Want Nice Smelling Laundry

we have swimmers and the towels are frequently mildewy. We add white vinegar to the load to get the smell out. About 1 cup is right. If you add too much it will smell like vinegar only. Have you seen "Mrs. Meyers" products, they are gentle and pleasantly scented.

What about a couple of drops of essential oils in with the loads? I cloth diaper and I put 12 drops of tea tree oil in with each wash and the diapers smell nice. Maybe like lavender oil or something else would freshen up the laundry?

http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html
I make my own laundry soap. It is inexpensive and Hypoallergenic. I sent it myself and we love it.

Ja Cee

You might try cleaning the washer tub, not the one with the holes in it but the one that one sits in. Sears sells a tub cleaner. If your clothes are still really wet like they didn't spin enough then there is a problem with your washer.

i was going to suggest essentual oil or even putting some dried lavender isn a sachet and putting it in the dryer.

Dreft laundry detergent, Biz for stains (pre soak and add to wash), two rinses... first rinse has 1 cup of white vinegar added to the water. The Biz really works well for stains of all types. The white vinegar will cut any soap residue on clothes, leaving them whiter and brighter. If you use Ivory detergent, the soap build-up will reduce the effectiveness of the flame retardant in your children's sleepwear. fyi.... My Mom gave me this recipe for success when it came to baby/kid laundry and I have passed it down thru the years. My friends have remarked that when they hand down their baby clothes people can't believe that they've been used before. Enjoy!!!

I found that Ecover, after a few washes is both softer and smells better than those other natural brands which I have also used.
:)
Liz

i started to get stinky laundry too (left it in the washer too long once and that was it). Try adding vinegar to the bleach slot of the machine and it should take away the stinky smell. Don't leave the clothes in the washer for too long (an hour). Don't know how to add the smell back w/o adding ingredients. I'll look for advice from your posts.

Costco carries two kinds that are eco/baby friendly but also smell good. The "brand name" one is Ecos and I think it's magnolia and water lily or something like that. It smells nice, but doesn't make the laundry smell floral, just nice. The costco brand is "kirkland signature environmentally friendly laundry detergent" and is a natural lavendar scent. I had to check the package to know what it smells like, but again, it's a pleasant smell that isn't floral. We also toss the Trader Joe's lavendar dryer sachets in our dryer here and there. Not all the time, but they at least make the laundry room smell nice while it's running. We put the spent bags in our closets and drawers after they start to look like they're about to fall apart but before they actually do.

It might also be that your machine has a bit of mildew. A little vinegar, baking soda, and elbow grease should fix that. Or you can just wash a couple towels with vinegar water. We also find that the sooner we get stuff out of the washer and into the dryer, the better it smells. We also leave the washer door open (front loading) for a little while after the last load comes out so it can air dry instead of being a dark moist environment. :)

Trust that sensitive nose... If clothes have a foul odor... they are not clean and simply putting a scent on it, does not make it clean. I presume cleanliness is most important and good smells, second. Ideally, if the clothes are truly clean, they will smell good.

One more thing to add to the amazing list of suggestions that you've already recieved... hot water. Really, really hot water kills lots of micro-organisms that cleaners don't. Some parasitic critters can survive up to half an hour in full strength bleach... but can't survive in hot water.

I also recommend Dr. Bronner's soaps. They work for just about everything... body, hair, cat shampoo, hand laundering fine fabrics... the eucalyptus has the double bonus of being a natural insect repellant.

When circumstances demand that I use ordinary laundry soap, I always double rinse my laundry - once in hot water, if the fabrics can take it.

A., I was in the same boat as you using the bio clean stuff.
I switched back at one point and time because I couldn't stand the musty smell.
I started adding vinegar and baking soda to the water (it will foam) but it acts like a natural bleach, and I use it as well on dark clothes and I haven't had a problem.
I do have the maytag front loaders and I seem to be the only one of my friends that doesn't have the smell problem. So I am thinking it is probably because I use that, not sure but who knows.
Good luck!

Try white vinegar. You can use it in the rinse and it neutralizes the 'yucky' odours. I first started using it with cloth diapers and then read somewhere it can be used as a fabric softener so I use it with all my wash now...

Hi A. -

I'm into using the all natural laundry detergents too. I've really enjoyed the Ecos brand of liquid detergent because it has some natural essential oils in it that are very nice, yet mild. As long as we change the wash loads soon after they've washed, we don't have to worry about the mildew smell. I've noticed the synthetic fabrics (especially polyester!) takes on the stinky smell more rapidly than the cottons.

If you have a front-loading washer, be aware that they are known for growing mildew and mold very easily, so letting the wet clothes sit in there for very long will promote mold growth. So far, we have discovered a product called Afresh that you can use to clean the washer every once in a while, but you may need to use bleach occasionally too. I need to try vinegar as I've heard it works too.

Blessings,
J.

I have a friend that uses no scent at all in anything. Her sons are picked on in school because they "smell strange". Even my children have said they smell strange. So you are not to sensitive, people do notice.
What I have done to make our laundry smell good (and yes I do use the cheep laundry detergent, what ever is on sale) I have put essential oil (such as lavender) on some cotton fabric/old sock/ ?? You then put this in the dryer.
Thinking about it, I don't know why you could not ad it to the rinse water.
There are many different scents you can use such as lemon, or Ylang Ylang (my favorite) or you can mix scents to create one you like.
I also do my own body spray this way. I always get told I smell so good.
Good luck.
B.
www.SouthSoundDoula.com

I use the Method baby laundry soap (Liquid.) It's eco-friendly so pretty guilt free and smells nice. I don't use fabric softener with the kids' laundry and it still smells nice when it comes out of the dryer.

On a side note, do you have a he washer, front loader? I found that my laundry was smelling nasty and I have a maytag neptune. I called for service and found that there was a nickel in the drain causing it to not drain properly and causing the musty nasty smell. You can buy special cleaning tablets to run in your wash every so often to clean the machine. Haven't had a problem since. (Still can't figure out how the nickel got past the screen out of the washer and into the pipe, but now it's fixed!)

Hi A., I have started using a cup of vinegar in all of my wash loads. I know that it sounds crazy because you are trying to get rid of the yucky smells. It's not going to give you the "Springtime Breeze" you're looking for, but it will get rid of those mildewy/ puke smells. Give it a try, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Hi, A.

Method makes fabric softener. I've used it in the past and it works well. I usually buy it at Target.

Also, once a month I run the washing machine with some powder dish washer detergent. It has to be powder. I just pick it up from the dollar store. Anyway, a washer repairman suggested this to me. Put half cup of the powder in the main wash and run it on the white cycle. Basically you want to use hot water. He says the enzymes in the soap helps get rid of the mildewy yuck that builds up in the washer.

Good luck. I know smelly laundry is gross.

We also use a natural laundry method which is called soap nuts. They work well and are completely natural. One website that I found to be the cheapest is www.buysoapnuts.com.
But really, for the smell issues, I second adding vinegar to the wash (put it in the liquid fabric softener area and it will soften clothes as well) and add a couple drops of any essential oil to add a natural scent. Real essential oils (not fragrance oils)are not only completely natural but they have anti-fungal properties that can also help take care of any fungal issues in your laundry. Tea tree oil is especially good for odors..I use it when I clean my cloth diapers...but any essential oil will do. Good luck!

S.
www.hazelaid.com
All natural, organic, handmade hazelwood necklaces for the relief of eczema, acid reflux, & teething pain for babies and their families.

Hi A.,
I was going through the same thing you are going through last year with my laundry. What I started using is Shaklee Laundry concentrate and Soft Fabric Dryer sheets. Not only does it smell like you just took them off the clothes line they are safe, non-toxic and natural and safe to use for children. I also started using all Shaklee's cleaning products and really like them as well and can breathe after cleaning my bathroom or washing windows, etc.
I also signed up as a distributor so I can save 15% on all my products. All Shaklee products at non-toxic, biodegradale and safe & healthy for you and your family, your home and the planet.
If you want more information call me at ###-###-#### or go to my website at www.shaklee.net/healthybodyandhome and click on Get Clean Products.
I live in Myrtle Creek Oregon, but I can also email you and send you more information.
Hope this helps.
I. Lockhart

using white vinegar in place of fabric softener is natural,inexpensive and cleans very well, leaving soft nice smelling clothes:)

MMMMm...Caldrea Sweet Pea. Expensive, but natural and smells great! Also, a more inexpensive method would be getting Seventh Generation liquid fabric softener. It comes in some great scents and really helped our laundry smell. I had the same problem!

Definitely vinegar to get rid of the smells. Also, since you're into the "natural" thing, you can make your own detergent. Just search for some homemade detergent recipes.

There are a few environmentally sensitive fabric softeners, including Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyers, that have ingredients that don't give that waxy feel, and won't bother sensitive skin. Check Whole Foods, and mayb one or two of the baby stores that have a lot of natural products (Babyworks, Mother Nature's).
Good luck,
Colleen

This solution doesn't smell exactly like...spring breeze or anything, but it does make your laundry just smell fresh. Plain white vinegar. Put a quarter of a cup in with your regular detergent, or even less on less smelly (you mentioned a mildewy smell) loads. It is all natural, VERY safe on baby's skin. My son and husband have VERY sensitive skin and this always works for them. It is also a natural laundry softener, like downey, but no chemicals -- a natural disinfectant and will get the mildew smell out of almost anything. and it's CHEAP. =) Good luck.

I am a little shocked that no one has suggested Mrs. Meyers Clean Day! It's absolutely wonderful. She makes an entire line of green cleaning products that are scented with essenial oils. There are three main scent lines and then a few specialty ones that come out now and then.

I use everything they make because they smell fantastic, their non-chemical, and WORK. I use the laundry detergent and dryer sheets and have never been disappointed.

I also wanted to say about the mildew smell, it will help if you move the wet laundry to the dryer not long after it's done washing and then dry it a little longer than you normally might. The suggestions for vinegar to at least get rid of it in the clothes/towels is good. You shouldn't have to keep doing it however. I never have that problem, and the only time I do is if my laundry is "under dried" to where there might be some moisture still left.

Good luck!

You can always add a drop or 2 of essential oil to the load.

Hi A.,

I was having the same issue with our laundry, since using Country Save. I found some lavendar sachets at Trader Joe's that you throw in the dryer with your clothes. They're just made from dried lavendar, so unless someone in your family has an issue with that, I think they'd be a pretty safe bet. They even make my son's diapers smell much more "springtime breeze-ish." ;)

GL!

A.

I know this question is from long ago, but you can get essential oils at many health food stores. Just put a couple drops in the dryer or wash. Lavendar is a common one.

I also vote for Charlie's Soap.

www.charliesoap.com

It work better than other detergents I've tried. The clothes come out of the wash clean, and they just smell fresh. I do occasionally add vinegar to the rinse of an excessively stinky cloth diaper load, but I've never had problems with anything else.

And, as a side note, I noticed during our holiday travels that stains in our clothes didn't wash out as well when we were using "regular" detergent (free and clear or Tide, depending on which hosts' house) as they do at home.

My father was an appliance repairman. He ran ammonia thru washers that came into his shop with the complaint of smelly laundry. He also recommended washing soda.

My effecient front loader has a machine clean cycle on it. Because I've misplaced the instruction manual I can't tell you what to use to clean the machine. But I do know that manufacturers recommending running thru a cycle with a cleaner without clothes in it.

Never use soap in a washing machine, especially the new efficient front loading machines, because soap creates suds which over time "gum" up the mechanics of the machine shortening the it'slife. Always use a deptergent labeled "he" in a front loader. Using this special detergent lengthens the life of the machine.

It is also common for a washer to not get all of the detergent out of clothes which will eventually cause them to look dull and smell as well as cause a smelly build up in the washer. The cause of this is using too much detergent. If one's water is relatively soft, as it is in our area,(Portland) we don't need as much detergent as the manufacturer recommends. I use 2/3 to 1/2 of the recommended amount depending on the amount of soil in the clothes.

To see if your clothes have a detergent build up run them thru a cycle with a water softener. If the water us "soapy" feeling the softener is washing detergent out of your clothes. Repeat this until water is clear and clothes smell clean.

I haven't looked for water softener in several years but I used to buy it at the grocery store where is was displayed in the detergent isle.

My father said that if your wash water feels somewhat slippery there is enough detergent in it. You shouldn't see suds.

The clothes should not feel slippery after they've gone thru the cycles. If they do, run them thru another rinse until they're "rough" feeling.

I reluctantly use a scented detergent because I like the smell but am concerned about allergies. I'm going to check out the use of essential oil in the rinse.

I rarely use dryer sheets because they cause a build up of "something" in the clothes which make them less absorbent. They can also deposit oily looking spots on synthetic fabrics. Again this information came from my father, the repairman, as well as other reading. I've found this to be true with towels. My daughter's dish towels just move the water around for the first "minute" or so before they begin to slowly dry the dish. My dish towels begin to dry immediately.

Trader Joes Lavender detergent is what we use when were not using Bioclean- there orange blossum isn't bad though

If you consider mouth wash all natural, then put 2-3 capfuls in the bleach dispenser instead of bleach. It seems to take smells out, and the alcohol in it disinfects. Sometimes I also pre-soak some of my clothing items in BIZ prior to washining.

Hi A.,
I bet a few tablespoons of baking soda in each load would help with how your laundry smells. It's 100% natural and has a gazillion uses.

Good luck,
C.

Assumung you have a front loader-

I recently learned that there is a drain at the bottom of my new front loaderer. The manual recomends draining it every couple of weeks. I have never done this with any of our previous machines, but I'm doing it with this one and it hasn't gotten stinky on me yet.
I also keep the door open as much as possible.

I am so with you on this one! I use vinegar on my stinky loads like diapers and rags from the kitchen. And sometimes baking soda to help with the whiteness. If you like lavender, and Trader Joe's is in the vicinity, they have sachets made just for the dryer. YEY! Gaiam.com has a few options as well. There is no reason we have to give up everything! Good luck!

Do your research. There is so much out there and you will need to know what you are looking for so you don't get confused. I use Shaklee products the most but I also use products from other companies as well like zum clean aromatherapy detergent or Trader Joes lavender stuff. Although, I do my research first before I use anything such as calling the scientists from the companies and asking specific questions to ensure the quality, efficacy, purity, and potency of their products.

I work with other medical professionals and am an L.M.T. and stay-at-home mom in Portland, OR. My specialty during the first few years of my daughter's life was helping moms with breastfeeding nutrition, pregnancy nutrition, and creating a safe environment for their homes as well as taking care of our own bodies inside and out.

You can't go wrong with Shaklee. I first started using their supplements but once I switched my cleaners to theirs, my allergies were gone! I could breath again when I awoke in the morning. I have used them for 5 years and now am a consultant for them. I have quite a few clients and friends who were very sensitive to other natural cleaners and scents but are able to use the Shaklee laundry line and the rest of the cleaners in their line. They have a frangrance free one as well as one that is lightly scented.

I decided to use Shaklee 5 years ago and then saw the health benefits for myself, so I naturally started sharing it not expecting to be paid but then all of a sudden, I was making money and building my own business along with my massage practice. I am now going back to college soon since my daughter is nearing 4 years old. I am going to study dance therapy and Holistic nutrition along with Transpersonal Psychology.

If you would like to get to know me or get in contact with me, I love making new connections since I am also new to Portland and moms are always my best friends. :)

Tes
Amma's Mahma
____@____.com
###-###-####
Find me on FB too under T. Magnolia

I use half a cup of distilled white vinegar instead of fabric softener in each load. I think it works well both to help the laundry smell better and to cut down on static/leave fabric feeling softer. Nobody in my family even noticed when I made the switch and stopped using softener. :)

We use a laundry soap called, Charlie's Soap. It's hard to find on the West coast, but I order it direct from their website. It's actual soap and it rinses completely clean, unlike "detergents". It's highly recommended in the cloth diapering blogs...

I also agree about baking soda/vinegar.

Mrs. Meyers products contain "fragrance" as an ingredient, so in my book they are not "all-natural". We've tried the Trader Joe's sachets of lavender, but we weren't impressed. I think the Method products are "trying" to be more eco-friendly, but not so sure about artifical frangrance etc.

We still occasionally use fabric softener on loads that don't have undergarments, towels, napkins, washcloths, etc. in them... Sometimes a sweatshirt just smells kind of cozy that way.

I'm sure I'm not the only one to suggest this, but you can use dried lavender flowers (which you buy in bulk at many natural foods stores, as well as tea shops) in a little fabric "teabag". Basically a sachet. Or, if you're really on the quick and dirty (or, like me, don't sew), drop some in an old baby sock and tie the end closed. You can toss it in in the last part of the dry if you don't want a lot of the smell, or leave it in the entire time if you're particularly fond of that provence aroma. You can also stick one in amongst your clean laundry. Other aromatic herbs, or combinations, are nice too - just start with a SMALL amount and increase if you like. Lavender is nice, but can be overwhelming. If you have any in your yard you can cut it back and dry it near the end of the season when you'd trim in anyhow - even cheaper than buying in bulk.

If you take the sachet-post-laundry approach (again, try the baby sock...) you can alternatively put a little essential oil on fabric of some sort (perhaps yet another sock) inside of the first sock. The EO is expensive at first, but lasts a LONG time. Like years - you really only need a drop or 2 and at once and the smell lasts quite awhile. This is also great for mixing and matching smells (like lavender and eucalyptus). Trader Joes has a good deal on tea tree oil, and Fred Meyer carries a lot of different oils in their natural foods section. Caveat - using this approach your drawers will probably pick up some smell, so if your family ends up being sensitive to it, it could take some time and airing to get it out of the clothing/linen storage area.

Good luck!

Good luck!

We have gotton Dryer sheets at the farmers market before that smell like Lavender. i'm pretty sure they are all natural. They are like a little cloth bag/pocket thing with lavender in it or somthing.

Yes I do. I was doing what you are doing and using the environmentally safe laundry detergents and I didn't think they cleaned very well either. A friend of mine was having her products shipped to Germany when she lived there so I decided to try these products. They are the Get Clean products from Shaklee. They are amazing and do not have a real strong smell, they just smell clean. I got my Mom to use them and a coffee stain that had been there for years started fading. I have used the products now for 13 years and I wouldn't give them up for anything. I am a distributor (I was telling everyone about the products anyway) and I want to honor no soliciting so you can go on line at www.shaklee.com and go to the find a distributor or call 1-800-shaklee and they will tell you how to order. The products also have a moneyback guarantee so if you do not like them you can call for a refund (You will love them). Shaklee is also associated with Dr Wangari Mathai who won the Nobel Peace Price for Planing trees in Africa and has always been environmentally responsible since 1956. You can have my contact information but I am really choosing to honor this great website with integrity. My number is ###-###-#### if you need help or have any questions I may be able to answer. Hope this helps. I know how you feel because I was there also. Healthfully, E.

Just add a few drops of an essential oil (lavender oil, etc) to the rinse cycle of your laundry. Also, run an empty load through your machine every once in a while (once/month or so) with some white vinegar. That will get rid of any bad smells being caused by the washer itself. To aleviate that mildewy smell, make certain that you empty your washer the instant it is done...do not let the clothes sit in it. Also, Quixtar (Amway) makes a bioquest laundry line that smells very nice. They also have fabric softeners that are available is several scents. If you like, I can give you the name of the lady I buy my stuff from.

Hi A.,

Take an old washcloth or rag and put a few drops of an essential oil on it and then put in the dryer with your clothes. I like to use the lavendar or lemon essential oils but you can pick whatever one you like.

Good Luck,
S.

Borateen has been used for at least 30--I used it and so did my mom--make it sixty--years and it makes laundry smell clean without a perfumey smell to it. But before that you need to clean your washer. It has mold or mildew in it. I think that last time this came up some people suggested running an empty load with vinegar to clean out the mold and mildew.

After that you need to always keep both the washer and dryer open after you use them to allow them to dry out and prevent mold or mildew to grow.

I have to agree VINEGAR. We had smelly laundry too, nothing helped until I started using vinegar.