I must admit to always using it, smells nice! Seen some articles about it not being very good (chemicals in ingredients) and a friend of mine also says never use it. Read an article about putting vinegar instead, would'nt this make clothes smell of vinegar? Anybody any views on this? TIA.
I wouldn't put vinegar in a wash with clothes, but I run the machine on empty at a boil wash and throw in a cupful of vinegar to clear the gunge that gathers inside it. It doesn't affect the smell of the clothes. I don't use conditioner either. It clogs up the washing machine.
I am extremely cynical about many cleaning additives, nearly all of them being marketing-inspired profit generators. A basic washing powder is all I use in my machine, and elsewhere I use good old-fashioned elbow grease instead of the hundreds of enticingly-named "solutions", all attractively encased in non-degradeable plastic ready to pollute our wonderful planet.
There are plenty of eco-friendly washing products in the supermarkets, including clothes conditioner. I use them because we have a septic tank. Mainstream conditioners and laundry liquid contain harsh chemicals that can cause allergic reactions as well as not being good for your clothes or the environment.
Neither is washing powder nor a washing machine diddly -you could use a poss tub and some carbolic soap -then again why buy soap -just go down to your local river, collect some soapwort and bash it about a bit with your smalls by the riverside. lol!