A wander down the aisles of your average grocery store will leave you spoiled for choice when it comes to finding fancy-smelling laundry products. But do they really make your laundry smell good? Not always.
Using the right laundry detergent can contribute to fresh-smelling clothes, but there's more to it than that. Even with the nicest-scented laundry product, it's easy to kill that fragrance by doing the wrong thing.
This article has all the top tips to get your laundry smelling great, from pretreating stains to advice on drying and caring for your washer.
Don't Overload Your Machine
Overloading your machine doesn't allow enough room for the laundry to move around inside. It can also impact the ratio of clothes to water; consequently, your detergent may not dissolve properly.
Each item can be properly saturated and washed with smaller loads, minimizing the risk of unpleasant odors after drying. Plus, overloading your machine will eventually damage it, reducing its longevity.
Choose the Right Detergent Product
Choosing the right laundry detergent shouldn't be complicated, but you’ve got different fabrics, opposing instructions on care labels, and a whole range of temperatures to consider, and that's before you start on stains.
So, you need a reliable product designed to work in a range of temperatures, formulated with ingredients selected for stain care, and leave your washing fresh and fragrant.
Our laundry sheets cover all bases: they're suitable for most different washers and dissolve in hot and cold water. Freddie laundry detergent sheets are also free of parabens, dyes, brighteners, and phosphates, formulated to be compatible with a variety of fabrics and wash routines — plus, they smell lovely, too!
Pretreat Stains
Treat stubborn stains before you do the laundry, and do this as soon as you notice them. Deep-seated stains are harder to shift and can leave a residual odor, which is also tricky to eliminate.
Freddie detergent sheets are designed for your main wash load but can also be used as a pretreatment, even in cold water with woollens or delicate fabrics. You can tear the sheets to adjust the dose, too.
Neutralize Odors with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a go-to household staple with many uses. It can also make laundry smell fragrant. Baking soda is alkaline, has a pH level over 7, and can soften hard water, helping your detergent be more effective.
Baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) balances the pH to eliminate acidic smells from sweat, vomit, and blood. It's also effective at removing grease and oils, but you'll need to pretreat those for a few hours before you wash the garment.
Baking soda is an excellent option if you have musty linen stored away or clothing left wet for several hours before it's washed.
You can use baking soda alongside your regular detergent; it makes your detergent go further, so you'll use less. Alternatively, you can use baking soda to replace your detergent entirely in a wash.
Use half a cup of baking soda with your detergent or a full cup if you're not using detergent at all.
Use Scent Boosters
Scent boosters are the latest “go-to” product in the laundry room. Little beads are chucked in on top of the clothing and dissolve during the program, leaving a long, lingering scent that lasts for days.
However, some traditional detergents and additives, like scent boosters, use artificial fragrances that can smell overpowering and leave a chemical residue.
Freddie has detergent sheets with two scents: spring blossom and frosty mountain. We also have a scent-free option for those who like line-dried freshness.
Our detergent sheets are made with mindfully chosen ingredients, formulated for a convenient wash in hot or cold water.
Now, you can smell the fresh fragrance of spring blooms or the cool, crisp tones of a mountain peak on your laundry and celebrate the beautiful scents of nature.
Don't Leave Damp or Wet Clothes Lying Around
Damp or half-dried clothes can develop a musty smell, particularly if you're trying to dry indoors in the winter. Keep drying areas well-ventilated if you're not using a tumble dryer, and make sure garments are completely dry before putting them away.
If you have wet clothes from being caught in the rain or from a soggy sports kit, wash them as quickly as possible. Damp clothes left in a bag or on the floor will soon become moldy.
Line Dry Outside
Take every opportunity to line dry your washing outside. Choose an area that catches the sun and has good airflow. Don't leave the washing to become overdried or stiff — the sun can also bleach and fade colors on a hot day.
Line drying gives your washing a distinctively airy smell, which is delightful for bed linen. It's also a good way to get rid of musty or moldy odors on clothes stored for a while.
Use Scented Dryer Balls
Scented dryer balls are an alternative to dryer sheets, which tend to contain harsh, artificial fragrances. They're also more cost-effective and can reduce dryer time by as much as 25%, saving you money on your energy bills.
Dryer balls separate the fabrics in the machine, which allows hot air to circulate better and avoids the clothes clumping together in a soggy mass. You can even make dryer balls yourself.
Wind yarn around your fingers until you create a solid structure, and then carry on to make a woollen ball, changing direction regularly. You'll need to felt the balls to bind the fibers together by running them through a hot wash cycle.
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and they're ready to use.
Clean Your Machine
Sure, you clean the filter (when it's blocked) and the dispensing drawer — you might even wipe out the excess water inside the door seal after each wash. But what about the parts you can't see, like the pipes and inside the drain?
It's easy to overlook, but cleaning your washer is as essential as cleaning your oven or fridge. Plenty of bad odors, like a musty, moldy smell, come from a dirty machine, so this should be a regular routine rather than a one-off.
Detergents and fabric softeners are the culprits when it comes to leaving residue. This residue is a magnet for bacteria that thrive in a warm, wet environment. So, now you've got full-blown mold or mildew, and that'll make your clothes smell rank.
Use a rotation of bleach and white vinegar: vinegar to kill the grease because of its high acidity, and bleach for the mold and mildew. But you can't mix these two ingredients, so you must use them separately.
Use a quarter cup of bleach or white vinegar on a regular hot wash cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do People Get Their Laundry To Smell So Good?
Fresh and sweet-smelling washing is not the result of using just one product; it's about following good laundry habits, like using the right detergent, cleaning your machine, and paying attention to where and how you dry your clothes. Keeping wash loads small and pretreating stubborn stains also minimizes lingering bad odors.
What Can I Add to Laundry To Make It Smell Good?
You can use scent boosters or a laundry detergent sheet with a subtle fragrance. Some traditional liquid detergents and pre-dosed pods use artificial fragrances with a “chemical” smell, which might last a few days but is often overpowering and unnatural.
Good Laundry Habits Preserve Fresh Scents and Prevent Odors
One way to make your laundry smell good is to take care of your washing and drying cycles and the machine. Another is to avoid products with harsh, artificial scents.
A good laundry routine helps, which means not overloading the machine or leaving stains until they’re set in. Cleaning your washer also makes a difference, as does paying attention to how you dry garments.
Freddie laundry detergent sheets offer two soft, subtle fragrances or a scent-free option. Enjoy laundry detergent sheets that combine thoughtful ingredients with a formulation free from parabens, dyes, brighteners, phosphates, and 1,4-dioxane. Now, your clothes can smell like floral-inspired or mountain-fresh scents when they emerge from the wash.
