Liquid vs. powder and fabric softener vs. fabric sheet?
kathyc618
11 years ago
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mara_2008
11 years agogeorgect
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Liquid Fabric Softeners gunking machines?
Comments (45)I am currently having a problem with mites in my washing machine. Yes mites. I clean regularly and just literally think I'm losing my mind. I've thrown everything out of my house including furniture. I am having a devil of a time getting them out of my washing machine. I have done a lot of research and tried several things. I have found that vinegar (red apple cider by White House) kills them on contact along with hot water. The mites were nesting in my washing machine and spreading when I washed clothes in it and now are all over everything. They spread fast apparently. Sooo I've poured 2 gallons of apple cider vinegar all over the top of the drum and cleaned under the crack down in the lid where it bends with a tooth brush an the vinegar and no Clorox didn't work. Tried that. I've changed my washing habits. Only use Borax and Vinegar in my washing machine from here on because I have teenagers and there is no telling what is at their friend's homes. So I prefer these because they actually kill germs....See MoreDryer Fabric Softener Sheets
Comments (23)Haven't used any type of commercial fabric softener in decades. Occasionally I use vinegar to help remove smells. No need to worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar. They don't. I occasionally use vinegar to wipe down the cutting board, counter or wipe out the microwave. It's actually a disinfectant. And once dry, there's no smell. My sister uses vinegar to wash her floors. The cats won't walk on it while damp (they don't like the vinegar smell) but she knows when the floors are dry. The cats are in the kitchen. o vinegar smell. I fill the fabric softener dispenser in my current machine with white vinegar. The old one I used a Downey Ball and some would dilute the vinegar in the ball but I wouldn't. I'd fill the ball with white vinegar and toss it in. Worked great. And as I said, no vinegar smell. Think about it for a minute, it's diluted down so much there really isn't anything left to smell. And of course you're rinsing after too, most likely. I don't like smelly clothes which is why I hated commercial softeners and most detergents. Why do people think clothes have to stink before they can be clean? Amazes me. When clothes smell, it's time to wash them IMO. And for those who have static problems, you're issue is not caused by not using softener or not using enough, the problem is that you're over-drying your clothes. Cut back the drying time, save yourself money in two ways, less electricity (and possibly gas) and no softener. I use dryer balls to assist in drying (which they do). Supposedly they help with static which they might, but I can't prove it one way or the other. Grainlady bought some of the anti-static version and she says they help a lot. Since I don't have static issues since I quit over-drying the clothes, I really don't have need to try them. And FWIW my towels and jeans are as soft as anyone's. The occasional time they're a little stiff, I know I didn't rinse them well enough as already mentioned. So when I wash them again, I use less or no detergent depending on the amount in them. And some say dryer sheets are good for cleaning shower doors. I can't confirm....See MoreNO fabric softener 2 week experiment!!
Comments (42)I don't use FS on sheets, but a few times, actually at least a half dozen times since I got the Duet I wasn't thinking and put it in the dispenser while doing sheets...I noticed..I really noticed..I understand the comment about it sleeping hotter...its just a strange feel to me..almost a sticky feel as if I can't roll over as smoothly, its not that I'm sticking to the sheet but more like my nighty is not flowing over it freely..hard to explain. FS does leave a residue that's the function of it afterall. I think if your used to it you don't notice the residue feel. I don't like the way things feel from FS that being said FS does help with wrinkling, static, and it makes ironing easier which is why professional laundrys use it, it keeps things from rolling or curling up around the edges. A little bit of FS is not a bad thing it can be helpful....See MorePowder vs. liquid
Comments (13)Pat are you sensitive to enzymes? Bea your findings are exactly why I am against excess Sodium Carbonate. I think if we all drained our washers into a sink we would be pretty surprised at the residues. Borax isn't quite as bad as S. Carbonate but both do like to attach themselves to fibers. My policy is only using Borax to remove stubborn odors and I never use a Carbonate containing booster with a powder detergent except for the smaller amount in Sodium percarbonate. I know some people use a whites booster such as Oxiclean or Tide boosters with Tide with Bleach powder. .that's way to much carbonates and completely unnecessary concidering everything in the booster is already in TWB. Anyway Bea sounds like you need extra rinsing if using Borax which doesn't surprise me....See Moremara_2008
11 years agomara_2008
11 years agoitgeek
11 years agoHU-319667172
3 years agoci_lantro
3 years ago
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