rpsinfoman, millenials are too busy whining and crying in their"safe" place to wash their own clothes.LOL All joking aside, I've tried target's AF equal and Great Value spring flowers or whatever it's called and even on clothes hung to dry is just too much. My how everything changes as we grow older! I'm liking Downy Free and Gentle more and more. Have also noticed that when using the above scents, out of the dryer is barely noticeable but a few days later the scent hits me in the face. Does that even make sense?

I use Free and Gentle and Targets Spring Bloom. Regarding your side comment, I have a girl at work that said she was just too busy to wash her family of three, laundry. She takes it and has it done for 99cents a pound. Shes now sold on the process. Lol, hardly what I call being cash strapped paying $78 for something you can do yourself. I just look on with amazement! Really?

The flipside I live in NE ohio and have a young neighbor who pays a lawn company to cut his grass. I asked him one day why you blowing money on something you can do an hour a week yourself. He says I too busy. I gotta go to the gym and some other stuff. LOL. Let me tell you, my daddy would have told me get your lazy ass out there and cut that grass. Once again I look on with amazement. Two words come to mind, lazy and priorities. And they wonder why they have no money.

With the key word being afford. According to statistics most are struggling and saddled with debt. I agree with your observation, but living beyond ones means trying to support a lifestyle some simply can not afford is not prudent financially. PHYSICAL fitness is excellent, but a good hard days work will get you a little more than socializing an hour in the gym. Everyone is different and don't want to stereotype with one broad brush. This is all so off topic. lol

It's important to remember opportunity costs. I have a good friend who is a nurse, and he has both a housekeeper and pays to have the bulk of his clothing laundered. Since I enjoy doing some of those things I asked him (kindly) why he chose to "waste" his money on those luxuries. He explained to me that for the time it would take him to do a few loads of laundry or clean his condo, he could pick up half an over-time shift at the hospital. Some quick mental math shows it's in his much better interest to pay someone to clean his home while he pulls an extra shift. Economics are important. Michael Jordan could be the most efficient lawn mower there is, but it's in nobody's interest for him to mow his own grass.

(Recordaras - also a millennial here. You aren't alone. I'll toast you gladly in our safe space).

Of course, the millenials on this board aren't going for the corporate bunk (too smart).

Re DIY vs outsourcing, I'm with recordas and alex. There are things I always did but cannot do well any longer (sadly, many of us get to that place) and by paying someone to help me I am getting it done and creating a job for someone else.

That said, I also don't garden which I'm sure is considered a sin here as it is elsewhere. I just hate gardening. So I support my local farmers as well by buying produce at the greenmarket. I can relate to those who grow their own -- worth the time and less cost.

Really, though, it can work well either way.

Isn't a Millennial..just someone born between two certain dates?

@Mama - yes. The GenX/Millennial cutoff is generally viewed as early 1980s. I'm just on the cusp. We have our problems, for sure, just like every generation. What's most frustrating is that constant reminder of being the "trophy" generation and the "debt" generation. Well, 7 year old soccer players didn't demand a trophy; that was the parents who didn't want their kids to feel left out. Kids aren't in a position to make those demands. Similarly, we didn't create the university system where a new grad comes out with student loans that rival a first-time home mortgage. But I digress...(and also don't garden, LOL).

rococo, it's one thing to outsource because of age or you're physically no longer able to perform a task. It's quite another to be young fit and healthy and pay for some of these services, and in the next breath whine about student loan debt. Some of these things are basic life skills. Perhaps these schools should add a mandatory basic personal finance curriculum. That seems to be the real problem.

Wouldn't low (or lower) sales be in large part because more & more households have front load washers and don't use as much product?

I don't use fabric softener, only dryer sheets and only then when I have a load of mostly synthetic clothing. I have used it very sparingly in the past. I've purchased maybe 4 or 5 bottles, total, in my lifetime. Just don't find it necessary. Unnecessary expense and don't see how fabric softener residue on clothing is a good thing.

I can't think of anyone I know who uses fabric softener. I, personally associate clean with an absence of smell and not one left by chemical residue in laundry I just washed.

As for younger generations (though I'm not that old!) I've noticed that the ones I know are on board with working smarter instead of harder. The idea of suffering, paying dues and playing the martyr is a thing of the past. The ones I know are proudly balancing school and usually 2 jobs with great social lives and incredible forward thinking positive attitudes.

I was never a big fabric softener user, my nana was and used the old downy April fresh, I loved the smell but I swear she used so much that towels became non-absorbent. I haven't used it all once I purchased a FL washing machine, 5 years ago.

@rspinfoman - Definitely with you about living within one's means. However, what I've learned is that everyone spends money differently, just as people know about different things. Then there's common sense and emotional intelligence which it's important to have at any age. Then there's work ethic and critical thinking which is are whole different subjects that I'm not sure can be assigned to a particular generation. Every one has its slackers.

I'm just personally grateful I got to grow up in a world that felt secure and was well defined, was privileged to have an excellent education that wasn't fancy but was affordable, and no angst about getting a job even though my first one paid $54 a week. It's so much tougher to be young today, I think. But with all the debt, those who get jobs seem to get paid better than we did and much sooner. Of course, I'm sure many don't.

@rococgurl - very well said as always. I work in a very diverse environment with lots of young fresh grads, with many being there very first work experience ever.

I am thankful I was a good parent who prepared my children for the world ahead. Someone who instilled a work ethic, taught them the value of a dollar, educated them on personal finance, money, budgeting, and most importantly emphasized there is nothing in this world for free! If you want it, you work for it!

Your right, it is not easy to be young, nor is it easy to get old. It's the upbringing that is the root cause. Fast and free lifestyles only exist for the very wealthy. The I am "entitled to", "I want", truly shows in todays kids. I am hopeful this is more the exception than the rule.

Meanwhile, everyone should go out and try a bottle of fabric softener! ;-)

I used to use and love fabric softener on my clothes, in spite of my wife's misgivings. At some point, towels washed in our Kenmore (Whirlpool DD) agitator top loader started smelling moldy when wet. From what I've learned since then, fabric softener residue may have had something to do with it. We used liquid detergent, with some hot washes and hardly ever any cold washes. When that machine had an inlet valve problem and we got rid of it, we switched to a front loader, and haven't used fabric softener since. Now we don't want soft laundry. In fact, when I washed some towels in Tide Free and Gentle liquid, and they came out softer than the usual result with powder detergent, my wife felt they weren't as clean.

Thanks so much! It is so great to hear different persoectives.

I haven't used fabric softener since I got my FL 10 years ago. I always had to use unscented detergents prior to getting the FL, or my son would get a rash. With the FL I use powdered scented detergent & vinegar & only get a light clean scent when it's done. I have gotten sensitive to perfumes the older I get, so it's perfect.

Funny about millennials supposedly paying for stuff to be done. Around here in SE PA it's my generation the boomers & they were doing it long before they got "older". Landscapers to throw mulch on, someone to mow their grass, someone to clean their house & someone to open their pool etc. I didn't think the younger generation had gotten that far yet. My DH & I have wondered how people do it for years, as we are DIY people & have erected pools, built pole barns & put on a new roof among other things. Millennials are from 1980-2004 right now (notice how they change this sometimes?) with Generation X before that. I have two sons in the category. Both have decent jobs & are DIY also. Both think both my generation & theirs are clueless twits. They are very frugal, sometimes too frugal & not enough fun, I think. That generation will definitely have a tough row to hoe! Neat hearing everyone's perspectives.

I believe this to be true. I have been to Walmart twice since you posted this and both times I noticed there was plenty of Downy in all scents on the shelves. In the past it has been pretty much wiped out every time I was there. Yesterday there was more April Fresh on the shelf then the other scents.

I don't use liquid FS anymore since the death of original AF, the closest I got to using it was using tide w a touch of downy detergent (both AF and clean breeze) both of which smelled great but had no real softening effect IMO, I honestly think it was marketed towards people who were tide w downy scent fans ( it worked on me lol). I haven't bought it in a while as I've been trying other things, but I also ditched my dryer sheet usage to minimal. Anyway what I wanted to really comment on was---I see more people with tide free and gentle and downy free in thier shopping carts than scented these days.

Anybody try Downy Amber Blossom? Huffed in the store and it lite and not too sweet. So I bought a bottle, will test it out later.

I have some and it is ok. For me it is too floral. I prefer clean breeze far more.

Amber blossom is too sickly sweet and heavy and leaves clothes smelling perfumed. I do not like it at all. Citrus Spice is better!

I forgot about Citrus Spice..I do like that flavour..mixed with Downy Free its soft and warm. Now I'm going to crave a bottle LOL

I'm almost afraid to use it now. Note to self... Before I try anything new, run it by y'all before I buy anything new.

We have a TL Fisher & Paykel HE machine. We haven't bought any liquid FS in years, but my wife still uses an occasional FS sheet in the dryer. Bounce, I think.

Aren't traditional fabric softeners such as Downy still made using animal tallow? The idea of washing my laundry to get it clean then putting on a coating of dead animal fat really grosses me out.

http://www.pgproductsafety.com/productsafety/ingredients/household_care/laundary_fabric_care/Downy/Ultra%20Downy%20Liquid%20April%20Fresh%20-%20PID%20May%202016.pdf

Dont see any specifically named tallow but still, that's a big long list of scary sounding chemicals that I feel like we just don't need on our clothes!

http://www.pgproductsafety.com/productsafety/ingredients/household_care/laundary_fabric_care/Downy/Downy_Fabric_Softener_Dryer_Sheets.pdf

Looks like the dryer sheets may be the tallow culprit, greenie. What is "fatty acid " ????

I gave it up almost 20 years ago. I only use a bit of Shaklee if I want a little extra softness. Many of my friends who are older than millennials don't use it either. The few who do, use Downy unscented. I know one person who uses major scented laundry and I find it nauseating to be blown over by multiple laundry smells.

Tallow is typically used in the process to manufacture diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride according to the patent https://www.google.com/patents/US5523433. A few months ago I asked P&G on their Facebook wall if Downy was vegan and they said no. I said something like "Tallow is used to make it? Gross!" and received no response.

Tallow is used in most bath soaps

Agreed Mama but I use and love Dr. Bonner's bar soap, which is vegan https://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/BARSOAP/OBEU05.html

I have and use Dr Bronners occasionally..I love the peppermint, the boys generally always use Bronners or Kirks, mostly Kirks. Little chip has such sensitive skin to soaps and shampoos...Kirks doesn't irritate him at all, course I use a small lemon or vinegar rinse in his hair to neutralize.

When did Down April Fresh change their scent? I have a bottle of April Fresh dates 2011 - these things usually last me about 4 years, and I think I had bought this on sale from a liquidator. I seem to be becoming hyper sensitive to smells these days - whenever I use some hand cream or something, I become very aware of the smell - and not in a good way. But the April Fresh is fine for me, but maybe because I use it so frugally.

The original Downy was discontinued in I think 2008......2011 would be a newer stinky version but still better than the change again to yet even stinkier last year.

I used to use Downy or Snuggle but stopped when I ran out about 20 years ago and found it didn't make any difference in the clothes. I used vinegar for awhile but found it didn't make much difference and no one has minded my not using it.

Well, I finally tried Downy Amber Blossom on my new Turkish terry robe. Just a little, may 1/4 cap, pared with Tide org. heturbo liquid. All I can say it, it's nauseous and it's going back to the store. Even with a second rinse and the smell is all over, it's like it's stuck in my nose. It's now soaking in 1/2 cup of Borax and Tide F&G liquid. Can't stand the thought of stepping out of the shower and putting stink on me!

How could something that smells so good in the bottle become so vile? And they wonder why sales are falling.SMH

Sorry Beaglenc....We told you. LOL

I really, really love Target's Up&Up Spring Bloom. It is the closest thing to old fashioned Downy, yet is actually lighter and thinner!!

Also, Downy with the Yellow Cap (mixed with unscented or diluted) smells very fresh and clean.

The Amber Blossom kills me!!!! YUCK!

LOL@Larsi. Walmart's Spring Showers is like the old fashioned Downy too. You would think this old dog would have learned by now. But no this old beagle is stubborn. LOL Maybe I'll try the yellow cap. Seems like the older I get the more my taste in fragrances changes, now it's more F&G Downy than anything.

I just discovered this thread and completely agree with the majority opinions. The scents are VILE. Who needs them? I only used dryer sheets sparingly until my towels became crunchy. When Mom passed away, I discovered her bottle of unscented Downey. I tried a minimal amount with the towels to see if that alleviated the issue, but in actuality, it made the towels less absorbent. We're back to 1/2 of an UNSCENTED Up &UP dryer sheet with the towels for the best finish. My clothes (it's just us empty nesters) don't need a softener. Charlie's Soap, new Vaska tabs and All Free & Clear are all that's needed to clean my laundry loads.

I think I'm like the minority here, but I love fabric softener and scent in my clothes. I do dislike the new AF. They made it too perfume-y. Same with Dreft. I loved Dreft, but it's now changed.

I do like the yellow cap Downy too. Just right, but my favorite softener at the moment is Snuggle Green Burst. The non-concentrate. Reminds me of my childhood. Also, Gain Fresh Water Sparkle scented sheets. I'm probably a nightmare to be around.

@ jtjrrpsmmy...I too like scented laundry, as long as it is not overwhelming, or too sweet. I do not use anything unscented really! I like scent!!

Yes, the current April Fresh is musty perfume-y, hate it!! Dreft has been made too strong! It used to be soft and wonderful, and now it is like strong Love's Baby Soft perfume. Gag!!

Where does one buy Snuggle Green Burst?? It is not on their website. Sounds great. Please let us know. Thanks!

I use Dreft and I don't notice a scent change. I loved Ivory Snow and thanks to my good friends here I have some discontinued boxes for my collection and some for my bloomers.

Found the Snuggle Green Burst. Dollar General . com has it. Ordered. LOL #Sickness #LaundryAddict

Larsi, you're hopeless, bless your heart! LOL Maybe we should form a self-help group, something with "anonymous" in the title.;)

Larsi...keep us posted on the Snuggle Green Burst.

@larsi_gw

Yes, it's at Dollar General. Some Kmart stores have it too. However, DG never fails me. #addict

OMG I have to stop at DG tonight for tablets for the boys..I will not buy Snuggle...I will not buy Snuggle...I will not buy Snuggle. ...LOL

@Mamapinky....You WILL buy Snuggle, You WILL buy Snuggle, You WILL buy Snuggle. LOL ;)

Omg...first I ran to the hairdressers as both boys needed cuts than I dropped in Walmart for milk, chicken breasts for Lily and planned to stop at DG last and OMG I forgot to stop. Let me think of an important must have item tonight so hubs can drive me in ..its only a 4 minute drive on a country lane...lets see what do I need that he would consider an emergency. .Hmmm....guess I can say Amiee needs fem protection..Hahaha...such a lie is not nice, but I'm irritated at Mike so I'll do it.....stay tuned.