OMG Vinegar and Bicarb - huh I would NEVER had thought of that I am so going to try that to get a bit more softness.

We have the one clothes basket kept in the outside bathroom (we have an outside wash house) and I wait until its overflowing before I will do a wash. I really enjoy having a "washing day" I just love the smell of clean clothes as you hang them out. We have a verandar that goes right around our house so the back has two lines, one right on the edge for those sunny days and one closer to the house so we canhang washing out when its wett and not worry about it getting rained on.

I do separate my loads into darks, lights and fluffies (fluffies being towels fluffy socks, polar fleece and flannels) I only ever hand wash my woolens and my few but precious pretty underwear.

I use the Eco store front loader powder (on trial before I wash my MCNs) and I am very happy with the results and quite surprised by the freshness of smell.

I also leave my front loader door open and because the laundry and external bathroom are in the same building we leave the windows adjar slightly so fresh air always circulates. Our towel cupboard is also out here and for some reason they never smell musty - just just have to watch a huntsman hasn't snuggled in the towels