Laundry Detergent & Softner Sheets

[yeahwho]

WTF type of laundry detergent do you use? Also do you use those softner sheets?

I need answers and explanations for a small group study I'm involved in.

[Documad]

Seriously? I use the cheapest unscented liquid detergent that comes in a smallish jug (usually All or Arm & Hammer). I hate big jugs. Tide seems like a waste of money.

I purchase some generic dryer sheets but rarely use them. I use lots of bleach.

My favorite product is that Shout stick with the gel and the little brush. Put that shit on a stain and it comes off I tell you.

[yeahwho]

Yes, this makes me happy, I also use All (scent free) 3 x concentrated in the small bottle, it does 33 loads of laundry. It is a very environmentally safe product.

I use Arm and Hammer dryer sheets.

Bleach I'm not so sure about... what does it do? I have some but I usually never use it unless I'm cleaning something mossy outside or a filthy white shirts.

[Videodrome]

Tide with Bleach powder and regular Bounty dryer sheets. 2 sheets for every load.

[yeahwho]

So now I've had two responses and both use bleach. Two "Bounces" with every dryer load? That happens during blanket time at my house. Your threads must be extra fresh and super soft.

What does Bleach do? I always thought it faded stuff or sanitized.

Please advise I do not want to look like an bigger ass than I already am being in a small study group of laundry products usage group.

[Documad]

I have a thing about white towels -- kitchen and bath towels. I like them white and I use bleach. It's not good for the environment but it makes me happy. I have dozens of white bar towels I use daily when making espresso/lattes. I also have dyed hair which, when fresh, can leave a little stain on the towel when I dry my hair. I like to get the bath and bar towels white. I also have some white socks and white pillow cases. I like white linens.

[Documad]

I can't imagine why one would need two dryer sheets per load unless you're going to the laundromat and doing massive loads. But I have a water softener in my home which is why I rarely need the dryer sheets at all.

[cosmo105]

I use Trader Joe's brand detergent and generic fabric softener sheets. My boyfriend usually brings over his own All or Cheer or whatever bullshit, but I'm fine with the less powerful, more eco-friendly stuff. It's good for delicates that have to be hand-washed too.

[DipDipDive]

I have no loyalty to a particular brand and tend to go for whatever's cheapest. I'm currently finishing up a bottle of Gain.

I don't use fabric softeners (liquid or sheets) for two reasons:
1. I air-dry about 2/3 of my clothes
2. I don't think they make a difference and therefore find them to be a waste of money

[jabumbo]

i always get the large cheap detergent.

currently i have a large jug of generic stuff as well as a superpowered/use less detergent stuff by arm n hammer. i haven't noticed a difference between the two.


i never use fabric softener.

[Videodrome]

I use 2 sheets because I combine my kids clothes with mine and the loads are larger. Tide with Bleach is color safe and I've never had a problem with colors fading or anything like that. I use Clorox Bleach for my whites and I only bleach every other load at the most.

[Echewta]

I hate this emo band.

[yeahwho]

How about ironing? I haven't ironed anything I own in the past 5 years at least. For awhile I had a few pairs of snazzy slacks that needed to be pressed to snap, I also had several shirts I would iron. Not no more.

My older brother still irons. He is completely into it. He works for Boeing and feels that edge and status are subtle so he dresses impeccably.

My sister works retail and has about a two dozen outfits that are dry clean only.

On another note I will tell you I once went to a social event with one of Seattle's Grunge rock superstars and I noticed that his worn and tattered jeans had an exact crease right down the center of the front (except the hole in the knee). Looks like the corporate grunger sends his laundry out. :D

[yeahwho]

I use 2 sheets because I combine my kids clothes with mine and the loads are larger. Tide with Bleach is color safe and I've never had a problem with colors fading or anything like that. I use Clorox Bleach for my whites and I only bleach every other load at the most.
I agree with the softener sheets idea, static cling is under-rated. Those little clingy jolts of electricity can cause debilitating psychosis. I'm still not sure why Madison Avenue doesn't sell the product as a therapeutic device.

The pleasant scent makes it even all the better. It says hey "Life is Good".

[HEIRESS]

I buy whatever is the cheapest or on sale eco-friendly brand of both laundry detergeant and dryer sheets.
No they aren't as powerful but I do enjoy the scents better because they use natural citrus based or lavender oils usually.

Even though I don't use the brand I still refer to dryer sheets at "Bounce Sheets"

[jabumbo]

i haven't ironed anything since the one time my mom showed me how. even she doesn't do it all that often anymore.

her suggestion is to take any easy-wrinkle items out of the dryer early (or just air dry em). works for me since i wear slacks about twice a month these days.

[Ty Webb]

trader joe's detergent. no dryer sheets.

[RobMoney$]

This thread made me itch reading what you're all washing your clothes in.

Using cheap laundry detergent is like eating ramen noodles, it's cool when you're a poor kid and can't afford anything better, but it's kind of gross once you know better.

Those cheap detergents make my clothes stiff and itchy.
And no, they don't smell good, or even acceptable.

Gain detergent is all I use.
And Dryer sheets are only necessary in the winter, also Gain.
Mixing detergent and dryer sheet brands is kind of defeating the purpose and your clothes just end up smelling overly perfumed.

[yeahwho]

Does Gain get out the poop stains?

[ms.peachy]

I use a local brand of liquid detergent called "Fresh & Hygiene". Terrible name, but decent product. Use a capful of another local brand of liquid softener in the rinse cycle. We don't use dryer sheets, because we don't often use the dryer, the ayi generally hangs our clothes to dry. Sometimes we use it for towels or jeans but that's about it really.

[insertnamehere]

i always got the all free and clear until recently. i forget how this came about but i was using someone else's linens and they smelled super nice and i thought, hey, i could make my clothes smell nice too!

this turned into me looking like a nut in the laundry detergent isle because i had to smell all of them, pull out ones i found acceptable, and occasionally comparison sniff. so i just started using a bottle of gain "hawaiian aloha" which smells kind of like fruit punch.

ive never tried dryer sheets or fabric softener. im pretty sure they're made of lies.

i never iron anything, but i dont really have anything worth ironing. if something is too wrinkly i just throw it in the dryer long enough for it to get hot and pull it out and its generally fine.

[Dorothy Wood]

All Small&Mighty Free&Clear.

all that perfumey stuff is bad for your skin and deteriorates the fibers in your clothes.

(so says me, the person who steals random scented dryer sheets from her neighbors because somebunny stole all hers.)

I never use bleach, I always forget about it. I used to use it all the time when I was in high school though.

I have a few dresses that I iron, maybe a blouse or two if I've got somewhere fancy to go. Other than that, I hang wrinkle-prone items to dry so gravity irons them.

[ms.peachy]

ive never tried dryer sheets or fabric softener. im pretty sure they're made of lies.


I think it depends on the water quality where you live. If you've got good water, you probably don't need it. On the other hand, if you've got water like I have, if you don't use a little, your clothes come out like cardboard.