet another one week stand but I just can't help myself.

Was using tesco value for a while but got fed up with the clothes having no smell or even worse smelling of last nights dinner if dried indoors:eek: so I started using bold and ariel, clothes smell great but I begrudge the money for a nice smell so I went back to using value powder and fabric softner but didn't like the waxy feel clothes had and found the smell went after they were dry so returned to bold and ariel. Dallied with making my own gloop for a couple of months, never had such soft and fluffy towels but my whites turned a dingy grey and soaking in bleach and oxywhatsit was costing me a fortune and threatening to leave us dressed in rags (not very clean ones at that):mad: . So I just don't know what to do. My biggest prob is that I have a 10kg capacity top loader it is not very efficient or economical but I like to see my laundry having a good swish and it is great for sleeping bags etc. Because it is so large and uses so much water I need to use about 4 times as much detergent per wash as an ordinary european tumbler type. I can't use tablets cos they don't have time to dissolve during the 10min wash cycle before the machine drains.

Got any good ideas?

elona

Math

Someone said that they mixed their favourite powder with a box of value powder and also with soda crystals - only used half the amount and it lasted for ages.

ceegee

As bailey has asked...when does the vinegar go in? If you put it in the drawer at the start of the wash cycle, wouldn't it go straight into the machine as it is so runny? Is the right thing to catch the machine just before the rinse cycle and put it in then?

Also, how much do you use and does it have to be white?

Does it leave your clothes smelling vinegary?

Absolutely brilliant news about it preventing limescale build-up....We're hard-uns here too!

Some peeps have mentioned a smell in their washing machine......I have a smell in mine. Is this thought to be a build-up of detergent and fabric softener and would using vinegar eventually clear this build-up?

foreverskint

since i've been using my expensive/value/washingsoda mix, i've noticed that the smell in my machine has gone. I think that it's to do with the washing soda helping to clean the pipes that go to the drain. Washing soda pack suggests using it to clean drains so I suspect that it is helping to remove the smell fron the mchine

By the way math, I've found that this mix really does keep my whites white and have noticed that the stains on my toddlers clothes come out easier. ( with the help of lidls stain remover spray)

elona

Someone suggested that if there was a smell in washing machine that you should do an empty wash on a high temperature - and also do not put stuff in machine till you are ready to wash it. I.E> do not leave stuff that is dirty in machine.

Sorry if this seems obvious. :):)

ceegee

No, I don't put stuff in until I want to wash it as I like to let the air circulate in the drum, hoping in vain that it might make the machine smell a bit fresher! Unfortunately it never worked, so I am definitely going to try the soda crystals trick. Lovely!! :T

furrypig

I've just started using the home made laundry powderas mentioned somewhere on this forum. It's grated saop, borax and soda crystals, so far it is going really well and I use my machine everyday and have 2 kids, uniforms, shirts etc and so far it has coped very well!

Queenie

ceegee wrote:

Also, how much do you use and does it have to be white?

Does it leave your clothes smelling vinegary?

Is this thought to be a build-up of detergent and fabric softener and would using vinegar eventually clear this build-up?

- 2Tbsp

- No

- Yes

I add mine to the fabric conditioning drawer when I begin the cycle - the water doesn't seem to go into that compartment until necessary.

White vinegar is the one - but, I have used white wine vinegar when desperate and even ... shock, horror, malt! Still no vinegary smell. (Although the malt is very pungent in the Utility Rm when I used it.)

Because I use washing soda crystals in the main wash plus the vinegar, not sure which one or if it's the combo, but I do not have a smelly washing machine - smelly slippers - but not smelly machine.

HTH