Drying washing quickly to stop it smelling musty?

vaksam

Hope this is in the right place, please feel free to move if it not!

Recently our washing machine broke down, which is fine as we rent a fully furnished flat. Rang the landlord and he got us a new machine, which was great - apart from the fact that he brought us a washer to replace the washer-dryer we'd had previously!

As a result I'm really struggling to get washing dry quickly enough to stop it smelling musty! I've done the same load 4 times since Friday night and am just starting to despair - by the time it's been out 3/4 hours it starts smelling awful and I have to wash it again. The main problem is that we live in a flat and so can't dry outside!

I've tried putting it on a few extra spin cycles after the main wash has finished, but another problem is the spin cycle on this machine is rubbish, and so this isn't making much of a difference. I've also tried cleaning the machine as suggested on the 'smelly washing machines' thread, don't think the machine is the problem as it's only a couple of weeks old but figured that it was worth a try and also a good habit to get into!

So, any suggestions welcomed!

*vamps

Hi, don't know if im right but i thought with items in fully furnished accomodation they had to be replaced "like for like" i.e. as you had a washer dryer before then thats what should have been brought??? might be worth looking into.

If the spin cycles a bit pants, maybe get a spin dryer if you have the space available as this would get out alot more of the water and enable the clothes to dry quickly.

If your using airers, try not to overload them so they have air to breathe around each item and try putting in front of an open window if there' a breeze.

Zazen999

How are you drying it?

You need lots of hangers/airers/radiators and open all windows. Put all shirts/t-shirts on hangers and hang them from any doors/ledges to get plenty of air through them.

If you have a musty smell, the only way to get rid is to dry them first, then rewash....keeping washing without drying will only make it worse.

vaksam

Landlord was very apologetic when he brought round the washer - said he didn't realise we had a washer dryer!

He did say that he'd try and get the washer dryer fixed and if he could he'd bring it back and use the new washer as a 'spare' (he has a few properties). I'm just afraid it's out of sight, out of mind! We were thinking of ringing in a few weeks if we don't hear anything and offering to buy our own washer/dryer if the old one can't be fixed, because we can't go on like this!

Did think about the spin dryer idea, as mum has one we could borrow, but nowhere to put it!

We are trying to wash smaller loads, not very MSE because it means that the washer is on every day, but it doesn't seem to be making a difference!

vaksam

Zazen999 wrote: »

How are you drying it?

You need lots of hangers/airers/radiators and open all windows. Put all shirts/t-shirts on hangers and hang them from any doors/ledges to get plenty of air through them.

If you have a musty smell, the only way to get rid is to dry them first, then rewash....keeping washing without drying will only make it worse.

We've got airers on every radiator, plus a large freestanding area. Shirts etc get dried on hangers on the shower rail above the bath - weirdly these haven't been a problem even though it's the only room in the flat with NO ventilation - it's fully internal with no window! We also run a de-humidifier in the bedroom where the freestanding airer is, which helps but obviously not enough.

We open windows as much as possible, although we're on the ground floor so can only really open windows in a room when we're in there if you see what I mean. There've been a few burglaries in local flats (the nearest being next door but one :eek:) in the middle of the day, they're crawling in through open windows while residents are home!!!!

Am off to re-do the washing, and will prepare to hunker down in the bedroom with the windows open (where the big airer is).

Last resort will be putting the heating on for a bit, really don't want to do that but needs must!

skiTTish

We used to have this problem and it was a combination of not using the right program on the washer and rubbish wash powder .
If the clothes are clean they should be able to be drying for a day or ( have stuff wet for nearly 2 days in witner ) with no ill effects and no smell.

oystercatcher

If you are having the same load going smelly over and over again it could be that there is mould or bugs of some sort which aren't being killed off properly and regrowing in the nice warm damp environment while they are hanging.
Depending on what the fabric can stand I would try a really hot wash or add some disinfectant and see if that makes a difference. Then try and dry as quick as possible in a really well ventilated area.
Failing that maybe a tumble dry at the launderette might help but not a long term solution. So think you have to try and get back to the landlord and explain that the new system isn't working for you.

vaksam

skiTTish wrote: »

We used to have this problem and it was a combination of not using the right program on the washer and rubbish wash powder .
If the clothes are clean they should be able to be drying for a day or ( have stuff wet for nearly 2 days in witner ) with no ill effects and no smell.

We've been using the same brand of washing liquid for a couple of years now, so don't think it's not that, tho I am willing to try just about anything. The washing machine is the cheapest model that you can buy anywhere and so only has a few settings - using synthetics 40 degrees or cottons 40/60 degrees on most washes. It's an absolute msyety to me as well - have had stuff that couldn't go in the dryer hanging for a couple of days before now with no problems whatsoever, it just seems to be since we got the new machine! I do think the spin might be a problem - it just doesn't seem to get as much water out as the old machine did.

skiTTish

Try this ..it worked for us
Do a boil wash with nothing in the drum but a couple of cups full of soda crystals ( shove some in the drawer too )
Then wash the clothes using a bio wash powder and 30 deg wash ( 40 deg can kill off the bio action in some machines if the thermostat is new and its heating up too much ) your old machine wouldnt have reached 40deg on a 40deg wash ,as the heater will have been furred up ,so the bio would survive .

ah ..just noticed you said you use wash liquid ? when we bought the new machine we had to change from liquid to powder as liquid was giving he washing a '!!!!y' smell ,never did find out why but it didnt happen with powder ?!?

vaksam

oystercatcher wrote: »

If you are having the same load going smelly over and over again it could be that there is mould or bugs of some sort which aren't being killed off properly and regrowing in the nice warm damp environment while they are hanging.
Depending on what the fabric can stand I would try a really hot wash or add some disinfectant and see if that makes a difference. Then try and dry as quick as possible in a really well ventilated area.
Failing that maybe a tumble dry at the launderette might help but not a long term solution. So think you have to try and get back to the landlord and explain that the new system isn't working for you.

Disinfected the machine last night with bleach/white vinegar on a 90 degree wash, so hopefully that will have killed any nasties that might be lurking within!

Have halved the load, which was now dry and still smelly, and have come up with the following plan of attack -

Move airer into the living room, open living room and kitchen windows to create a through draught (rooms seperated by an arch). Place airer under living room window in front of radiator, stick heating on for a bit so there is both heat and ventilation helping them to dry. Also bring dehumidifier through and set that going.

If that lot doesn't work, based on everyone's suggestions I will be stumped!

We do plan to get in touch with the landlord after a couple of weeks (he is on holiday) to see if he has managed to get the old machine mended and tell him we just can't cope. If he's unwilling/unable to get old machine mended, we are going to suggest we buy our own to take with us when we move - but only as a last resort!

vaksam

skiTTish wrote: »

Try this ..it worked for us
Do a boil wash with nothing in the drum but a couple of cups full of soda crystals ( shove some in the drawer too )
Then wash the clothes using a bio wash powder and 30 deg wash ( 40 deg can kill off the bio action in some machines if the thermostat isnt great and its heating up too much )

Will also give this a go - need to pick up some soda crystals this week anyway as have run out!

Didn't know that about the 40 deg cycle killing off bio-action as it were! Knew that liquids/powders etc were designed for lower temperatures these days but thought that that was more to do with environmental/energy saving reasons than anything else!

Does it matter whether it is bio powder or bio liquid? We currently use a bio liquid designed for colours (OH has very sensitive skin and tends to react to other kinds so have to be very careful what I use)?