General Chat

neutralising the smell of fabric conditioner? I have a duvet cover etc which has been washed with conditioner and as once before it is making me cough. I've now washed it once in non perfumed powder and 3 times in plain water and dried outside but still can't get rid of the smell .

any ideas?

In the back of my mind, there might have been a remedy for getting rid of vomit smells on soft furnishings.

Rinse with a Bi-carbonate of soda solution? If you put it into the washing machine soap dispensing drawer, it ought to ditute without harming?

Ah good thinking DET , bicarb is good for that sort of thing, I will buy some tomorrow and try it out, thanks :-)

You can try a little white vinegar in your next wash ...it sometimes deters other strong smells :-)

Tried that Mersey, I use white vinegar for lots of things but it didn't work for this, thanks anyway :-)

Oh how I sympathise
I hate fabric conditioner smells too Rose and I'm so sensitive to it that, I can smell it from miles away!
It makes me feel really sick and gives me migraines.

I work in a library and can't help noticing just how many people use this pungent stuff
Worst of all is......school groups!

try adding white vinger to your final rinse :-D :-D

GlasgowLass, I don't use fabric conditioner myself since I bought some last year and washed the duvet in it and then couldn't get a breath when I put it back on the bed lol, frightened me silly . I read up on what chemicals were in it after that and won't use it again!

I can always tell when next door have got clothes out on their line because I can smell them if the window is open even a little bit.

tried that Joy , no joy lol.

I was going to say that too Rose... I can smell next doors washing on their line .

I'm pretty sure that to the average person, it's quite a nice scent, but once you develop sensitivity, there's nothing you can do about it.
There's a very popular perfume that has the same effect.
I don't know what it's called but it makes me feel very unwell!

I don't use fabric softener because I don't like the smell - I prefer the smell of freshly washed clothing and bedding. I wonder if Epsom Salts might work?

I will let you all know what works :-D

My neighbour used to use epsom salts...........Mix up half a packet of epsom salts in a big bottle (the empty fabric softener bottle?). I think that's the right mix.

Give it a good shake every time you use it, because the salts go to the bottom of the bottle.

I tried it, but found the salts left a "rim" on the softener dispenser...... and wasn't sure what was happening in the rest of the machine.

The fabric isn't softened anyway. What feels soft is the deposit of smelly stuff that is left on the fabric.

It is one of those unnecessary products that was dreamed up to part you from your money.

I use fab. con. but only Sainsburys own, it is not too strong and quite a pleasant smell.

I have used Asda's own sensitive, unperfumed brand for years and they have just discontinued it!
I haven't used any fabric conditioner in the last 2 weeks and, I don't notice any difference in softness?

We travelled for many years with DH's job, always lived in apartments so had no washing line, everything had to go in the dryer, or on a clothes horse.

When we got home, first night in our own bed, freshly washed sheets, I thought something smelled "funny"......... then I realised it was the lovely fresh smell of line-dried sheets! I hadn't smelled them for years.

:-)

I use the clothesline for most things, but towels have to be "finished" in the dryer to fluff them up!

I use Fairy "sensitive" conditioner just half a cap, towels are always soft and fluffy, not overally perfumed.

I sometimes use a teeny bit of the stuff for sensitive skin but don't normally use any. I have a real problem with the big brand ones, they make my skin itch and the smell gives me a headache.

I usually get "fresh linen" fabric softener, I don't like the flowery smells... they don't smell anything like the claim.. roses or jasmine etc etc

I have soap in the linen cupboard (moths don't like soap), I've had the same Yardley Lavender soap for years, I don't know what I'll do when it loses its smell, as it's not available any more. I also have pieces of cedar, every so often I give them a rub with mild sandpaper to release the smell.