Laundryman: I am not using large loads: the most recent load was 1 pr. jeans, 1 shirt, 1 lightweight cotton sweater, 1 tee shirt, 3 pr. men's jockeys, 2 pr. socks and 2 handkerchiefs, 1 pr P.Js. This was probably 1 pr pants lighter than normal load. I use the normal/casual cycle using hot/cold for whites and warm/cold for darks. Occasionally I use the sanitary cycle for towels and sheets, but I really watch the load size. I fill the detergent receptacle until the level reaches 1/2 way up to the max fill line for liquid detergent. I fill the fabric softner to about 2/3 to the max level and add some water to reach the max. I have no idea what the "cleaning cycle" is, so I guess that means I probably haven't done it, unless it is the same thing as using the sanitary cycle, which I use about 1 time a week, maybe 2. I don't notice suds when I look through the window. The clothes don't have excessive soiling or grease. I appreciate your response, and hope you have some ideas. In the meantime I will find my manual and see about the "cleaning cycle" you referred to.. I am willing to change detergents and fabric softners...whatever it takes. I'm hoping it doesn't take a new washer....when we bought this one I had such high expections/hopes that it would be "the one!" Also, as I said, we do have a water softner. We live in an area that has good water.

I love fragrance, but I do understand there can be too much of a good thing. I use the wax melters. I've tried tarts/melts you buy at the store, ones sold online from large companies, and ones sold by independent vendors. I've been given Scentsy, but refuse to buy it. Sorry, I'm not supporting any businesses set up that way. With all brands or vendors, I've found ones that worked and ones that didn't. At work, we take turns in our suite burning. We all have our own offices, and never use one in reception, so the fragrance stays concentrated in one location mostly, with just a hint in the hallway. We get lots of compliments. At home, I have a few burners, but only have one always in use. It's on a timer. It comes on about an hour before I get up and stays on around 2 hours. In the afternoon, it comes on about an hour before we get home and runs around 2 hours as well. This way I wake up to a nice fragrance and come home to one. At the same time, the pets get a break, I don't go nose blind, and I can get several uses out of one melt.

MizLizzie - Funny that you say that about running hot water before the load - growing up, my mom trained me to do just that when getting ready to run the dishwasher. Didn't think about it for the washing machine though, maybe because I wouldn't normally have run my darks or unmentionables on hot. But I do now! It seems to be working! [happy dance] twebbz - I haven't thought about using Calgon because according to the city water report, our water is minimally hard. My last house had a whole house softener because I was on a well, and THAT was some soft water lol. MiMi - I will try pausing during the cycle and see what happens, but I have noticed that I really don't see much of any water when the machine does it's pause and tumble. I can see suds and I see water running down the sides of the drum, but I don't see the items sitting in water. I hope that's normal! Allison Karun - I do that, not every time but often. With everything I've read though, I might try a teensy bit of FS in the washing machine. I was a die-hard FS sheet user but cut that out while I was trying to source my issue. The vinegar just doesn't seem to give the clothes that same feel. littlegreeny - I have seen a 100% change - no more stink - since washing on hot or extra hot. I worry about the longevity of the fabrics a little, but I'd rather replace clothes than have my family stink when they walk out the door. Speaking of stink, DH just doesn't understand what I'm talking about. He doesn't smell it. I had him sniffing the laundry lol, and he just shook his head at me. But he didn't dare say a word about all the products I had spread out on the counter when he walked in the door because he knows this has been driving me crazy, and when mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. So...after reading through so many posts, this is my current arsenal (yes I may have gone a little crazy lol). Some things I want to have but need to order, like Lemi Shine powder booster and STPP. Please help me know which may be duds or what works best on what: Tide w/ Bleach powder (I really like the scent after drying - so light. Worked great on my sheets and whites.) Cheer powder (I'm waiting to see how the darks do with it, I like that there's basically no scent after drying.) Dreft powder (The scent after washing is really nice, not the cloying baby smell out of the box) Ariel Concentrado and Ariel Concentrado Colors liquids (I went to my local hispanic supermarket and asked about the Ariel. The clerk said the powders are not HE but the liquids I bought are. She said she uses the Colors one for everything in a front loader and it's low sudsing - it is but I do NOT like the spicy scent that is left after the dryer. It's light but I'm just not into it. Maybe for the kids' clothes!) Tide Ultra Stain Release Free liquid and Tide Free & Gentle liquid (tried these to see if it was scent from the Persil.) Persil ProClean Sensitive liquid (works great on my colored towels, was, using it for everything but I want to make sure I'm putting apples and apples together) Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean liquid (This is what I will likely go back to when my Persil is gone. I always liked it and it seemed to do a great job. I used the free and clear version but have read from some of you that the scented one has a great old fashioned but light scent.) Biz powder Borax powder A&H washing soda Thoughts/advice? And a huge THANK YOU to everyone for all of your input. I'm so grateful! I would never have figured this out on my own.

We get an issue with funky smelling clothing... not mine, but the rest of my family. I’ve been able to narrow it down to clothing with polyester in it. The reason mine doesn’t stink is because I have an allergy to polyester and I only wear natural fabrics. Anyways, to get rid of the funk smell out of the clothing I wash it periodically with the normal amount of detergent I use, plus a few drops of tea tree oil, and I wash it on either warm or hot depending on the type of clothing. After that first wash it smells too much of tea tree oil for my taste, so I run it through another normal wash with very little detergent. After it’s done with that the clothings smells perfectly fresh and clean, I seem to need to do it every few months or so. Also, be sure you’re thoroughly cleaning out the inside of your washing machine on a regular basis, including the seals and inside of the door. Anyways, I wasn’t able to get rid of the funk with just hot water or a change in detergent or vinegar or bleach or anything like that... but the tea tree oil does the trick for us!