laundry detergent

[Blueberry]

Charlie's Soap. Love it.

[badger]

oh, I know there are loads of "green" detergents, but I'm looking for one that will keep my clothes smelling nice after laundering, and/or not smelling stale in a few days.

[bmccasland]

Badger - one small thought, were they actually dry when you put them away. This came to me after I stayed in a hotel over the weekend with an older a/c unit and everything smelled of mildew. Not enough to send me screeming away, but there was a lingering smell... If it's summer, and your clothes or sheets aren't competely dry when they're put away, they could get stale from early stages of mildew.

[badger]

I'm pretty sure they're dry, as I hang dry 90% of my stuff, and I'm lazy and put off folding for a number of days

I've had this issue for a number of years since I started using the "green" detergents and fabric softeners.

[GLC1968]

badger - I use all the green products as well. Right now, I'm using Ecover for most everything because I find it does the best cleaning job. I don't notice that any of our stuff smells odd after a few days. I hang dry about half our stuff and use the dryer for the balance (mostly towels & cottons) and I notice no difference in smell.

I DO rinse every load with white vinegar. We stopped using fabric softener when we moved into our current house (over 2 years ago) and instead we throw a 1/4 cup of baking soda in with the clothing and I fill the fabric softener cup with white vinegar (HE front loading machine). Since white vinegar neutralizes scents...maybe that's why I don't get the play-doh smell? I've since stopped bothering with the baking soda, but I still use the white vinegar with every load. Maybe you could try that?

[badger]

badger - I use all the green products as well. Right now, I'm using Ecover for most everything because I find it does the best cleaning job. I don't notice that any of our stuff smells odd after a few days. I hang dry about half our stuff and use the dryer for the balance (mostly towels & cottons) and I notice no difference in smell.

I DO rinse every load with white vinegar. We stopped using fabric softener when we moved into our current house (over 2 years ago) and instead we throw a 1/4 cup of baking soda in with the clothing and I fill the fabric softener cup with white vinegar (HE front loading machine). Since white vinegar neutralizes scents...maybe that's why I don't get the play-doh smell? I've since stopped bothering with the baking soda, but I still use the white vinegar with every load. Maybe you could try that?

Thanks GLC, I'll give the white vinegar a whirl - how much do you put in, about 1/4 cup?

[GLC1968]

Thanks GLC, I'll give the white vinegar a whirl - how much do you put in, about 1/4 cup?

Hmmm, I'm not sure since I just fill the softener cup to the line (in my washer). I'd guess it's between a 1/4 cup and a 1/3 cup though...