Sweet smelling washing

I dislike perfumes added to washing powders, and find that strong smells can trigger migraines. Does anyone have any recommendations for unperfumed powders? The one I usually use is Surcare but it is quite pricey.

Hi, I have also heard many good things about Persil.

Granpammy, I use Ecover non-bio liquid which has a faint smell which doesn't linger on the clothes, and it is said to be eco-friendly as a bonus. My neighbour, whose house is some distance from ours, uses some horrible perfumed powder or fabric conditioner and the smell is very noticeable in our garden. Yuck!

Changed to Ariel a year ago, much cleaner items, and rather nice scent as they dry, once dry very little scent at all( good) and the washer doesn't have a nasty smell either.Very impressed.

Perfumes make me ill. I use soda crystals instead of washing powder. In the past I've used Surcare powder which has no perfume but I found it left a deposit on some fabrics.

Sometimes I just use water (40° cotton cycle). For dark fabrics that aren't very dirty or smelly it seems perfectly effective.

Soda crystals used in a hot cycle (for bedding or towels or even on empty) clean your washing machine as well.

Mind you, we have soft water too.

I use the Ariel pods mostly. I do towels with white vinegar. I use non bio powder occasionally but it can make me itch. When choosing fabric softener I buy those with the least colour, usually white ones smell less strong, I use Tesco own brand pure.

I love the smell of outside-dried washing but unfortunately do not have the opportunity here and have to tumble dry my laundry. I use Persil Non-Bio due to sensitive skin, with Sainsbury's tumble dryer sheets for the static caused by tumbling. I was told several years ago that Ariel has more bleach in it than other similar products, which is why it gets things whiter and brighter. I did use it when washing dirty working clothes but now I'm on my own I stick to Persil.

My mother used OMO for many years till she heard a rumour about packets of the stuff being left on windowsills, as a signal by housewives to lovers that 'Old Man's Out' and the coast was clear for a bit of 'hanky-panky' She was mortified that anyone would think she indulged in this sort of behaviour. She changed to Ariel but forever after moaned it wasn't as good as OMO. I haven't seen it in the shops for donkey's years so maybe the rumour put them out of business

Omoerotic?

roses

Comes out of the washing machine smelling of roses?

I wonder if washing powder is really necessary at all?
I use persil, with "herbes de Provence", but it just smells of soap to me. And I only use a tiny bit.
The waste water from washing machines is said to be bad for the drains, contributing to 'fatbergs'. Detergents contain oil and grease.

Oh not this again. Last weekend. OH was going past Aldi and was asked to get some of our usual non highly perfumed powder but he came back with one of the more stinky packs.

He put the pack in the garage over the weekend. When we opened the garage door on Monday morning to take it back the smell of the powder was right through the garage is not small.

I use a special ecoball in my washing machine. No need for any washing powders or conditioners etc. Kinder to the environment and a lot cheaper. Does the job very well

I would like to use ecoballs.Where do you get them from ?

I leave lavender sachets in the hot dryer between drying times, laundry smells nice.

Greenfinch, have you tried Lakeland?

Thanks Auntieflo.I will follow that one up.

Anyone looking for eco-friendly and free from cruelty I can recommend Method washing machine liquid.

Greenfinch, just look on-line. There are several different makes of eco balls for washing machines.

Thanks Franbern. I will do that.

Having earlier recommended Ecover as a practically smell-free liquid, I have found to my great disappointment that their new version has a most peculiar smell which lasts even after the clothes have been hung outside. It seems to be replacing the older version in both our local Tescos and is a concentrated, non-bio labelled Lavender and Sandalwood. Be warned!

Why do folk want their laundry to smell of anything except clean? I use Surcare unperfumed laundry liquid, no fabric softener (it clags up the washing machine with horrible grey slime) and dry outside whenever possible. What more do you need?

I am another who hates smelly washing. The perfumes make me feel slightly sick. I use Ariel (in much smaller doses than recommended) and wash as much on a 30 degree wash as possible. Then it all goes on the line! I cannot bear the smell of fabric conditioners.

I prefer thin, slightly rough towels to dry myself on, and so does the man but when we have people staying I feel obliged to get out the heavy duty towels and make them soft and fluffy. Recently, when staying with friends we both noticed we'd been given towels as heavy as rugs, and so thick and soft they didn't dry us properly. Not only that, they smelt of a sickly fabric conditioner too. The man unkindly remarked "charity shop odour" .

Funny how we all prefer different things.

Excuse me ut what is wrong with old fashioned muslin bags among the dried laundry and in the drawers - for out tof town dwellers? I admit I can grow and dry my own.