Makin' It Smell Good...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
May 14, 2008 7:58am CST
I love when my laundry smells fresh and clean. Sometimes though it just comes out smelling baked. We can’t hang clothes out to dry outside so they have to be dried in the dryer. I use dryer sheets most of the time b/c I can never remember to add fabric softener in the washer. I did however remember that I have something called a Downy Ball. It’s a clear plastic ball with an opening. You pour the fabric softener in, toss it in the washer and when it’s time to add the softener the ball’s opening pops open releasing the fabric softener. I was thinking of going back to using fabric softener.
Do you use dryer sheets or fabric softener? Do you use a Downy Ball or similar item? Does the fabric softener make the clothes smell better and still control static? What brand of dryer sheets and/or fabric softener is your favorite?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
8 people like this
34 responses
@jewel76 (2305)
• Canada
15 May 08
I also use Downy for clothes and they smell so great! But they do sometimes smell like food that my neighbors are cooking on their barbecue!! And i have this one neighbor that cooks sardines on the grill almost everyday in summer!! so you can imagine how bad my clean clothes smell if i forget to remove them before he starts his supper!
1 person likes this
@chrislotz (8136)
• Canada
26 Jul 08
I still use dryer sheets instead of using a fabric softener. I just can't get to the washing machine when it is time to put in the fabric softener, I am always too late, so I don't use it and I use a dryer sheet instead. I have never tried a Downey ball although I have heard they work pretty good. It's just too much work for me and besides, I like to use a dryer sheet so that my clothes don't have static and I don't feel that the fabric softeners do it as well as a dryer sheet. Also it is just so much easier to use a dryer sheet and it makes my clothes smell fresh too. I usually use Bounce or Downey or Snuggles, which ever is the cheapest the day I buy it. The only thing is I won't use a cheap store brand make anymore because they just don't work as good, I have tried some of them.
1 person likes this
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Smelling baked? Sounds like you have some synthetic fabrics and your drier setting is too high, over over-heating. That could be very bad.
I hang all my laundry on the line. My washing machine has a slot for the fabric softener and you can add it when you start the cycle. I tried the downy ball once, but it never worked - it never opened up. Anyway, even in the winter I try to hang clothes to dry in the house, but it depends on how many loads I have to do, and if we need something, it can take a long time to dry inside in the winter, but I don't mind having the extra humidity in the house!
1 person likes this
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
8 Jul 08
I use fabric softner in my laundry. I was using the dryer pads too but our dryer decided to retire the other day, so not using them at the moment! Typical, the horrible machine took its leave about 2 days after buying a new packet! lol.
1 person likes this
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
10 Jul 08
It smells good if they get a lot of air after washing.
Anytime you leave them to keep water and dry in a bunched up condition they're likely to smell bad.
Anytime you air out everything it will smell good.
And, use a strong detergent, that keeps them smelling really clean.
1 person likes this
@ruby222 (4847)
•
10 Jul 08
I use a fabric softener that you put straight into the washine machine,and its good,but there is one thing about it that im not too keen on..if you use it for your twels it makes the towels less absorbent and then they dont dry you as well..but I must admit to liking the smaell of it on the laundry.I have tried many types of softener and mot of them seem to cut down on the static that produced in the clothes.
@lovespecialangel (3632)
• United States
19 May 08
I use fabric sheets in my dryer for everything except jeans. I use liquid fabric softner in my washer when I am washing bed linens and towels. For me, the dryer sheets are the only things I have found to help with static.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 May 08
I usually use the bounce dryer sheets. I don't like putting clothes on the line anymore, there is just so much smog in the city it is not worth it.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
17 May 08
I use the downy ball as well-- otherwise I forget all about it! :( I love Downy fabric softener- I use Tide with Febreeze to wash my clothes and Downy with Febreeze for fabric softener. I love it! it's the best-- and I love good smelling clothes- I do not wear any kind of perfume because I love the smell of my clothes! I have tried other fabric softeners-- and I'm telling you nothing gets the clothes as soft as Downy does :)
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
16 May 08
During the winter time, I can not hardly go with out fabric softener of some sort, the sheets seem to be less expensive and on weeks that I am tight with household money I will buy the sheets. Liquid softener does leave a better scent. One thing you might try to do is dry on a lower heat setting that helps with the 'baked" smell you describe. I love my bed sheets hung out to dry in the summer.
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Yes, I use Snuggle fabric softener, and sometimes the store brand. I like using it because it makes the clothes smell good. I don't like dryer sheets too well. The liquid seems to be easier for me, but I'm sure many people have their opinions.
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
17 May 08
You and I have a lot in common when it comes to doing laundry. I love for my laundry to smell good. I have to use dryer sheets also. I can not stand over a washer and wait for it to go to rinse. I get bored too easily. I also get annoyed when my clothes come out of the dryer smelling burned. I am not sure, but I believe I recieved a free sample of the Downey ball and used it before. I may have to invest in it at least twice a month.
The dryer sheets do not give my clothes a strong enough scent. I just recieved a free sample of Tide with Dawn. I do not know what mixing laundry detergent with dishwashing detergent will do, but I will find out when I do my laundry tonight.
1 person likes this
@whittby (3072)
• United States
18 May 08
I don't use much fabric softener. I keep hearing about the bad chemicals in the dryer sheets so have been trying to get away from them. When I do need softener (like when the central heating is on and so much static seems to be around, I use liquid and the handy dandy Downey balls. Got to love them. I do like the smell of clean clothes though. That's one of my favorite candle scents.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
17 May 08
I remember the downy ball and I think I still have one. I would use that for when I washed clothes that I would hang up outside, that way they get the softener in the wash..
Now, I have a new washer and it has this place where in the beginning of the load, I can pout the liquid softener and it comes out when it is needed..
1 person likes this
@ambkeb (782)
• United States
15 May 08
I as well like the smell of fresh clean clothes. I just use the walmart brand of fabric sheets though. Sometimes when we are low on money I tend to cut them in half and use them that way. It makes them stretch farther but still does the job of getting the static out. The scent isnt as strong then though. I also like the smell of febreze and we hang most of our clothing up in the closet so I tend to spray febreze through out the closet. With the clothes that get folded and put in drawers I like to make little sachets and put in the drawers. That helps a lot, even with helping to keep the room smelling good.
@blackbriar (9075)
• United States
15 May 08
If I put my clothes in the dryer, I use the Bounce sheets. If I hang them to dry, I use Snuggle in the downy ball. Lately thou, I've just been using the vinegar in the rinse cycle and I like that they aren't stiff when I hang them to dry so I might just do away with the liquid fabric softener all together.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
15 May 08
We use those big blue As-Seen-on-TV balls with the spikes (not the fuzzy ones!) in the dryer but hubby is incorrible and tosses a dryer sheet in tool.
I have the Downy ball and used to use it when I did the laundry, but now that we are retired, hubby does all the wash and he does it his way. He hates that Downey thing.
The TV thingees work really really well.
I like lavender scent, so sometimes I toss in one of those sachets they sell at Trader Joes, but more often I just put those in the dresser drawers instead.
1 person likes this
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
15 May 08
I did at one time have a Downey ball, but it never seemed to work right for me.. I even tried to remember to use the fabric softener but always forgot it.. Now I just use the fabric softener sheets and I try to use the ones that leave a good fragrance to my clothes.. I have used a dryer since moving to our new place about 10 yrs ago, but I always hung my clothes outside to dry before moving out here.. I liked that so much better..
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
15 May 08
The only one i've ever used for many many years is Downey..never any substitues!
I use the ball and sheets
1 person likes this
