What's the deal with all the laundry scents?
Laundry detergents nearly rival a department store's perfume counter when it comes to aromatic variety. Many detergents label their scents "natural," which usually means the fragrance comes from the essential oils of a plant, flower, seed, or citrus fruit. Other fragrances are made synthetically (often using petroleum-derived ingredients), or with a mix of artificial scents and essential oils. Synthetic fragrances -- which are far more common in the laundry-care aisle than natural scents -- are longer lasting, staying pleasingly fragrant through the wash cycle, the drying phase, and well beyond the moment when you pull the garment out of your dresser drawer. On the other hand, fragrances made with plant-based essential oils are a greener choice: The scent oils are biodegradable and made from renewable resources, and are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Seventh Generation is one laundry brand that stands out for natural fragrance -- its green detergents use 100 percent essential oils of blue eucalyptus and lavender, or white flower and bergamot citrus (sourced from sustainable farms around the world), creating complex scents that smell terrific.

When should I use a laundry booster?
Laundry boosters are formulated to work with your detergent to tackle stains. Use them for stain-filled loads and as a time-saver if you want to skip the pretreat step on stained clothes. A few boosters do have other cool uses: OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover powder and OxiClean Triple Power StainFighter liquid help your colors look vibrant longer by neutralizing the color-fading chlorine often found in water. "In a swatch test, clothing that was washed in water lost more color than the clothing washed in OxiClean after eight washes," says clothing-care expert Steve Boorstein.

SORT YOUR LAUNDRY!
Fuzzy sweats, chenille robes, flannels, and new towels share their lint with other garments during washing, making for a fuzzy mess. Wash them in a load by themselves, says the Soap and Detergent Association.

HARD WATER VS. SOFT WATER
If your detergent's not performing well, check the hardness of your water. Detergents work better in softer water. 20 Mule Team Borax softens the water, which allows for better soil removal.