Like most homes, our washing machine runs at least every other day and sometimes every day, multiple times a day. In fact, I know of several times it has run all day long.
There are some loads of laundry that you have to wonder if it’s even going to come clean and be wearable again. Or my personal favorite, the load where you forget to immediately flip it to the dryer and things get “the smell.”
Now with the High Efficiency (He) washing machines there is also this periodic need to clean the machine. Our machine always seems to get the gunk around the soap and softener compartments in addition to just needing a good freshening up. Like we don’t have enough to clean already!
Smelly Laundry and Towels
There is a very distinct smell that can happen to towels particularly but really any load of heavier clothes. Perhaps you forgot that load in the washer or they didn’t get dry enough before the smell settled in.
I have found adding 10 drops of Purify to the wash and another 5 drops to dryer balls eliminates these smells. Since the sound of the dryer balls hitting the dryer walls sometimes drives me crazy I often just add it to the wash and dry as normal. Even towels that have seen better days come out with a fresher smell.
Purify is an essential oil blend from doTERRA that eliminates odors and purifies. It smells like what I think clean should smell like. This oil blend consists of:
Lemon
Siberian Fir
Citronella
Lime
Melaleuca
Cilantro
I agree with the aromatic description being fresh, outdoorsy even and herbal without stinging your nose.
Gunky Compartments
The He machines particularly always tell you less is more with the soap and softener. I don’t always believe that based on how my clothes come out. Quite honestly I sometimes wonder if water even hit them. I also have to wonder how clean things get when the compartments get gunky.
The culprit of the gunk around the soap and softener compartments is of course soap and softener. The build up over time is really gross to have to clean out but if you don’t do it then the dispenser doesn’t release like it should.
For all of my adult life I have been a Tide Liquid Detergent and Downy April Fresh Softener person. There were no others as far as I was concerned and you could count on Tide to get your clothes clean.
Recently, I got a bottle of the doTERRA On Guard Laundry Detergent. I was skeptical because how can anything assure clean like Tide?
I tried it because I am truly trying to redo our home with products that are less harmful to us and the environment. As much as I love Tide, I admit it’s probably not the best thing in the world for water. Based on the compartment gunk in my washer I have to also wonder of it’s wear and tear on my washer.
I have been pleased with the results. The laundry smells clean, my machine isn’t gunky and this little bottle actually lasts at least 64 loads. For the cost, I’m actually spending less with this than I was with the Tide and I won’t have to clean out the machine as frequently.
Interested in more?
If you have questions please let me know. You can reach out to me via this blog of email at dragonspitapothecary@aol.com
You can purchase these products via my website my.doterra.com/dragonspitapothecary
If you’re interested but don’t want to pay retail prices, enroll as a Wholesale Customer or Wellness Advocate with me. By doing so, you will enjoy 25% off retail prices, earn points on your purchases and shipping (makes shipping free) AND enjoy opportunities to have a free product of the month, further discounts on sale items and special offers AND have access to the best educational information available on essential oils and natural living. Contact me via my.doterra.com/dragonspitapothecary for more information.
Comments