Wow–so many replies! Thanks, everyone. I guess I’ll just experiment with some unscented options, Tide and Persil to start (the Persil Sensitive Skin claims to be dye-free, perfume-free and hypoallergenic) and avoid the environmentally friendly options that “seem to just redistribute the dirt more evenly”–bwah!
I had a bad experience with Color Catchers. All the color didn’t get “caught” and I ruined an item. So I still sort, even though some loads are very small. Has anyone seen the commercial for a washer that has a mini-washer at the bottom just for small loads? I can’t recall the brand, probably one of the premium European ones, but what a great idea!
I haven’t had really dirty clothes to deal with since my kids grew up. My challenges usually come from my failure to bother with an apron while cooking. And I’m a big fan of using Oxiclean powder to get out stubborn stains, which I use in my own way regardless of the directions. I throw a good sized handful of Oxiclean into a basin of warm water, stir to dissolve, and soak the item, or the stained portion of it, overnight. I’ve worked miracles that way, and the fabric has never suffered from the highly concentrated solution.
I haven’t used real bleach for years. I guess H’s underwear could be whiter, but who’s looking?