Yes, the clean smell is truly...clean cloth, as you described. I don't have any stiffness, but they are more crisp than when I was using dryer sheets.

My clothes with Charlie's do indeed appear cleaner than when I was using Tide. I am using what is left of my Tide to pre-treat spots.

Sorry to hear that you aren't as pleased as I am. :)

Charlie's has NO smell... nothing, nada... no fragrance at all should be there....

Stiffness... my experience was this continued through almost the entire first bag of the soap I used... It seems to tke multiple, multiple washes for whatever it is doing to actually soften your fabric to get to the fabric to do it... at least that was my experience... now everything is very soft (well... except for those summer clothes I drew out of the back of the closets and have cycled into the drawers and closts!)

Yep. It took me a whole bag to love CS. Things were stiff and the smell was odd. I now believe the CS was basically stripping layers of gunk off the fibers.

Now when I take fresh clothes out of the dryer I smell what I describe as fresh, almost spring-like, air. It just took a long time to get there. That's why I gave up on CS the first time. I'm so glad I stuck with it this time. I'll never use anything else currently on the market.

Plumbly, I totally agree about the old detergent clothing remenants popping up around the house. I hate that adjustment period again but someday soon there won't be any more.

trinityklm... I know EXACTLY what you are saying about giving up your first time... I got near the end of my first bag and was less than impressed with the softness... clothes were clean... just scratchy and stiff... but I figured maybe it was just me, after all, people here love the stuff right??? so I stuck with it and gee... by the end of the first bag/start of the secon it was one of those 'light goes on' moments... my was was clean and soft...

To the OP... stick with it... it really does work, AFTER it finally makes its way down to the actual material/fibers

OK. I will continue but I washed my sheets today. They are relatively new...maybe 10 Tide washings. Pulled them out of the dryer and took a big whiff....smelled kind of dirty. I could still smell some Neutrogena Body Lotion I used this week and I even had them on the Allergy wash setting with CS. They're not fresh as a mountain forest covered in dew or a tulip field in Denmark!!! No Spring Rain!!! I ordered 2 bags and gave one to my friend for her input. CS gets 65-80 tries and if I don't smell like a crisp mountain morning.....I'm going to cake my clothes up with Tide and be happy.

When you consider the biodegradable test on diapers where they were 2% heavier after being washed 8 times in Tide (recommended amount), and were NOT heavier using Charlies. Even after using 4 times the amount of Charlie's. This could mean those 10 washings in Tide on your sheets will take more washings to get rid of the residue in them.

The way Tide contributes to flamability of children's polyester sleepware and Charlie's actually improved the flame retardant properties - even to the point where the fabric wouldn't start on fire at all is also impressive.

You can find this information on their web site.

-Grainlady

I have been using CS for about 2 weeks, and I am starting to see a difference in some of my towels, everybody that has read my posts of my soap problem, knows I had alot of buildup in my towels from using liquid Tide HE in my Duet. Some of them seem to be alot softer and limp and I havent seen that for almost 1 year.

So far I like CS, I just use a fabric sheet in the dryer. I am sure that after the first bag I will really see the difference.

I am not having soap "SUDS" issues with it. :)

Bichoncoco,

When you think about what (body oils, lotions etc.) the Tide has been "sealing up" with the fibers every time you wash your sheets, it makes sense that you might smell some of that stuff as the layers of crud come off. At least that was my experience. I would even smell Tide again sometimes--maybe four or five washes in. It was very strange.

I think everyone here agrees that if you give CS a fair shot and don't like it, certainly go back to Tide. But it's the fair shot part that's key.

Keep us updated!

I used to use Tide. After one use my towels used to have that wet, mildewy smell. After many washes with CS my towels can now be used several times and not smell at all. stick with it. it will be worth it

mc58... I'm glad you don't seem to have the sudsing issue with the charlies... is that just with the towels or across the board now?

How about your other 'problem'... twisting... any luck???

btw... you should be able to skip the dryer sheet too...

I did the true test today.....my 13 year old son's sheets. I swear I can smell his room from down the hallway. He's cute, he's a good dresser and he wears deoderant but he's just ripe and his sheets....funky. I felt this was a 2 scoop load and I have to say the overall finished product was better than my 1 scoop sheet load yesterday. They were de-funked.

So, my question is....should I be using 2T for large loads? This would bring the # of loads down to 40 if you are doing large loads. I'm fine with that as it never once crossed my mind how many loads I get out of a box of Tide. I also throw in a scoop of Oxy Clean too with sheets, whites, towels.

I recommend increasing the amt of CS by a little - not necessarily by double. Also give them a call and discuss your water softener / filter with them & get their recommendations. They are very hands on, great people with individual customer service.
I giggled at your "ripe" 13 year old son's room smell - it only gets gets worse!!! heehee

bichoncoco,

I usually put a 1/2 scoop in my pre-wash compartment and a full scoop in the regular wash compartment for my sheets and then wash on hot. I use oxyclean maybe once a month. I have this "thing" with less-than-fresh sheets, so I probably don't need to do the pre-wash, but I like to. :-)

Glad to hear the CS worked well on your son's sheets. He might even notice the difference!

bichoncoco,

I hope that you have called them over at Charlie's soap, they are more than willing to assist.

I am SOOOOOO glad that I don't have a teenager. ;)