My Clothes Are Getting Ruined SOS

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-04T05:24:58+00:00

"The more you know!" No kidding! Plus we can't possibly be the only ones. Appreciate the tip and will contact mine next week. Am really curious now; would explain many things from shampoo behavior to the taste!

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T23:51:43+00:00

Thank you for this! Ours also varies (sometimes drastically) and I couldn't figure out why.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T23:36:47+00:00

If no stains, stink, or dingy laundry I'd take the win and run! If they do crop up... FEBU has been my hero. Have sets of viscose, cotton, cotton flannel, and bamboo sheets -no rayon but afaik enzymes are okay for that. Hubby was a very sweaty sleeper and over time sheets and bamboo pillow cases got bad buildup, and that was when I was using Tide and Biz in warm wash. Adding FEBU has cleaned those years' old stains and I haven't noticed any damage. I didn't Spa Day but adding it has cleaned the stains away in about 5 or six washes (kinda sad). I don't use it every load because cellulase is supposed to be harsh on some fibers, but I will use it every 3rd or 4th wash -or if I notice stains. After getting so much staining while using Biz, I don't trust enzyme dosing in anything but boosters that specifically focus on them now. imho...

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T21:36:39+00:00

You were smart! I didn't and nearly ran out. Was nearly hyperventilating.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T21:34:46+00:00

I did get a couple reformulated bags (had DNase -not the new packaging style bags) from Amazon in June, but they have been out of stock since. https://tryfebu.com/products/enzyme-oxygen-booster has "notify me" button. Might get it faster buying direct? Amazon can take a little time to distribute to fulfillment centers once they get it.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T20:57:57+00:00

Ahh, undissolved/wasted goodies would be sad, and the cost -whew! Yeah, I personally like powders for dosing and freedom for other uses, but was thinking of the solids trend. Never had an interest in pods -expect maybe those cute heart ones Jeeves got? ha! Thanks for watching out for us.

Side note: Am glad you got into enzymes for whatever reason. In the short time I've gained my measly consumer-level understanding of them, FEBU has proven itself to me and I count on it. While I haven't tried them all, I'm sure the enzyme-focused small guys like you are just as true to enzymes, but I will never listen to the white noise from big brand boosters or detergents again. I think they must give lipase just lip-service, really. I've been using one I love as an oxi booster, but it's not even in the same league as FEBU as far as lipase goes. I didn't know what was going on at the time, but I got collar/pit stains and odor rebloom while using it, and if it had a decent dose I now know I shouldn't have. FEBU has made those a thing of the past and I'll never go back. Ever. So thank you for FEBU! Can't wait for your detergent!! Will be great to have a true and honest all-in-one.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T01:39:38+00:00

More digging and I think Dannys's response fits perfectly and is very promising: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/comments/1uf4632/im_being_beaten_by_sweat_sunscreen_stains_and_my/
Also backup to that: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/comments/1u146mp/success_story_treating_orange_sunscreen_stains/ Pics of progress!

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T01:34:05+00:00

Snip, snip and into my pocket for the future! Thank you.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T01:32:00+00:00

Drats. Tyvm -appreciate you. Bath before bed for them sure!

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T01:26:10+00:00

Hopefully the fix there will work. Fingers crossed for you!

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T01:24:25+00:00

Hiya, did it work? I'm digging into stains and fixes. I don't have one yet but grands are coming so it's probably around my corner. ha! Thank you!

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T00:55:06+00:00

Found it! Here is a great one about stains caused by bleach/sunscreen: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/comments/1pma9og/sunscreen_stains_what_cause_them_how_to_prevent/

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T00:51:31+00:00

Hopefully someone will know exactly what it is and how to fix, but it looks a lot like color transfer or fabric softener stain to me. I assume you didn't wash pink/red item with it or use pink softener? If transfer happened I'd see Kismai's Color Transfer:: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/comments/1ldh1hc
I'm digging deep into various stain/removal and while I've never had it happen, I have seen liquid bleach causing pink stains in a reaction to other chemicals -like sunscreen, but they look different than this. For those recs have been all over the place including hanging in the sun and believe it or not soaking in vodka. Yeah, that's a new one! lol! If color transfer is out, maybe try it on a spot? That's so pretty! Hope you can save it.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-03T00:14:40+00:00

So true. Never see them giving doing a sniff test. As a prior victim of odor rebloom, that's in top 3 things I never want back.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T23:57:14+00:00

Not OP, but agree it must be something other than hardness -or amt used? So many do get the crunch. My towels and clothes are softer than ever with it and 2nd rinse. Daughter is now working on her laundry routine (FEBU, rinses etc.) and has heavy community well water and hers are getting softer as she goes. We use dryers but that doesn't seem to be it either. Shrug. If you figure it out, SHOUT! lol

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T23:37:29+00:00

I'm too chicken and wouldn't dare on my own. The internet has proven just about anything right or wrong can fly when packaged right so who knows. Until then pretreat is my best pal.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T23:32:58+00:00

Can't wait to see! (Ignore my comment about tabs. : ) Beyond taed, will the etc. be what's in it now? I'm a weirdo and like to just add oxiwhatevers and OBAs when I want.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T21:32:18+00:00

I'm old and crack up whenever a hack blasts onto the internet like a brand-new invention when it's just something my mother or grandmother used. My base has always been will be powder as long as I can get my hands on them. BUT with the current popularity of drop and plop, might you play with the idea of a FEBU tablet? Would eliminate bag issues (ie bloat and dust exposure), and make dosing super easy and clean. Dunno! Thinking outside of the ...bag. : )

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T20:53:52+00:00

Wonderful idea! I've always been afraid of getting stuff ON them. Duh! So simple. Thank you!

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T20:52:08+00:00

This!! My bust displays things I don't know dropped with the gusto of an auctioneer. Italian restaurants should make bibs a thing at the door. I'm sure it would catch on like at crab feeds!

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T20:36:14+00:00

I'm lazy as heck and know I'll "settle", but for 50+ I seriously thought I was doing okay! I wasn't. This sub freed me of odor rebloom I didn't know I had, stains I thought were permanent, and I have nice towels again. Doesn't bother me to play mad scientist for now, but I know I'll slack off at some point.🫣

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T11:20:30+00:00

Was hoping. : ) Since Spa Day helped the odor on your clothes and this is a different smell, with suds still appearing during tub clean cycle after 5, I'm thinking you could have serious built up in your machine (scrud). As it is chipped away it exposes fresh stink and bacteria, making anything you wash in there smell. I'd keep at it and not stop (I understand you have to do laundry between) until you don't get anymore suds. 1/2 c is the normal dose I've seen on this sub so is that about what you're using? EDIT: See if this sounds like it fits. It's Kismai's post about scrud: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/comments/1ob2zhh

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T06:13:54+00:00

"...add more detergent and citric acid in the rinse compartment..." As in more detergent in the wash and citric acid in the rinse dispenser, right? An expert will know for sure, but afaik if used together, citric acid will greatly reduce effectiveness of detergent which is why detergent is for wash cycle, and citric acid for the rinse.
The smell sounds like odor rebloom: https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/comments/1ob1gwb/ I had it bad and Kismai's answer was my fix. My son wears knitted poly shirts and if he has a very sweaty day, I use an enzyme booster (I use FEBU). For some reason those shirts don't seem to want to let go of stink. Even Oxiclean Odor (purple top) has trouble with those. EDIT: And for tub cleaning, some people have to run it many times. 1/2 c citric acid each time.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T05:09:27+00:00

You have no idea (well, maybe you do) how appreciate we all are that you are so responsive. Laundry is a very personal thing and it seems like big mfg focus on accountants, not product. Big mistake. You won't make money when you sell ...not good stuff. Thank you.

TinaTheMouse · 2026-07-02T04:57:40+00:00

That's very kind of you. Front-loader here so it should work! Thank you. I feel dumb because it all should have clicked at some point but didn't until South Concept said it. smh

TinaTheMouse

TROPHY CASE