Borax can work pretty good. It’s safe. Just use as directed my friend. Less can be more. And lots of hot water. Fill the washer only half full of clothes but running on the full fill cycle of water.

Yea, polyester is a pretty terrible fabric. I prefer cotton or wool.

I used to work in a laundry. I don’t think you want those chemicals anywhere near you. But that’s an option.

I always preferred the pressurized washers. The clothes always came out clean. Not necessarily stain free but they didn’t smell bad and the texture was good and clean.