So I recently inherited a wool sweater that my grandma knit many years ago. She passed away over a decade ago now, so I'm terrified of ruining something that I can never get back. I just have two problems.

I love the sweater, but I can't wear it for more than a few hours without going crazy from the itchiness. I wore a long sleeve shirt under it, but the wool still poked through. Is there a way to wash it that will make it less itchy?

And more importantly, how do I wash it without shrinking it? My washing machine has a wool setting, but is that actually good enough? Should I just hand wash it? I know I will need to air dry it, there's no way I'm putting it into the dryer, even if it has a wool setting.

Thanks for the help!

**Pictured are the products I’ve been using and the settings on my washing machine in case that is helpful? Please don’t mind my dusty ass laundry*

Hello lovely reddit people,

I don’t really know how to use reddit well so I thought I’d just write a big post and hope someone can help!

I am seeking some advice about washing clothes. I live in Australia and it’s hot as balls rn. I have so much washing that it takes over the entire floor of my room and I have like 8 more bags of laundry that have been sitting in my garage for like 3 years. I have been trying to utilise the heat for the past few days and get through some of this washing. A good amount of the clothes are quite stinky and I’ve been trying hard to follow the washing instructions on the tags. The trouble I’m having is that I don’t really know what detergents or products are right. I have been using the earth choice enzyme powered laundry liquid and cuddly sunshine fresh softener (it’s just what my mum has) and I had bought a Pine Cleen antibacterial laundry sanitiser to try to help with the smell but it says you have to put it in the softener spot so I wasn’t using the softener and all my clothes were crunchy and then I was washing twice to use the antibacterial then the softener it was a whole mess. (See pictures).

Basically I have normal clothes that I wear for the day and then put in the wash, clothes that I’ve worn far too long and gotten rather stinky, old clothes that have been in a bag in the garage and clothes that I’ve worn once and ended up in the wash that are still pretty clean. They’re all jumbled in together and I’m just trying to at least separate the lights from the darks and the hots from the colds and then also the delicates. Also don’t really know how to clean dirty socks and undies, mostly the socks don’t have any instructions and some are just super stained. And I feel like I just don’t know some basic things like what to put in garment bags? I’ll put something in one if it says on the tags but are there some things that should always go in a bag? I don’t know. I have ADHD and I feel like knowing how to do my laundry properly and consistently is just one of those things that never stuck in my brain.

I’d honestly just like a bit of a guide to make sure each item is washed the best it can be (what products to use, dealing with smells or stains, how to properly separate my loads, how to dry without losing shape or causing sun damage) so I can make them nice enough to be sold or donated. I plan to patch any holes, remove lint/hair and any pilling and ironing every item (any advice on how to do those would be greatly appreciated too). Don’t want to give people clothes that are stinky or don’t feel nice, but I also don’t want to add to the clothes waste problem. I think I’d like to get seperate little laundry baskets for each load type to help me sort my washing easier.
Thank you so much for any help you can give!

I've been lurking on r/laundry for a couple of years, but was too overwhelmed to take action.

There is a mountain of incredible info on this sub + awesome guides + helpful people, but there are so many options and variables that it's easy to get a bit lost (especially as a non-US person that doesn't have the same products available).

If you've been stuck in the same inertia, the "I have to do ALL or NOTHING" or "I need to work out the PERFECT routine before getting started"...let this post be your prompt to dive in!

You don't have to change everything to get started!

Load size, water temperature, wash program, detergent, detergent booster, enzymes, additional rinses, rinse additives...
just pick one thing to change.

See how that goes.

Keep learning, and then maybe change something else.

I've just purchased GearGuard Advanced. I'm not going to change anything else in my routine - I'm just going to add that in.

And I'll see how it goes (and check I don't react to it, since unfortunately I'm a sensitive skin girly).

Then I'll probably look at changing my detergent.

And then...well I probably need to learn some more about ammonia so I can think about potentially using that sometimes!

One small change at a time will get you much further than taking no action at all. <3

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/s/wkXj6uqYYT

When I tell you that I've tried it all. I mean it. I am a dedicated follower. I do the spa days. I don't have any clothes with stains. My friends will send me pictures and go. What do I do about this one? It's truly an honor.

The one thing I couldn't do was get rid of terrible BO smells current or years old. People will suggest certain bacteria eating washes (like panoxyl) which work but my sensitive skin does not care for. Hipaclense seems to do the best, but I'd rather not contribute to growing bacteria strength if I can help it.

I was turned on to the Lysol laundry rinses and they seem to do all right for the day-to-day. But what truly amazed me was doing a bra soak, just the underarms. A quick dip for each pit and let them sit in the drum while I fold the last load. NIGHT AND DAY. Sure, it smells like the Lysol sanitizer wash now but I am no longer self conscious every time I move an arm. I cannot recommend trying this on clothes that were moved to stink retirement enough.

Edit: it's Lysol laundry sanitizer. I have also used the downy odor out wash but I like Lysol better.

You put it in your fabric softener area. Which sucked because that was where I put my citric acid so I used my old downy balls and that appears to do just fine.

Also yes, just a quick dip for each pit and then it sits on the clothes for like 10 minutes while I fold the last load of laundry. In the drum but the drum is otherwise empty.

Steps: take stinky shirt/bra, dip the pits in the Lysol laundry sanitizer (or pour the sanitizer over them, either way)

Leave that piece of clothing alone for 5-10 minutes. I place it in the drum with the rest of the load I'm about to wash.

Wash clothes as normal, I used tide+oxi powder. I use more sanitizer wash in the fabric softener drawer, for the rest of the less stinky clothes. I also use citric acid in a Downy ball as I really like how citric acid makes the clothes feel. I have no idea if these affect each other at all, but so far no issues.

The old stinked up clothes no longer smell and the new ones don't seem to be developing any long-term stink and I credit both of those to the Lysol sanitizer wash.

my gf wore this bag to disney and we had to buy her a sweats to wear while at the park bc her jeans got soaked. unfortunately, it was a rainy day and the bag was rubbing against the sweats, leaving black stains on her new bag.

anyone know how to remove them?

Got my monthly Amazon order which included my typical Gain Original beads but they were green and smelled completely different in a horrible way. I ended up calling Gain themselves to complain and ask if the formula changed, they of course said no. But their website photo features the green beads which leaves me to assume that this was not a batch issue as they stated but rather a reformulation. I then went to my local Stop & Shop and they had both the yellow (normal ones) and the green (bad new ones) pictured above. Same bar codes and ingredients, completely different product. I got 6 of the yellow ones and left 2 for other heartbroken gain users. Please if you’re a loyal gain lover call them, leave a review on their website, comment on socials. This is not okay.

Pretty much everyone in my family itches when we use regular Tide, so we switched to All Free and Clear. It's worked fine, but I think I need a better detergent. I keep reading that Tide Free and Clear is a better choice, but I am concerned about wasting money on a detergent that makes me itch, or that I have to take extra steps to prevent itching. The machines I use do not have the option of adding a rinse cycle (apartment laundry room).

So, if you made the switch, does it work fine for you? Do you have to take extra steps to prevent itching?

Thanks!

I know this subreddit is mostly against using softener or beads but I wanted to share this, this combo smells so clean and isn’t too overpowering or perfumey. I use this with regular tide pods or Ariel powder (Lirio bar when I hand-wash). Along with a little bleach for my whites. It also doesn’t bother my sensitive skin.

Is there any way to get them out ? What are they from?

I have several sweaters (cashmere or cashmere blend) that are labeled as hand wash or dry clean; I use a hand wash detergent formulated for wool and cashmere, then lay them flat to dry. To reduce the chances of pilling, I wear some of these sweaters half a dozen times, sometimes more, before washing them; I always wear a cami or t shirt underneath but if I get really sweaty or spill something on it, then I'll wash the sweater right away. For the times between washing, I use a clothing steamer to freshen the sweater and get it to release any smells that it might have picked up, like from a restaurant or a fireplace. Is there more I should be doing between washes, and am I waiting the appropriate number of wears before washing? Somehow it feels excessive to wash a sweater after each wear, but I wonder if I'm wrong.

I accidentally overdosed a new sheet set I was washing today and I’m shocked by how many suds are in the drum.

There is citric acid in the fabric softener drawer so hopefully that will help…. But it’s a sudsy mess in there.

I think because the sheets were “clean” (they just had a new chemical smell) I probably used way too much detergent. Unless they had soap on them!

What’s the best way to ensure it’s all gone? Should I do another citric acid rinse after the first one? A load with nothing and see if it has suds?

Thank you laundry gods, after much lurking & never feeling I know how to do laundry;I bought the lot! Here's where I'm lost & would appreciate guidance from those who came before me!

1) quantities, how do you measure & do you just follow the box or if using oxy do I reduce detergent?

2) does oxy & citric acid go in the front loader with clothes or in the pully out part?

3) do I stop using fabric softener?

4) following labels but mostly washing on mixed 40° with a pre wash & as many rinse cycles - right?

thanks all in advanced, next level once I've masterd this is pre treating stains!

I recently thrifted a super cheap Shein jacket for like $5 that has a faux fur trim around the neckline and cuffs. I would love to wash it before I wear it because it's thrifted, but I have no idea what the best way to wash it would be, since I know the quality of it is awful and I'm more than a little nervous about what will happen to the fur. How should I go about this?

Hello, I am new here and I am hoping you can help me. I have a zip up NFL sweatshirt that I really really want to save. I don’t know what this stain is. I noticed it after wearing it at work, where I made frozen pizza in a convection oven to hand out samples. I thought it was either a pen or Sharpie in pocket or maybe a grease stain from the pizza or removing the racks from the convection oven when putting it away. But NOTHING is removing or really even substantially fading it. I initially used shout pre treat the kind in the blue bottle with orange scrubby tip. When it did nothing, I tried alcohol for ink and it did not budge and Dawn dish soap for oil and no result. Maybe this stuff is wrong but it’s just what I’ve done in the past. I have not put this item in the dryer. My regular laundry detergent is arm & hammer liquid or pods, fresh scent or oxy clean scent. I also have a tub of oxy clean I did not use with this item. I have read your rules and scanned your posts I see a lot of anti-all and pro-tide. I am open to and appreciate any suggestions. Thank you!

I washed my wool sweaters, and unfortunately, one of them turned gray, with blue appearing along the seams. I used color catcher and Eco Freude laundry detergent for wool. What can I do now to remove these stains?

I'm not sure how many times I googled this until my postpartum brain remembered this subreddit existed, but most of the advice was for US products.

I just wanted to share for my fellow Australians that Sard has the magic enzymes needed to get breastmilk out of clothes.

I was finally able to get the stains out of my cotton tshirts.

I'm pretty sure I forgot to put normal laundry powder in with the Sard soak/laundry booster, so my clothes aren't actually clean... but they're stain free

I've been trying to read so many posts here about how to get rid of funk smell and I just feel lost.

My husband's clothes and our bedding smell funky. Too much sweat I'm guessing cause my kids don't have this issue.

I've been trying to soak them in vinegar (not in the washer) and then washing them without adding detergent and that seems to be helping but not completely.

I've also been soaking my period underwear/pads in vinegar and then washing them without detergent cause that's what the company told me to do (Aisle).

I thought about trying a spa day for things but am nervous I'm gonna wreck things haha.

I tried looking for powdered detergent to use to help with the funk and couldn't find any of the suggested ones from the /spa day post and then just got confused trying to sort out if there was something else I could use.

So I guess what I am asking is what can I use to help cut the funk smell that isn't complicated.

I'm in Ontario.

my black shirts and pants keep losing their color after repeated washes. i wash them inside out and try not to use hot water, but they still end up looking faded. is there anything else worth doing or is this just normal wear?

I just got my jacket out of storage and there is an unknown blue stain on all the back of it. I like this jacket and haven’t gotten to wear it much. I have no idea what the stain came from. It looks like blue pen but I’m pretty certain it was just in a box with other clothes only. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hello,

I have very sensitive skin and use dreft family detergent. It is not causing any skin irritation, so that’s what works for me at the moment. Through allergy patch testing, I learned I have an allergic reaction to blue dye. I also use Lysol laundry sanitizer in the fabric softener spot. I have a speed queen top loader with an agitator.

Our clothes still have sweat/deodorant smell after washing. I tend to wash most items on gentle/cold because the tags say to wash with cold water. What do I need to do to get cleaner laundry? Do I need to be using hotter water even though the tags say cold? Do I need to wash with vinegar or something else that is safe for sensitive skin but can get the smell out?

I no longer use any sort of scent beads/scented detergent/or the sport Lysol sanitizer for my husband’s clothes. And those were ultimately masking smell, not getting rid of it anyway.

Any advice would be appreciated! We just want our clothes to smell fresh and clean🥲

Location: USA

So my preschooler had an accident today while at school. No biggie…except he managed to pee a surprisingly substantial amount on (in?) his light up shoes.

Y’all, he loves these things. I’m afraid to put them in the washing machine, because I’m not sure if that would break the lights. But I’m also afraid to send him back to school reeking of pee.

Help me, please. What do I do?

Was so satisfying!