Which is the best fabric conditioner for..

[Ice-Maiden]

keeping its smell? I've tried them nearly all, but once any clothes go in the tumble dryer, the fragrance seems to disappear.

[Figi]

Please don't use fabric conditioner at all - the devil's own work and partly contributes to all the horrid allergies people have these days which never existed before.

[Figi]

Oh, and I meant to add - don't use a tumble dryer either.

[Ice-Maiden]

But if you don't.....towels end up like cardboard!

[shaneystar2]

I don't often agree with figi lol ..but I will say that I don't like fabric softener either .It stinks .They all have such sickly smells.And I don't particularly like walking around smelling of strawberries or what ever other yukky fragrance they have .You shouldn't use fabric softener on towels . .It coats the fibres and makes them less absorbent .
Thing is once you start using fabric softener you have to continue to use it or your stuff will be like cardboard . Our mothers never had such things ! It's a marketing ploy .Use some soda crystals in your wash .Just as good ..softens the water and hey presto ..soft towels .Bung 'em out on the line and let them dry in the fresh air .

[Ice-Maiden]

With OUR weather??? Don't you EVER use a tumble dryer? Thanks for the tips by the way, but I thought everyone used td's these days?

[Icey-Maiden]

But...with our weather? Don't you use a tumble dryer at all?

[chitchat]

Fabric conditioner makes your washing machine go gungy. Yuk! And as you have said the smell doesnt last anyway. Its a waste of money as far as I am concerned. I do use the tumble dryer when the weather is cr@p though and it does make the towels nice and soft.

[sunflower68]

I have the same problem Ice-Maiden! Does it annoy you too when you smell fab cond on other people's clothing and not your own?
Often my kids' friends who pop over have lovely smelling clothes even after school. I dunno which is best but I think the lingering smell means they are probably using too much imho.
Comfort Blue is meant to be good btw : )

[shaneystar2]

Haha ..I do have a tumble drier Ice-Maiden but I also have a husband who is fond of waving the leccy bill under my nose !
I do use it in the bad weather if I'm desperate but you can't beat the smell of clothes dried in the fresh air .Much nicer than the smell of synthentic jasmine and kiwi fruit or whatever other exotic names they dream up for them.
I think they should bring back blue bags:)

[Ice-Maiden]

All your answers are interesting - thank you. I have to say that bedlinen is often put out on the line, and it smells nice when it's dry.
Yes Sunflower - your reply is one of the reasons I asked my question in the first place, because my mother-in-law's washing smells very nice and I haven't been able to get the same effect! Now it transpires that she has her things laundered professionally anyway.
Thirdly...might I just ask what a blue bag is please?

[smudge]

Hi Ice Maiden,

This is a Reckitt's Blue Bag. My Mum used to use it, along with the copper/boiler & mangle in the 'olden days'!

I use Comfort Fabric Softener if that helps & find it okay. I regularly clean the dispenser drawer out though, as I can't stand the thought of gunge building up in it! I also use my tumble dryer on rainy days, but I agree, you can't beat the smell of washing after it's been blowing in the wind.

[smudge]

P.S. I don't use fabric conditioner for the smell, just to keep things nice & soft. Also, you can get allergies from washing powder too, so it's up to the individual to check on the packets for contents that might irritate their skin, if necessary.

[Ice-Maiden]

Thanks for your answer as well Smudge. Well most of my washing comes out feeling soft, and I've been using Comfort for a good while, along with whatever wash powder, with no ill-effects, but td's DO seem to take away some of those lingering fabric conditioner after-smells, so I just wondered how to retain it.
The info on blue bags! Amazing! I've now been told that it used to be a common thing to add to rinsing water - but wouldn't whites turn out to have a bluish hue after use?

[Ice-Maiden]

Can you still buy them???!!!

[smudge]

I've just looked on another website & apparently you can still buy Reckitts Blue in liquid form. Mum used to use the blue bags to help keep the net curtains & some of the other whites looking whiter!

[smudge]

A bit of nostalgia for you:

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/laundry-blue. aspx

[VillageVicar]

A new product has just been distributed by P&G. It�s the Febreeze product added to the washing powder/liquid. It�s composition is different and does not serve as a softener. The reason I mention this is I�m not certain whether you are looking for the fragrance or the softening features. Any Boots store still sells raw borax. You�ll find by using that, or even bicarbonate of soda, in your rinse cycle, your clothes will be much softer. I�m assuming you don�t use a tumble dryer. If you do, perhaps using the fabric sheets instead.
A word of caution about the washing powders/liquids that contain combined softeners, e.g. Bold, etc., They actually inhibit the complete cleaning of your clothes, especially in an environment where you use cold water. I�d discourge those types of products. It also warrants consideration to alternate between washing products to prevent a build-up. I apologise if I didn�t very effectively address your questions, but hopefully you�ll be able to find something from this.

I wish you success

Fr Bill

[Ice-Maiden]

Wonderful, Smudge! Also, thanks VV. Yes, It was the fragrance itself I was wondering about. I tried those thingies you can put into tumble dryers, and didn't think they helped very much, but my tumble dried items always come out feeling very soft. I just want a nice "straight off the line" smell which'll linger. Td's seem to take much of it away, and I wondered if this was due to the type of fabric conditioner which people use, and if so - which sort they thought was best. Thanks to you all.

[smudge]

Your'e welcome I-M.

A few more snippetss on here:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthrea d.php?t=332507

[smudge]

Mind you, if you're in the UK like me, they're tips from overseas!