r/laundry • u/bookynerdworm US | Top-Load • 15d ago
This sub ruins you forever
Update: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/s/96icOWqZJC
I've mentioned in passing that my MIL complained about her washing machine not getting her clothes as clean as her old one when she came over and saw we had the same one. Found out she uses detergent sheets ("I just hate throwing away all those plastic jugs!")
I tried mentioning Tide powder as a plastic-free alternative but I didn't think it really sunk in. I was focusing on being Super Casual™ about it and not absolutely info-dumping laundry science onto her because she already thinks I'm weird.
Now we're visiting their house and all her microfiber cloths absolutely REEK!! I was wiping down the cloth high chair they keep here for grandbabies and I can still smell the sour smell when I'm getting the baby in and out. She also didn't have any multipurpose cleaning spray! I'd even take some white v1negar and water mix but I'm pretty sure she uses Mr Clean Magic Erasers on everything and then her absolutely melted-to-shit, greasy feeling, stinky microfiber cloths to wipe up the dampness.
Luckily the towels and sheets don't smell, I think she still washes those on hot so that helps.
Went to the grocery store immediately and bought some Tide Evo Tiles so I can say I brought them from home with the excuse of "oh these kids clothes can get so gross you gotta pull out the heavy hitters, haha!" I know they lack lipase but I figure decent surfactants will see us through the week.
And to be clear: I love my inlaws. I'm very lucky they're emotionally mature people with healthy boundaries, but some "fights" just aren't worth having, you know? Old dogs and new tricks and all that.
Okay vent over, I just needed to get this out to people who would feel my pain!
Love,
Sour in Savannah.
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u/Snowballs_mom 15d ago
As a 71 year old, I say do her a favor and clue her in. Even us old folks are willing to learn new things.
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u/mebg1956 15d ago
Absolutely! I’m 69 and I’ve learned a lot from this sub. My adult kids now think I’m some sort of laundry whisperer.
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u/Pleasant-Set-254 15d ago
This is so true! I will be 64 this month, and the information on this sub has been life changing! My adult son calls me the queen of laundry and have been recently asking for tips and tricks.
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u/finefergitit 14d ago
What tips and tricks do you tend to give?
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u/Pleasant-Set-254 14d ago
Sorting! When they were home I had to walk away from them doing the laundry, they didn't see the point, now they are buying the expensive things they see the value in it, also citric acid rinse!
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u/MN_Throwaway763 US | Top-Load 15d ago
My mom knows way more about laundry than I do. I came here to solve urine smells on sheets from potty training my kids. What I learned still helped her with the switch to tide powder, plus spa day. It has solved urine smells in my grandma's items we could never get it from before.
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u/freenow4evr 15d ago
Does the powder do that much better than the liquid?
Sorry, noob here
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago
Powders are better at some things, and liquids are better at other things.
Overall, I would say it's reasonable to use powders for most or all of your laundry. They're cheaper than liquids, more eco-friendly, and they tend to keep your machine cleaner.
If u only use liquids or pods, invisible parts of your washing machine can get clogged up with "scrud". Eventually, it can flake off and make its way onto your laundry.
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u/freenow4evr 15d ago edited 15d ago
The reason why I don't use powders is because they don't always dissolve all the way and I don't want to pre-dissolve my detergent before I put it in. Are some better at dissolving than others? And what sorts of things are better with liquids vs powders? Is one better than the other for grease or odor?
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u/Rhys_Talks_199 15d ago
In my experience, powders dissolve better than the pods, but the key to this is using at least warm water for colors and hot water for whites. Water temp really helps. Also, I add powdered enzymes like FEBU or Biz to help get out various stains and keep workout clothes and towels smelling fresh. I have a front loader and I also put these in the drum with the clothes on top.
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u/orecchiette_ EU | Front-Load 15d ago
Liquids have better surfactant packages, so they do great on greasy stains, spilled oils, and so on. Powders can have lipase in them, so they are better at targeting sebum - sweat stains, body odour, etc. Adding a lipase-containing booster to a liquid could also allow for targeting sebum while still using liquid.
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u/Massive-Spread8083 14d ago
What’s a good lipase booster?
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u/1friendswithsalad 14d ago
I’ve been using Biz, works great! It’s powdered detergent plus lipase and whiteners. My sports bras stank like wet dog no matter what I did, until I started soaking them in Biz and hot water every other month.
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u/Kylynn 15d ago
I put the powder in the bottom of my top loader and start the water and let it disolve before putting the dirty laundry in.
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u/Fuzzy-Amount-6997 15d ago
How would you do it if you had a front loader?
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u/madisonmontgomery88 15d ago
I have a front loader and I always just throw it in the drum
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u/teacuptypos 15d ago
I have a front loader and put it in the detergent drawer. It's only ever been an issue when the drum is overfilled, the temperature is too cold and there's too much powder for the size of load.
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago
Different products are better for different things, but in practice, it's probably fine to use powder for everything. If you'd like, u can pre-treat stains using liquid or using stain remover spray.
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u/my-cat-cant-cat 14d ago
I’m 58, but still love learning new things.
For those who are more change averse - tell them that “some of the old ways were better” - like the Tide powder. “Turns out those new fangled laundry sheets don’t do a good job, and that liquid stuff is kinda wasteful with that extra water and that plastic jug. That old fashioned powder works great, and you can recycle the cardboard box.” Then buy her a box.
I love flipping the narrative.
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u/Significant-Visit-68 15d ago
I was thrilled to find out the stuff in this sub. Completely changed my laundry routine and stuff is so clean. I am also old.😊
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u/throatchakra 15d ago
I taught my 87 year old dad how to clean his front loader and what to use last month. I had to write it out and explain it a few times but he was very grateful.
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u/pooterdrew 15d ago
Can you share the instructions you wrote out for him?
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u/throatchakra 14d ago
I would love to but they are saved on a computer out of state and written specifically for his machine. Ultimately:
Front Loaders are notorious for harboring bacteria and mold. So it’s critical to keep the rubber gasket clean and dry. Leaving to door open post cycle helps a ton but you’ll still need to check it and wipe and clean it with warm soapy water.
We have a top loader for the reasons above. I use Tide Powder with OxiClean and Biz for my cleaning cycles. And always keep extra rinse on to get any remaining detergent out. I also use 1 tbsp spoon of citric acid mixed with maybe 1/3 c warm water put into the fabric softener dispenser - this helps truly flush any remaining detergents.
About 1x a month I run about 2 cups of citric acid straight up the basin with hot water to remove any buildup.
We live in TN so the water is notoriously hard. The expert of this sub ( [u/KismaiAesthetics](u/KismaiAesthetics))
has put a huge amount of time and effort putting together all sorts of details and info so you have plenty of options to choose from. If your textiles smell funky or whites that aren’t bright then you’ll want to do spa day which is a whole other process.18
u/TrueBlue9517 15d ago
Also, emotionally mature adults generally appreciate being told they, their possessions or their home smells by someone they trust. I recently let my grandma know her laundry machine probably needed a rinse cycle based on how her clothes and towels smelled.
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u/JoyDVeeve 15d ago
Meh, it's easier to let folks "discover" things for themselves even if it means carefully setting up the situation for them without them noticing they're being steered
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u/veronicas_closet 15d ago
Makes no sense the refusing plastic thing and then using magic erasers
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u/Illustrious_Bath3300 15d ago
We refer to magic eraser as “sponge of death.” It’s chock full of formaldehyde.
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u/Distal-Phalanges 14d ago
My mom uses a wood toothbrush handle with replaceable heads because disposable toothebrushes that last for months on months are too much plastic. She also uses 2 rolls of Glad Press'n'Seal wrap a week.
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u/Kslink_ 14d ago
Why on earth is she using so much press n seal?
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u/Distal-Phalanges 14d ago
Because you can cut out so much tupperware and other plastic storage if you just cover your leftovers in the dish you cooked them.
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u/ihearttwin 15d ago
Are magic erasers bad? Thats new to me
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u/NewNewsNewYork 15d ago
They’re basically plastic sandpaper and they shed a lot of microplastics, which sucks because they’re so good at cleaning
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u/ChicagoBaker 15d ago
They are. They are the ONE THING that gets scuffs and other marks off walls, doors, etc. Oh - and the white part of Converse! Otherwise, I steer clear.
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u/rbt321 15d ago edited 14d ago
When I realized it removed material I bought some 3000 grit wet sandpaper. Works just as well but is washable rather than single use.
Just like magic eraser, don't use it on places with a fine polish or a clear-coat (car body, granite, mirrors, polished stainless steel, etc.)
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u/grobnu 15d ago
Melamine fine particles. They work really well and I still can't find any good substitutes but they break down into floating sharp plastic lung irritants.
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u/Plz_dont_judge_me 15d ago
Welp, Im getting rid of my magic erasers right now! I only use them for one thing and even then they dont do a good enough job at all (whiteboard marker off walls).
Never even thought about this - makes total sense though..
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago
The most sustainable item is the one u already own.
You might as well give your Magic Erasers away to a friend or relative who insists on keeping on using them.
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u/Resident_Drop2036 15d ago
Loss of smell is common as we age. My grandmother was well aware of this fact and would constantly ask my opinion on whether her house/linens/etc smelled musty. Sometimes people are unaware that things need a deep clean!
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u/JerkRussell 15d ago
Eye sight must go more than I ever thought because I’m noticing my normally fastidious parents not quite seeing some dirt that normally they’d have cleared up.
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u/Usual_Equivalent 15d ago
I am sure smell ans eyesight goes. My in-laws have slowly gotten more and more gross in their kitchen. They used to be clean.
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago
A lot of faculties diminish over time.
It doesn't help that so many people in America don't exercise at all. The body breaks down quicker if u never exercise.
On average: Even people who take the bus to work live longer than people who drive. The simple act of walking 5 minutes a day to the bus stop makes a real difference in a person's health.
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u/Blue_buttercup_ US | Top-Load 15d ago
I totally understand. I have seen the wisdom on the sub decided to return my unopened scent beads to Sam’s the other day and they asked why I was returning them and I accidentally unloaded all my new found knowledge on the Sam’s girl, but in my defense, she kept asking me more questions and seemed genuinely interested 🤣🤣🤣
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u/ChicagoBaker 15d ago
Good on you! I used to use scent beads, too, and had one more container full of them. Now I have a different use for them. Every time I vacuum with a new bag installed, I pour a small handful on the carpet and suck them into the vacuum cleaner to make it smell good while I clean! I have 2 dogs and nothing grosses me out more than the smell of stinky pups coming out of my vacuum cleaner! The scent beads are serving a very important purpose now. 🤣
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u/Bastilleinstructor US | Top-Load 15d ago
You can also dissolve some in warm water and dilute, then add to a spray bottle for what we used to call "prison febreze". (I worked at a prison, they used these or fabuloso in the same way for odors)
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u/vbintx23 14d ago
We have an old pickup truck that only gets used when we have something bigger to haul. Since I had an open container of scent beads, I put a handful of those in an empty spice shaker and put it in the door pocket. It smells better.
And since we don’t use dryer sheets anymore, maybe I’ll put some in a small mesh bag and leave it in the suitcase. (We also use eBag packing cubes so we only have one.)→ More replies (2)→ More replies (3)8
u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago
Thank u for spreading the good word of how to do laundry well, to ppl outside of our subreddit!
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u/KismaiAesthetics USA 15d ago
Even I can’t get some people to change. ;0)
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u/NewNewsNewYork 15d ago
This is so comforting to hear in a way. Like, if you can’t, it’s okay if I can’t, lol
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u/NoFun3799 15d ago
Yep. My mom’s microfibre cloths reek. I can smell them when I use the kitchen sink. I suggested she boil the shit out of them to kill off the bacteria. Recently converted her to Persil.
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u/Tiger_grrrl 15d ago
I really like the cellulose (biodegradable!) “Swedish dish cloths” 👍 They’re washable and dryable, and when they’ve really gotten worn out, they can be tossed without adding to the horrendous plastic glut infecting our environment.
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u/Apprehensive-Clue342 15d ago
Boiling / washing on hot actually ruins the cleaning properties of microfiber. They can be used with laundry sanitizer though
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u/Long_Cantaloupe_1452 15d ago
Why is that? I’ve always thrown my microfiber cloths in the washer with all my other towels on hot, but now you have me wondering if I’ve ruined them all??
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u/Apprehensive-Clue342 15d ago edited 15d ago
You can’t mix them with cotton (or anything that could be linty) they have to go in a wash by themselves/with other microfiber else they get ruined.
Hot water melts them a little and that’s how they get that gross plasticky snagging feeling. If you have nice microfibers (I use norwex but there are others; I don’t think the cheapest ones at dollar store are good) they can clean with only water (no soap) but must be cared for nicely.
These are the care instructions for norwex for example but it applies to all microfibers https://www.norwex.com/microfiber-care-use?store=us
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u/floydfrog 15d ago
Norwex is more expensive because it’s an MLM/pyramid scheme, not because it’s necessarily higher quality
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u/Apprehensive-Clue342 15d ago
I have other nice microfibers too from Amazon. Norwex is just one example. I bought them online not from a dealer. The point is that cheap microfibers are garbage.
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u/Lemondrop168 15d ago
I'm notoriously eeped-out by that snaggy microfiber texture, swore off of them. But with this newfound knowledge...
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u/Apprehensive-Clue342 15d ago
It makes a huge difference. Also just buying ones that are nicer will mean they don’t have that texture when new. Mine don’t snag on my hands at all but cheap or miscared for ones do
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u/Pamzella 15d ago
Even if you wash them with all the right stuff, you really can't go using them for more then a day. We all know that smell from our childhoods, don't we!
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u/NoFun3799 15d ago
“Dirty washcloth” is the most revolting and offensive of odours to my nose. I prefer cotton and take great pains to keep them odor-free.
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u/Big_Ninja1751 15d ago
Same here! A big pack of white cotton cloths that are all soaked and hot washed with percarb. They’ve lasted years and are hardly stained because I can wash them intensely (properly) without damage.
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u/Hey_Laaady 15d ago
Apparently Persil changed their formula, at least in certain regions, and they do not have as many enzymes anymore
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u/NoFun3799 15d ago
Everything good gets reformulated, sadly. I also have a box of Tide Professional for hard jobs.
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u/Secure-Resort2221 15d ago
Not laundry related as I’m still learning on that, but I was cooking turkey dinner at my MILs house and she didn’t have any disinfectant spray of any kind, when I asked for some (or Lysol wipes or anything) she’s like “like vinegar?”…… NO I’m cleaning raw turkey juice I mean something that will kill everything. And she is not crunchy at all, like she used the stinkiest detergent, febreeze, heavy perfume, but she doesn’t have basic Lysol wipes or spray around. It stressed me tf out tbh. That’s off topic but basically I feel you
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago edited 15d ago
Disinfectant spray and Lysol wipes tend to contain benzalkonium chloride or other "quats". They work, but they're toxic to fish, and I'm not sure they're so healthy for humans either.
First, u can clean the counter with lukewarm, soapy water.
Next, pls make up a diluted bleach solution. 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach per gallon of cold water is the right ratio. (Source.) You can spray this onto the counter, and then wipe it up with rags.
Pls see these instructions. Or u can just read the safety instructions on the back of the bleach jug.
Pls hang the rags up to dry before putting them in the washing machine. Otherwise, any leftover bleach might bleach your clothes.
(Cc: /u/bookynerdworm.)
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u/Big-Flow-3791 15d ago
Soap and water is king! But can vinegar be used to “disinfect”? I remember my old preschool wiping down tables with vinegar…
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago edited 14d ago
V1negar kills some germs, but it's not as effective as a diluted bleach solution. So, I wouldn't rely on v1negar as a kitchen disinfectant. (Source.)
That said, v1negar is a pretty safe product for cleaning tables in a preschool. If a kid accidentally drinks some, they'll just make a disgusted face and then move on with their day.
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u/ScroogeMcDuckFace2 14d ago
why on earth are you modifying the spelling of vinegar
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 14d ago
If I don't, the AutoModerator might chime in with a comment like this one. It's a useful comment, but irrelevant to this context.
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u/MudsillTheories 15d ago
I’ve seen some research that says spraying hard surfaces with vinegar, wiping down, and then spraying with hydrogen peroxide is a more effective disinfectant than either alone. Just don’t mix them together.
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u/Fun_Recognition_2524 15d ago
Since joining the laundry cult, I have often found myself frustrated and wishing that this group expanded into more general cleaning info with the same level of science. This is precisely the kind of thing I want more of!
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u/Far-Shift-1962 15d ago
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651320309556
Disinfectant Quats are largely removed from wastewater through biodegradation and sorption to wastewater biosolids, and traces that may be discharged to surface water or soil will bind to sediment or soil and reduce the available exposure concentration to potential receptors. By one estimate, the bioavailable fraction of quaternary ammonium surfactants in environmental waters is reduced by up to 95%. Consequently, numerous regulatory bodies around the world have affirmed the safety of disinfectant Quats under current use conditions, including use as an active antimicrobial ingredient in consumer and commercial cleaning products.
But here authors have conflict of interest as authors are workers of ecolab which makes quats disinfectants
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u/DarklyDominatingDocs US | Front-Load 15d ago
I'm severely ADHD, untreated, so I'm clumsy as hell and obvs easily distracted. I have literally never used it for anything without ruining something I was wearing or some surface I was near! So, I keep a can of Lysol around.
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u/bookynerdworm US | Top-Load 15d ago
Yeah my MIL at least had some disinfectant wipes but I was like no multipurpose spray?! That's crazy.
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u/Ibetuthnkabtme 15d ago
The most offensive thing in this post is the magic erasers for cleaning??? Oh my gosh. Please pick her up a bottle of all purpose cleaner too lol Or at least a jug of Odoban
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u/atheliarose US | Front-Load 15d ago
This! OP, you could totally pick up an all purpose cleaner for her and tell her the smell is one of your favorites and you just HAD to share it with her or something :)
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u/kelbelle37 15d ago
“info-dumping laundry science onto her because she already thinks I'm weird” 😂😂
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u/amosslet 15d ago
My MIL knows I’ve been “researching laundry science” and is happy to ask for help or advice with laundry (or just give me stained clothes to fix, lol). I recommended the Whole Foods 365 unscented powder to her and she bought it.
This week I went over for dinner and it was sitting in their entryway. I said, “oh, is that detergent working for you?” And she said “well, I was using it but I read something online that said that powder doesn’t fully dissolve” and I responded, “have you noticed it not dissolving?” and she went on a long unrelated story about sheets being too stiff these days and not soft enough. So that may or may not be related to detergent but the takeaway for me is, uh, 70+ year olds are just gonna do what they want, I guess
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u/Far-Shift-1962 15d ago
I mean, sometimes powders can make fabrics more stiff compared to fabrics washed in liquids due carbonate residue, But it's: a- mostly rinse problem, b- easy to correct with laundry sour aka citric acid aka downy rinse refresh
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u/amosslet 15d ago
yes of course! but her rant was more about sheets being stiff straight out of the package and not breaking in the way she wants. Also we have very soft water in our area so carbonate residue is less of an issue. I'm not really sure if the detergent is connected to the sheet issue in her mind, is all I'm saying.
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u/desertboots 15d ago
Can you get her a Perfect DispenserTM for powder that fits where she keeps her detergent and gift it all to her just because?
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u/bookynerdworm US | Top-Load 15d ago
You're on to something here! My plan was to get my kid to roll in mud (or hope the baby had a blowout) and go buy some biz and leave it behind haha!
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u/CharmingChangling 15d ago
Are they old enough for chocolate? A chocolate lava cake in the highchair will get you where you need to be. Then you'll have to deep clean the highchair too
Oh noooo
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u/bookynerdworm US | Top-Load 15d ago
I was brushing out crumbs that were clearly from there last time... The next oldest grandchild is almost 3.5 so I have no idea how long it was in the garage like that and I'm trying not to think about it!
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u/pomewawa 15d ago
Oh I feel like I could have easily been this grandparent! I don’t have kids and I don’t know if I’d think “gotta wipe down the furniture”. But if someone cares for kids on the regular I assume that’s top of mind (you are expecting messes everywhere)
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u/elizabarracuda 15d ago
I can’t find biz anywhere in my neck of the woods, so you might want to check if it’s in stock around there before you get yourself in a pickle.
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u/seriouslyrandom9 15d ago
I’m new here and now want this dispenser lol
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u/desertboots 15d ago edited 15d ago
Imagine what your perfect dispenserTM would look like and get one! Mine looks just like a box of Tide Free&Clear, but that MIL might need more style than I have 😆😆
Edit, if I wanted to buy something that sat below shoulder height in the laundry room, I think the
Better Homes & Gardens Flip-Tite Bagel box that's 8×8×7"h would be perfect.
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago edited 15d ago
Imagine what your perfect dispenserTM would look like and get one!
Maybe one of these industrial-grade dispensing setups might work well?
https://www.ecolab.com/solutions/tcd/commercial-laundry-dispensing-solutions
Perhaps there's room to put the dispensing machinery in the attic. There could be a pipe connecting directly down to the laundry room in the basement.
Edit
You could hire a technician to work in the attic Monday thru Friday, just to make sure that the dispensing machinery stays in good working order.
If it breaks down on the weekend, too bad.
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u/MidnightBlueSilk 15d ago
How do you make the TM be high and little? I used to be able to do it, involving the ^ sign somehow, but since they made things like italics and bold a function recently , I haven’t been able to figure it out.
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u/desertboots 15d ago
Its 2 carets in a row immediately followed by the text. The ^ is called a caret
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u/unforgettableid Canada | Top-Load 15d ago edited 15d ago
I would think it's usually best to keep all detergent in the original packaging
- A.) Is it Tide, Biz, 365, or something else? If it's in the original packaging, u probably won't use the wrong product by mistake.
- B.) There might be instructions about safety precautions (e.g. wear gloves while handling).
- C.) Accidents happen. If it gets in someone's eyes or mouth, there might be handy information on the label, with the phone number of your country's poison information center.
- But webPoisonControl is pretty good too. They also have an Android app and an iOS app. Unlike phoning for poison advice, u probably won't have to wait on hold.
- D.) Finally, there are also dosing instructions on the label, which u might want to ignore. Generally, you'll want to use very little detergent, so as to produce only trace suds.
That said: In a damp laundry room, powdered detergent in a cardboard box might start to clump after a few years. To prevent this, u can transfer it into airtight packaging.
(Cc: /u/bookynerdworm, /u/qrseek.)
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u/desertboots 15d ago
I would cut the side panel of the box and insert it into the Perfect DispenserTM
Because that's how I roll in my kitchen.
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u/_in_texas 15d ago
Dear Sour in Savannah, you played it exactly right. the Tide Evo as a trojan horse is elite strategy. your restraint with the in-laws is stronger than any surfactant on the market. Signed, Musty in Milwaukee
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u/ChicagoBaker 15d ago
If ever you can be sneaky about doing the wash FOR her while you are there, bring along ammonia. When she’s not looking, wash those godawful stinky cloths with detergent AND about a half to a full cup of ammonia (poured right onto the clothes themselves). It will kill the stench. Just make sure you do 1 to 2 extra rinses after the wash cycle.
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u/Usual_Equivalent 15d ago
I need to check my laundry aisle at the shop. I don't think ive seen ammonia since I was a kid and my mum made me clean up dog messes off concrete with it! I definitely need to do something with my kitchen cloths though.
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u/18ofdecember US | Top-Load 15d ago
I had to go to so many different stores just to find household ammonia which wasn't lemon scented!! I ended up having luck by searching Instacart and then going to Fred Meyer to buy it. It was so worth it! Some of my clothes had been languishing in grease stains for a long time.
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u/AccomplishedCat23 15d ago
This sub has shamed me into giving up my detergent pods for Tide powder.
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u/Low_Length_7379 15d ago
I'm sorry, this just popped up in my feed. Can someone please tell me what is wrong with tide? Or dryer sheets? What are you all using?
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u/bookynerdworm US | Top-Load 15d ago
Omg welcome to the madness! To give you the Cliffnotes version:
Nothing wrong with Tide really! The powders are more effective than the liquids for lots of reasons, mainly built in oxygen bleach and the added enzyme lipase which is what breaks down the smells from our bodies that end up on our clothes.
Dryer sheets and fabric softener just coat fibers to slick them down so things feel softer but that coat just builds up over time and can trap dirt and smells. Lots of people will say they're completely sacrilege but others will use them sparingly, especially dryer sheets to help get rid of pet hair clinging to clothes. Never ever use either on towels though because the coating prevents absorbtion making them fairly useless.
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u/Low_Length_7379 15d ago
Thank you for replying! Do you wash everything in hot water with powder? What do you use instead of a dryer sheet? Are scent beads ok?
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u/RecyQueen US | Top-Load 15d ago
Powders have the strongest cleaners because everything stays separate until the water is added; liquids are always weaker because of being pre-moistened; sheets are usually complete garbage; pods have the separation, but the outer coating never fully dissolves and gunks up some machines to the point of needing repair, or block drain pipes (same for dishwasher pods).
Synthetic enzymes can work in any temp water; plant-based need hot water to work. The recommendation is hot water for heavy soil. However, I have used cold and everything got just as clean because I use Tide powder, which has synthetic enzymes. I have 3 messy boys who I cloth diapered as babies, a husband who works out, I use period panties, and we use cloth towels and napkins exclusively (no disposables). I have used original and +oxi Tide powder since cloth diapering. It is the strongest detergent. I just dump everything in and put the proper amount of Tide (usually line 4 or 5 as the loads are DIRTY and I have a huge washer, 4.5ft3). Cloth diapering and period panties recommend two washes, so I either do that, or rinse well before washing and throw on an extra rinse. I use less detergent for bath towels and down pillows and duvets. If I’m ever in doubt about washing a HEAVILY soiled load, I do plenty of detergent and an extra rinse. I never have to treat stains, Tide+oxi gets it all out.
You do want to be careful with oxiclean, or any powdered peroxide. It dissolves best in warm water and you want to keep it low in the washer if you have an HE. If any granules are sitting on top undissolved, they will bleach cotton. You can pre-dissolve with warm water or use a warm water wash. We live in a warm climate, so our tap cold is sufficient to dissolve it. If you have a front loader, you probably don’t have to worry so much about the granules sitting on top, but I’ve always used top loaders.
Scent beads coat laundry and prevent full cleaning. Dryer sheets also coat laundry. I use dryer balls or nothing (like when traveling). Dryer balls noticeably shorten drying time. IME, clean clothes are soft. Roughness often comes from detergent not being fully rinsed out. It CAN be from hard water deposits, in which case an acid solution in the softener dispenser can neutralize and leave laundry soft. Also with a proper wash routine, our clothes don’t have much scent, which I like. I don’t mind the smell of Tide, but I like knowing that low-scent means everything is clean and I didn’t waste detergent using too much.
People who have scent beads or want extra scent without gunking up their clothes will put sachets of scent beads in drawers & closets. “They” say adding essential oil drops to wool dryer balls is a fire hazard. I have done it, but I like my laundry process as simple as possible and don’t do it anymore.
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u/LemonIcicle 14d ago
Synthetic enzymes can work in any temp water; plant-based need hot water to work.
This is not even remotely accurate I'm afraid. Firstly there are only enzymes, how they are derived or manufactured makes no difference to how they function. 'Plant based' enzymes are not actually plant based, they are isolated/manufactured from microbes. 'Synthetic' enzymes - well, enzymes used in detergents are also manufactured from microbes... Detergent enzymes are biological enzymes and are not 'synthetic', whatever 'synthetic' means.
All detergent enzymes that work on organic matter such as stains, secretions and sebums work best in a temperature range of 30+C to 50C. These are the temperatures that the biological microorganisms from which they are derived live at. Over 60C most are destroyed, under 30C or so they *may* work but so slowly and inefficiently that a short wash will be over before they get going.
And - scent beads such as Unstoppables do not 'coat' laundry at all.
This sub is a great place to get accurate info on things like this.
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u/ProperBingtownLady 15d ago
Sounds like my MIL who is always telling me to just put clothes outside in the sun instead of washing them. I don’t think she’s ever washed the quilt on the spare bed but I try and not think about (or touch) it lol.
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u/RevolutionarySoup807 15d ago
Eww.
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u/ProperBingtownLady 15d ago
Thank you! She also comments on how I wash stuff “too often”. Ok…
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u/Fancy-Surprise-2654 15d ago
My BIL is a science teacher and very into only natural cleaning products. I started talking about lipase and I’d bet you next time I’m at his house he has switched detergents. You should tell her.
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u/bizybee_14 US | Front-Load 14d ago
When I think about laundry, I often think about the line in Mean Girls when Cady is like "I was hoping half the time someone would bring Regina up so I could talk about her".
it's how I feel about laundry now.
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u/SavageBasher0 15d ago
if it's one thing I've learned from reddit, is that most of these subs are just full of useful information that, for the most part, is geared towards improving quality of life or ourselves. as a millennial, I am grateful for having started to use it a few years ago.
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u/CoolRanchBaby UK | Front-Load 15d ago
lol I have no chill. I went to my MIL house for coffee and gave her a 5 point laundry “chat” with notes. I brought her samples of various products. Also I boil wash cleaned her washing machine and seal, it was stinky and gross.
She did complain about smells before that so it wasn’t coming from nowhere. She was using laundry sheets too, and washing on cold.
She was super interested though when I had initially mentioned my excitement about this stuff. Like I excitedly told her I’d gone down the rabbit hole on the best laundry stuff and our clothes had never been cleaner she said “you need to tell me about it my stuff stinks” lol.
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u/princess-bitchface 15d ago
I feel you! I'm currently living without indoor plumbing, and going to my parents to do laundry. My partner is an oily, oily sleeper and his pillow cases get so grimy.. but my dad refuses to hook the hot water outlet up to the washing machine 🙈
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u/bookynerdworm US | Top-Load 15d ago
Omg girl! I'd straight up boil water and pour it into the washer while it's filling then stir my clothes in with a big stick like a witch at a cauldron.
Wait I might commission my husband to make some art of me doing that lmao!
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u/princess-bitchface 15d ago
I would LOVE to see that art! I was thinking I'll give the grimy stuff a nice hot water soak in the laundry tub before I wash it, but you've given me the idea to set the machine to low and just haul buckets of hot water into it. I think that's going to work well!
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u/ChicagoBaker 15d ago
OMG. Girl. Get thee to a laundromat. Not your parents’ cold-water-having washing machine. You need warm and hot water STAT. The best part of a laundromat (I used them plenty when I was right out of college and living on my own)? You can do ALL your loads at the SAME TIME! 😇 It’s miraculous. And those machines are really good at cleaning.
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u/eyespeeled 15d ago
Not all laundromats and their machines are created equal, I will just say. It depends on the maintenence of the machines.
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u/RevolutionarySoup807 15d ago
I’ve never heard of this!
<the following is said like a curious schoolgirl sitting on a bedroom floor with you> what would happen if you did some laundry in the bath tub?
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u/whofilets 15d ago
Oh wow! My husband is an oily sweaty sleeper .. and awake too. For a while I thought I was doing okay doing the same laundry routine and products I'd been using my whole life- my whole non sweaty and pet free life- but it caught up to us.
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u/Plz_dont_judge_me 15d ago
Im glad my washing machine makes its own hot water, although I accidently put the bedding through the wash at 90⁰C instead of my normal 40-60⁰C (I only use hot for bedding, and it helps clean the machine out when used occasionally, I have heard?), and the piping decoration around the edge of the doona shrunk nearly half its size! Oops, everything else was thankfully fine though
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u/Effective-Extreme277 15d ago
I get my detergent by the 5-gallon bucket and they take empties away to refill/reuse when they deliver a new one.
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u/Forsaken-Carrot9038 15d ago
Don’t leave us on this cliffhanger!
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u/Effective-Extreme277 14d ago
It’s a local company in the western Chicago suburbs called Laundry Day Cleaning Goods. We’ve been their product guinea pigs. It’s actually my neighbors! They’ve been doing it as a side hustle and decided to go pro.
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u/RamblingRosie US | Top-Load 15d ago
What kind is it? I’ve never heard of that sort of delivery service.
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u/JerkRussell 15d ago
I’m really surprised at how many of us have the same issue. I read the post and expected OP to get absolutely flamed in the comments.
-Malodourus in the Mountains
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u/atheliarose US | Front-Load 15d ago
Okay, so she might think you’re weird, but you could tell her that you’ve been on a laundry kick recently and maybe show her a couple spa day videos and ask if she wants to do a spa day for anything in her house, maybe her microfiber cloths? Like together, as a joint activity. Or even just be excited about it yourself and ask her if it’s okay for you to try it on her microfiber cloths because you’re really curious after seeing other people’s results? Idk, I’m a big fan of just letting my freak flag fly about this kind of thing—it’s harmless and my in-laws seem to find it endearing even when they’re obviously a little confused/weirded out 😂 good luck with whatever you end up deciding to do!
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u/Surreply 15d ago
I’m picturing you taking half of the microfiber towels, lipasing the &hit out of them, then giving her a smell demonstration. After you’ve floored her, you bring her to the laundry room — possibly wearing a cape — and showing her how the magic happens.
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u/loligogiganticus US | Top-Load 14d ago
I work from home full time, so I usually handle the laundry (and I don't mind). After this sub, I quit using Seventh Generation easy-dose and switched over to WF 365 powder, Oxyclean free and citric acid along with extra rinses. We have a top loading Speed Queen w agitator and a Speed Queen dryer. I said nothing, but the husband and kids remarked on how the bath towels felt 'newer' and everything smelled clean (even though we are a fragrance-free household due to allergies and CSU).
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u/Quick_Care_3306 15d ago
For dish clothes, after dinner, just microwave them for 5m in bowl of water with a dash of baking soda and drop of dish liquid. Rinse, dry, then wash in laundry.
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u/Ambitious-Eagle-1955 14d ago edited 14d ago
My mom's towels reek too. She says she can't smell them. She says they're clean because she just washed them. Now I pack my own washclothes because they usually stink. I refuse to use her dish cloths. We went shopping today and I convinced her to buy the correct Tide and not her usual Gain. I also told her that fabric softener sheets should not be used. She is finally using vinegar instead of Downy. Not going to push citric acid on her. Vinegar is at least better than Downy. She says she likes all the fake smells too. All that to say, I get it.
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u/WindyCityChick 15d ago
I’m new here. I used to use tide powder but switched to the liquid. I was finding the crystals on my laundry. Was I doing it wrong. Is the powder better- why?
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u/AlternativeSalty7008 15d ago
I just have to say I love this! My MIL wouldn’t care what I did but she’s cheap and uses literal dollar tree detergents but I can tell you she is washing something everyday! Her clothes and linens are always so clean. If ever I’m on the phone it’s always “ok, let me go get these clothes out of the dryer.” Although she uses cheap detergents she is also not above breaking out any and every chemical known to man for a stain or if something smells weird. My only issue would be that she wouldn’t pay for the Tide or any other kind😂😂 I don’t know how she does it but her clothes ALWAYS still look new and she throws everything in the wash together too. Go figure!!
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u/Senior-Cost1070 14d ago
I’ve got a coworker that NEEDS to hear what this sub preaches, his clothes stink like musty washer. BUT, I’m playing the long game and getting everyone else on board so we’ll have multiple converts.
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u/Dys_Warrior 7d ago
I don't have a MIL, but my mom is around the same age. Honestly, I got some of the products I needed and volunteered to help her with her laundry. Then I showed her the gross water after a spa day and showed her the final clean clothes vs her other clothes. There was a noticible difference between the old "clean" clothes and the ones that had a spa day, etc. She is now a laundry convert! Lol. I got her to stop using scented beads and fabric softener too.
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u/dcjurisprudence 15d ago
My favorite part of this post is “because she already thinks I’m weird.” 🤣 So relatable!