OK, all you Laundry Scientists...

[charbee]

We read this side of the forum less than the "vintage" side, and see y'all discussing various detergents, etc. Lots of people seem to like lots of "scents" with their laundry. We're both very sensitive to "stank" in laundry products, and generally shy away from anything with a pronounced fragrance. Thought we'd ask opinions about the products we use, and why it's good/bad/happy/sad, as we really just try to get things clean without the clothes "smellin' like a French wh*re" (as my momma used to say when she'd pass someone with too much perfume on).

We generally use one of the "free and clear" dye-free liquids, like Purex or All. To this, we usually add 1/4-cup of washing soda, and a 1/4-cup or more of good old 20-Mule-Team Borax. That's it. No "dryer sheets" or fabric softeners. Things come out smelling clean, without any sort of excess scent. We use the soda and Borax, well, because we always have, and it seems to get things cleaner than just the liquid. What role are the Borax and Soda playing here? Are they really helping? We've just become curious about this after reading some of the other posts on laundry products. Thanks!

 

[dj-gabriele]

As far as my experience goes additives are just additives, you add them if you like, for me, I stick with powder (Dash) for whites and liquid (professional liquid that dad gives me from the laundry) for darks. Plus I always use a final rinse conditioner, neutral scent because our water is always very hard. The amount is always the one suggested on the box for the amount of clothes and hardness of water.
If I have tough stains I use BioSpray spot detergent, it works nicely and I never bleach, not even oxigen bleach.
The less detergent smell the clothes have the most happy I am with my laundy.

 

[maytagbear]

I am far from a laundry scientist--

for that you'd need Sudsman or Laundress, but yes, the Borax and washing soda do make a difference by softening the water. There's probably more, but that's a very big part of it.

As for scent, I wish manufacturers would make light scents that only lingered a bit. Things are either unscented or heavily scented. That is why I am liking the SA8 a friend sent a few weeks ago. It is scented, pleasantly, but lightly. Because of scAmway/Quixtar's corportate policies, I hate to love SA8, but love it, I do.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[charbee]

Figured the Soda and Borax had some sort of softening effect, which is good, because we have pretty hard water here,and we really don't like the idea of getting a water softener (machine).