GeoffM

I do already! Said fragrance just seems to disappear. But as already stated, maybe I need to use more than one sheet in the case of dryer sheets.

On my Google travels I noticed that the average life expectancy of a top loader is 14 years, compared to 10 for a front loader. In the UK the life expectancy is just three years (and mine lasted barely 18 months before reading the SoGA to Comet ad nauseum until they fixed it virtually for free).

Jerseygirl

I have a top loader here in our condo...which I can't wait to get rid of. Next time I wash I'll give the laundry the sniff test.

AmerLisa

Very true!

We bought ours at a scratch and dent place when we first moved over here, 2004! It has had one issue, that my husband fixed.... (we couldn't have afforded a good front loader at the time anyway...) So I told him if it breaks again, or we find we have money to buy one (fat chance with that as we are always funding trips to visit relatives elsewhere!) then I'm getting a front loader!

Anian

I heard that holes in clothes are usually caused by underwired bras. If you don't wash your bra in with the coloured loads but you still get holes in them then that would rule it out.

Sally Redux

It's not that because I don't wear underwired bras.

Bluegrass Lass

+1 I have very sensitive skin and I've never used scented detergents or fabric softener or even those dryer sheets. I don't want my clean clothes smelling of anything strong.

When we were staying with my mom I noticed a lot of my shirts getting small holes in them. I think it was her washer which is positively ancient. I think it's at least 22/23 years old.

GeoffM

Me neither. Much prefer non-wired bras... wait, wrong forum!

Never had a problem with scented in the UK - guess my skin's not sensitive! But the skankiness of a towel 2-3 days old suggested that something wasn't right. Maybe just not getting washed properly, just a factor of the top loader. And yes, I intend to get a front loader when I can afford it.

Thanks.

yellowroom

I find exactly the same as Geoff - I unpacked some boxes that I haven't touched since moving nearly 9 months ago, and the towels still smelt nice and fresh despite their journey. They just don't smell of much at all after my top-loading laundry here, despite using fabric conditioner in the wash and sheets in the tumble-dryer.

However, they don't smell musty after a few days use - I'd have thought that is more due to them not drying properly after each time using them? Is your bathroom/shower room well aired?

Guindalf

We went out a couple of months ago with the intention of replacing our top loader with a front loader.

We came home with an HE top loader!

Apart from being a lot cheaper to buy, it uses hardly any detergent and clothes are clean and fresh when done. It hasn't got the big agitator in the middle that I think is the cause of most ripping of clothes.

Overall, we're VERY pleased with the purchase.

If anyone's interested, we got the Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum.

Jerseygirl

I can't see how top loaders can wash or rinse clothes properly. The longest wash cycle on my top loader is 12 mins...one rinse and that's it. The whole wash/rinse/spin is over in 20 mins max. On my front loader in the UK the standard wash takes 1 1/2 to 2 hrs...with 4 rinsing cycles.

Bluegrass Lass

I've looked at those..they looked pretty nice.

Mummy in the foothills

The only detergents I've found that make everything smell nice even after drying are Tide and Gain. I love Gain, Dh hates it, so I use the smell free eco stuff from costco and use nice smelly dryer sheets, but most stuff hangs to dry so no smell.
If my towels start to get a bit manky smelling I put them through a hot wash with white vinegar in the downy ball. and an extra rinse.
Then hot dryer and they seem to smell better again.

AmerLisa

I have had this problem with my towels over here and I think the problem is that the soap doesn't get out of them properly. I've since been putting vinegar in with my towels when I wash them and cutting back on detergent and that seems to help. But its definitely not fantastic. Can't say I really notice a difference for our clothes though.

The one thing I really missed about my washer in the UK was that it had a very hot setting on it. I thought that was pretty good for towels and bed clothes.

Lion in Winter

If you have hard water, then things don't rinse out very well and also get minerally.

PS: This makes me nostalgic for the Walla laundry thread of yore.

tuxedocat

Try rinsing an extra time.

When I used cloth diapers I would add a cup of A&H Washing Soda, Borax, or baking soda.