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In a message dated 3/27/03 4:25:52 PM Central Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:

<< What the heck is fabric softener for and why do so many people use it? >>

It keeps static cling from forming, it truly makes the clothes ultra soft
(not so good for towels because they are also less absorbant) and they smell
wonderful.
I love Downy because my Mum used it and the clothes were so soft and
fluffy....it's true.
Vinegar works just as well to rid the excess soap and ph balance the water so
the clothes are softer.
But you don't have that wonderful Downy smell...sigh.

Ren
"The sun is shining--the sun is shining. That is the magic. The flowers are
growing--the roots are stirring. That is the magic. Being alive is the
magic--being strong is the magic The magic is in me--the magic is in
me....It's in every one of us."

----Frances Hodgson Burnett

Lisa M. C. Bentley

> But you don't have that wonderful Downy smell...sigh.

The smell makes me nauseous. This smell is my main reason for not
buying many second hand clothes from consignment stores and garage
sales. I do, on occasion, and I almost always regret it after washing
the item about 50 times and having it still reek of that Downy smell,
then I just get rid of the item.

I've lived in a very humid environment (summers in Iowa) and a very dry
desert environment (Tucson, AZ, currently) and I've never had the need
for dryer sheets (these give me a rash and I hate their smell, too) or
any type of softener. Our clothes are all great and clean and soft. We
use Bi-O-Kleen (1 Tbsp, even on diapers with no rinsing) and an
occasional splash of vinegar at the beginning of a load with clothes
that have urine in them (mostly diapers). White vinegar neutralizes
uric acid. We use it on cat "accidents", too. You can use a black
light to see where all of the urine is and watch it go away with vinegar
(here's your fun science experiment!). BTW, we own a washer/dryer combo
unit currently and we love it!

-Lisa in AZ

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In a message dated 3/27/2003 10:06:35 PM Central Standard Time,
cottrellbentley@... writes:


> The smell makes me nauseous. This smell is my main reason for not
> buying many second hand clothes from consignment stores and garage
> sales. I do, on occasion, and I almost always regret it after washing
> the item about 50 times and having it still reek of that Downy smell,
> then I just get rid of the item.
>

I have this allergen wash that I use on our second hand clothes and all our
blankets, comforters, quilts, slip covers, mattress pads etc. We have bad
allergies and need to wash all bedding weekly. This stuff gets pet dander
and dust mites out and also kills all the smells somehow. Smoke, Gain (the
smelliest detergent I've ever seen), bounce sheets (we use unscented ones,
but are trying vinegar now). Look it up at allergycontrolproducts.com if you
are interested. It's expensive, but well worth what we save in clothing
costs.

Elizabeth (am I still the old one?)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 3/28/03 9:10:15 AM, ejcrewe@... writes:

<< Elizabeth (am I still the old one?) >>

You could be Elizabeth I!