All you need are two kitchen ingredients to make your laundry smell better than ever. This simple tip not only makes your clothes smell nice when they come out of the washing machine, but also keeps the drum perfectly clean. Instead of buying expensive fabric softeners, try this homemade tip.
Nature rather than chemistry
Fresh-smelling laundry is not just a question of the detergent used, but also of the cleanliness of the washing machine and a few simple habits. Although chemists have no shortage of fabric softeners and scented capsules, many of them only work on the surface. Instead of resorting to chemicals, it is better to try a homemade method, which is effective and gives off a pleasant natural scent.
Home remedy for fragrant laundry
Simply pour two tablespoons of homemade scented powder into the drum to make your clothes smell especially good after washing. You can make this natural mixture from three ingredients that you probably already have at home:
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- 1 cup of coarse salt,
- ½ cup of bicarbonate of soda,
- 30 drops of your favourite essential oil.
Mix the ingredients and store them in a jar. Each time you do a wash, pour 2 tablespoons of this mixture into the drum. Your clothes will be soft, fragrant and free from any unpleasant damp smells.
Baking soda has a softening and disinfecting effect, neutralises unpleasant odours, eliminates bacteria and softens the water, allowing the detergent to dissolve better. Salt, on the other hand, has an antistatic effect and helps preserve the intensity of fabric colours. It also prevents limescale deposits in the washing machine.
Why don’t clothes smell fresh after washing?
If, despite using good detergents and our scented blend, clothes smell musty when they come out of the washing machine, the machine itself may be the cause. Powder, liquid and limescale deposits build up in the drum and seals, and start to give off an unpleasant odour over time.
Important: it is essential to clean the appliance regularly, otherwise no scented fabric softener will be able to remedy the problem.
How to clean the washing machine drum? Home remedies
Once a month, run a wash programme at 90°C with the drum empty, adding the following to the inside:
- a glass of bicarbonate of soda,
- a dishwasher tablet to dissolve deposits and grease.
In addition, you should:
- wipe the seal with a solution of water and vinegar,
- dry the door and detergent dispenser after each wash,
- pour a little white vinegar into the drum every few cycles to remove limescale and bacteria.
These are the simplest ways to ensure that your washing machine always smells clean and that your clothes are perfectly fresh after washing.
Clean, soft and fragrant laundry
The mixture of salt, baking soda and essential oil acts as a natural fabric softener and odour neutraliser. It is an environmentally friendly and inexpensive alternative to commercially available liquids, without unnecessary preservatives or artificial fragrances. After just one wash, you will notice the difference: your clothes will not only smell nice, but also feel softer to the touch.
