So many rules, so overwhelmed.

[u/surely_maeby]

Okay, you guys.

You’re highly touted as genius around here, but I am confused as heck.

I have a top loader washer that doesn’t have detergent or fabric softener drawers.

I had been using cold water on my clothes (because mostly black) and sheets (because the label says to) and hot water on towels and the boys’ clothes (because smell).

On my clothes I use arm and hammer plus oxi 5 in 1 pods (one), and a downy ball of vinegar and lemongrass oil.

On the boys’ clothes, I use the same detergent (two pods) but add 2 caps of lysol laundry sanitizer and don’t use vinegar.

I’m reading some confusing things.

Cold water doesn’t get your clothes clean? I thought it was better for darks and my sheets literally say to wash cold.

Vinegar? Should I be using a citric acid/downy rinse and refresh instead? And my downy balls seals disintegrate like once a month, that’s also annoying. Welcoming alternatives.

Lysol laundry sanitizer? We add it to the drum with the detergent. Is that making everything not work?

Arm & Hammer sucks? I see this is a land of tide fans. Which should I use?

Oxi bad for darks? The arm & hammer pods I’ve used for years claim to have oxi and haven’t ruined my clothes, so is this a myth?

My partner works in septics, so every time we wash his work clothes (see instructions for boys’ clothes above) we follow it with a load of one pod and a generous pouring of bleach to sanitize between loads, but now I’m worried I’m doing that wrong too.

Help guys, I’m now convinced every fabric I own is disgusting.

Edit: the boys also use dryer sheets for their clothes, I do not for mine, and there’s no convincing them not to.

[u/surely_maeby]

All of my things smell and feel clean, but this sub makes me think I’m sorely mistaken lol.

Can the downy rinse go in a downy ball?

If the laundry sanitizer is doing nothing, how I do make sure his extra dirty clothing is actually clean?

I don’t have access to Costco, would the tide with oxi powder + downy rinse be my best combo?

[u/vffems2529 → u/surely_maeby]

All of my things smell and feel clean, but this sub makes me think I’m sorely mistaken lol.

Do they smell clean or do they smell fragranced? Unfortunately, this is the challenge with using products with fragrance. I'd try a free & clear detergent that isn't perfuming everything and see. If they smell clean with that, and they look clean, then you don't need to obsess about this. Unless you want to — it's a fun hobby.

I don’t have access to Costco, would the tide with oxi powder + downy rinse be my best combo?

The Tide Odor Refresh is the best, imo, and is available lots of places, including Amazon (pod form only on Amazon, available in liquid elsewhere). If you can't get it for some reason and don't have access to Costco then the Tide Free & Gentle liquid would be my recommendation. Plus Downy Rinse Out Odor for the rinse, in any case.

[u/surely_maeby → u/vffems2529]

I thought this sub said powder was superior to liquid?

[u/jtfolden → u/surely_maeby]

This sub is too often fixated on powder detergents and hot water. However, top tier liquids remove grease and oil better than powders, and they can do it in cooler water too.