I'm so going to try the bi-carb trick. I don't use softener- it does clog up your machine. And the fabric softener sheet sfo rthe dryer are awful- your filter catches 75% less lint when you use them, it all goes straight through to the motor.

a 'la FlyLady, I do a load every day, two loads on Monday and Tuesday after I've house blessed (I know, it'a bit pathetic!) to wash all the sheets and towels. Our clothes and ds's are washed seperatley (we use the Ark washing powder in miniscule amounts for ds's clothes so as not to aggrevate his excema). i have two buckets going in the laundry sink- one for soaking our clothes, one for bibs and facewashers (which I use to wash seperately as well, but there is not enough of them to bother anymore!). I've found the HomeBrand Napisan from Woolies is excellent value.

I put a load on at night, hang it out the next day while ds is having his morning sleep (they don't go smelly in the machine, but I'm not sure why, but if I take them out of the machine and leave them sitting there, they smell), bring it in during his arvo sleep, and fold it just before I give him a bath, while I'm upstairs anyway. Once a month (during laundry and bathroom week) I give the washing a run with warm water and 2 cups of vinegar, and wipe out the inside (it's a top loader and gungy bits accumulate). I also scrub and shine the sink, have a quick look and toss of the cupboard and run a swiffer under the machine. Oh, and give the dryer link filter a proper clean.

Phew! Yep, I'm a slave to the FlyLady. But I never have a backlog of washing, i always know where every article of clothing is and the laundry always looks and smells fresh and clean (a neccessity as it doubles as our downstairs bathroom). Works for me