Exactly!
There aren’t any hard and fast rules, life can be challenging enough without throwing laundry stress into the mix! 
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Nice one Chilli! Glad it was a huge success for you - I’m going to try it with some essential oils with the vinegar next time - the only thing is I always use the dryer, so I wonder if that might impede the oils in some way - I’ll let you know! I actually bought about £200’s worth of essential oils a couple of weeks ago just because it makes sense buying them in 1ltr cans, so have got plenty to use up 
This is why Annie - the ingredients of ecover:
Aqua, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Laureth-7, Alcohol, Potassium Oleate, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Bio Poly Ethyleneglycol Propyleneglycol Oligo Ester, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol
I don’t want that on my skin 24/7!! None of that in our home-made version.
I actually have 6 or 7 large bottles of Ecover fabric softener here (I always add them to basket when Waitrose put them on sale) and I think it was actually a massive part of why my bed sheets had such a strong smell afterwards.
The thing is, it never used to be like that - when I first started buying them many years ago the smell was pleasant and didn’t smell/feel very ‘toxic’ at all. Is it surprising that it does now? Nope! They were bought by Johnson & Son in 2017!!
Funnily enough this was published earlier this year:
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Interesting ref the takeover. I haven’t experienced any irritation myself. Were you using the bio version? I always use non bio.
Always this one Annie:
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/ecover-fabric-softener-gardenia-vanilla/758757-203306-203307
I don’t use that one. I always use Apple blossom and almond (the pink one). Is that the gardenia one? They used to have a daffodil one for a while that I didn’t like as it was too strong. I’m really fussy about the smell. I cannot even stand being a room with someone who has used strongly scented persil or ariel etc. They seem to contain benzoates.
I have had no problems with sensitivity.
I find the most important variable for sensitive skin is to use a non bio detergent. I was using their non bio powder but shops stopped selling it in favour of these capsules. I haven’t found any sensitive reactions to the capsules and they seem pretty effective at all washing cycles, probably better than the powder.
I think the laundry liquid they do is too strongly scented. I only use this if the dog has an accident or similar non personal type washes.
Yes I think it is the gardenia one…
Sounds like homemade would sure you Annie. I think if we can avoid all these nasty chemicals and fragrances it’s worth it. It took about 15 minutes to mix all the ingredients together, @Chilliboot’s step by step is exactly how I did mine too 
What I like about yours is that it is dry, the one I used to make was a liquid (or how I did it a gel) but I always wash clothes in cold water so a liquid might be better suited to that.
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So that’s Ecover out for me. I avoid SLS like the plague, but guess I still need to check my (non bio) capsules. My go to hand soap, body wash and shampoos are from the Faith in Nature range, as they have no SLS or parabens. These give my finger tips skin splits. But I do still have itchy skin so wonder if I should give this a go.
Are the extras non irritating? (The sodas).
Do you add the homemade stuff to the w/m drawer, or inside the drum?
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Good grief!
I vaguely remember seeing one of those in my Nan’s kitchen drawer, must’ve been during the 60s
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Actually Azz I need to make some more, the tub I made went a long way. I’m still using the white vinegar and essential oil as an effective fabric softener! 
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I rarely use soap/shampoo when I shower nowadays. Makes me wonder whether there’s any real need to use washing detergents quite so much.
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Yep, I’m slowly coming around to the Idea that we don’t need to “blitz” everything with harsh chemicals and there are alternatives.
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I often just shower in warm water and don’t bother with body wash. And yes, sometimes my hair just needs wetting, in between a shampoo wash.
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I’m pretty sure that there are still a fair few people in the world who successfully clean most of their things in fresh rivers and streams.
Sure, if there’s a specific stain which requires localised cleaning, use chemicals to do so. But for a general rinse through in warm water, it doesn’t seem necessary for anything else.
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A trip to the swimming pool and steam room, with a shower before and after, sorts out deeper cleanses without the need for soap.
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Yes Janet… you just add it to drawer like you normally would 
Same Paul! I made a fresh batch just a few days ago - only thing is my soda crystals had turned into little rocks! Apparently they do this in extreme heat - wish I knew that before the heatwave
I had to put them in a strong bag and then smash it on the ground to shatter them! Seem to work fine anyway - they dissolve in the water.
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Yes, my soda soda crystals tended to clump together too! As you say, they dissolve in water 
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I agree some washing detergents have a strong fragrance. I don’t mind as the smell wears off fairly quickly, but i’m sure fragrance free detergents are available to buy online, if not in the supermarket.
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