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smelly smelly clothes! what's up?

24

Comments

  • I'll move this to OS..............

    Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [email="andrea@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/email].
  • trafalgar_2
    trafalgar_2 Posts: 22,309 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    rushnowt wrote:
    or cat $hitty smelling :rotfl:
    you've been at the gin again ain't ya:rotfl:
  • Hi
    Do all the other posters have said , but run it on a hot wash with vinegar.
    Your outlet hose hasn't got pushed to far down has it - I'm not sure if foul water could get in this way, but you never know.
  • Smiley_Mum
    Smiley_Mum Posts: 3,836 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Right, give your washing machine a makeover -

    1) Clean out the filter and any gunk and crap that's there and rinse it out, place back tightly but not too much.

    2) Run a maintenance wash, just a pre wash hot wash with detergent with no washing in (usually done 1st of the month, every month to keep machine smelling sweet). This is especially so if you just run low temp washes as there can be a build up of powder residue, liquid gunk etc so a high temp 95 degree wash melts everything away and gives it a good freshen up. Do a 95 degree wash, with pre wash if you have it so the drum etc, machine etc gets a good clear out of gelled up gunk.

    3) Clean around the rubber seals, rims etc. Also clean out the detergent drawer and also within the compartment where it sits, use an old dish washing brush or something to clean out the holes where the water comes in and give it a good clear out.

    4) Always, always leave the door of your machine slightly open after every wash to allow air flow throughout the machine.

    5) Give your machine a good clean up top to toe with some soapy water and rinse off, particularly around the door seals, inside door, dispenser drawer etc etc.

    6) Always remove clothes straight after the finish of a washing cycle. During low temperature washes, although your clothes get cleaned, if they are left lying in the washer then the bacteria that was on your clothes but not killed off start to multiply and stink and smell totally rank. Reason why baby clothes, towels and all that should be done on a hot wash to kill off bacteria etc.

    HTH. If not, then something has definitely !!!!!! in your washer.
    “Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” - Oscar Wilde
  • sal
    sal Posts: 161 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Did you leave your wet washing stacked before drying? I've done that in the past and it stinks after (very studenty), especially in the warm weather or in a warm room. Needs to be washed all over again.

    sal
    you can't take it with you...
  • Ours are doing this at the moment and in our case it's all down to them not drying quickly enough on the airer (if they are dried in the machine they are fine). If the reason for your problem is the same don't really know what to suggest other than hang them outside when you can and using radiators/airing cupboard if you have them on (we don't). I try not to overload our airer and leave it by the patio doors but it isn't working for us at the moment. There was one type of fabric conditioner which we used at one point which seemed ot make a difference but I can't remember which one!
  • You mean when you leave your smalls lying around to dry after you've washed them? Use tumble dryer sheets. They work.
  • HOLsale
    HOLsale Posts: 1,231 Forumite
    jmarko wrote:
    ok, so they go in the washing machine and go onto the clothes horse. there's going to be an obvious answer to this! some of them almost instantly smell vile - really vile. why? what am i doing wrong? some of them only smell vile in patches? surely i'm not *that* useless that i can't wash clothes?! am i?

    jmarko (not always smelly!) :rolleyes:


    try cleaning out the filter on your washing machine

    most washers will have a kick plate on the front at the bottom. remove this and you should see a round handle you can turn. get a big tub and a LOT of dirty towels as there will be a lot of water.

    drain it, clean the gunk out of the filter

    then run 2 hot loads through with about half a tub of bircarb in the drum of the machine and half a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle.

    if that doesn't clear up the smell issue your washer probably is quite dead!
    founder of Frugal Genius UK (Yahoo Groups)
  • Haven't got time to look up the exact link, but try

    http://www.hintsandthings.com

    I'm sure I saw this conundrum there once....
    New year, no debt! Debt free date - 02/01/07 :j :j :j :D
  • Hermia
    Hermia Posts: 4,473 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I had this problem recently and it turned out the filter thingy on the bottom of the machine was blocked (with a sock - so that's where all the socks disappear to!!). There was a lot of stagnant water and gunge accumulating. Have a look in your washing machine manual and there will be instructions on how to clean it out.
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