:-) I used to use the Downy ball before I got my front-loader, and I also filled it with vinegar just a smidge (scientific term) above the line. If you fill it more than that, you end up with "premature ejaculation", as the ball opens while the drum is spinning as the tank drains, and all your softener lands directly on your clothes. If you're using real Downy in your ball, this can lead to grease spots on your clothes. If you're using vinegar, nothing bad happens to your clothes, but you're not getting the full benefit of the vinegar, either, as it just goes down the drain with the wash water. Use two Downy balls, and fill them both to the line.
I still like to have some softener in my wash, just for the pretty smell and the really fluffy towels. That's my weakness. I'll use vinegar again if we're stretching the budget to breaking, and I'll use vinegar to cut cat pee smells (in the bleach dispenser in the washing machine!), and I'll even throw some baking soda in there if the household water softener doesn't seem to be keeping up with the town's changeable water supply (we have both aquifer and lake sources, and the two are mixed depending on availability). But I like my snuggly towels as they come out hot from the dryer (another weakness - but only for towels!).
I can't tolerate the scents full-strength, though, so I fill a bottle with scented to the halfway mark, and top it up with an equal amount of unscented. And if some high-value coupons for laundry stuff come my way, for products I don't use, I just pass them along to neighbours. No sense recycling the savings for people who refuse to REALLY save. ;-)
Damn, I MUST have some Scottish blood mixed in my mongrel ancestry... my Maclean friend would be so proud!
Hehe I'm currently doing wash, and I made sure to not overfill the poor ball - I never though of it potentially dumping itself too early!
I'm trying to avoid spotting on my darks by omitting the fabric softener - but it seems like its not the only culprit! Although I do see much less stuff stuck to Jon's shirts, so I guess my work blacks are just unlucky. ;) I've also found its been an awesome deodorizer, as I was having stinky wash issues, even with happy fun scented fabric softener.
And there's nothing wrong with thinking of these things, just think how far ahead you are of the average shopper!
I still like to have some softener in my wash, just for the pretty smell and the really fluffy towels. That's my weakness. I'll use vinegar again if we're stretching the budget to breaking, and I'll use vinegar to cut cat pee smells (in the bleach dispenser in the washing machine!), and I'll even throw some baking soda in there if the household water softener doesn't seem to be keeping up with the town's changeable water supply (we have both aquifer and lake sources, and the two are mixed depending on availability). But I like my snuggly towels as they come out hot from the dryer (another weakness - but only for towels!).
I can't tolerate the scents full-strength, though, so I fill a bottle with scented to the halfway mark, and top it up with an equal amount of unscented. And if some high-value coupons for laundry stuff come my way, for products I don't use, I just pass them along to neighbours. No sense recycling the savings for people who refuse to REALLY save. ;-)
Damn, I MUST have some Scottish blood mixed in my mongrel ancestry... my Maclean friend would be so proud!
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I'm trying to avoid spotting on my darks by omitting the fabric softener - but it seems like its not the only culprit! Although I do see much less stuff stuck to Jon's shirts, so I guess my work blacks are just unlucky. ;) I've also found its been an awesome deodorizer, as I was having stinky wash issues, even with happy fun scented fabric softener.
And there's nothing wrong with thinking of these things, just think how far ahead you are of the average shopper!
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Like a dream.
Oooooo.... *shiver*
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