How do I stop my washing from smelling?

DazzaMc

I live in an upstairs flat so have no access to a garden or washing line and don't have a tumble dryer so we have to dry our washing in the flat hung on banisters , radiators etc... But obviously the heating isn't on in the summer so clothes take ages to try . Most things are ok like t shirts but stuff like jeans and towels etc take longer and they always smell horrible ! How do i stop it? I've tried using fabric softener , that helps a little but it still smells.

Thanks!

Savvy_Spender_South

Purchase an indoor dryer from Argos (£10) or a length of line and some hooks from Hradware store. Hanging your clothers on bannisters etc does not allow air flow so take longer and smell.
An indoor hanger seperates with air gap each item for beller drying.
If possible, place in Bathroom, close door and open window to create a small outdoors in environment to encourage the drying action.


Also befor you hang, Spin the denims to max ability to reduce drying time.
Failing all that, Fabreeze them!

ailuro2

I agree, we have the same problem at this time of year, but only when it's wet outside - we have a garden, but no point hanging them out when it's raining, is there?

I hang the clothes up with a bigger space between them on our drying screen, if I hang them up singly they don't dry so well.

Sometimes when it's very cool I'll put the heating on but just have the radiator on in the room the screen is in.

We used to have a pull-out washing line that was very handy for hanging smalls on - it wouldn't cope with jeans, but T shirts and lighter stuff was fine.

Best ever was the washing horse I had in my old flat, it was in the kitchen and stuff used to dry in much less time there as the heat from cooking rose to the ceiling where the horse was. These days people hang herbs and pots from them, but they're much better at drying washing.;)

Some folks call them kitchen maids according to Google, it's always been a horse to me.:o

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tiptheplanet.com/images/thumb/2/2b/Deluxe_Kitchen_Maid_Ceiling_Mounted_Clothes_Airer.jpg/350px-Deluxe_Kitchen_Maid_Ceiling_Mounted_Clothes_Airer.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tiptheplanet.com/wiki/Air_dry_clothing&usg=__6p_jdfMSByhyFHH6Ur9yiEwxAJc=&h=178&w=350&sz=7&hl=en&start=2&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=0akGHkGCFbiCjM:&tbnh=61&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dceiling%2Bmounted%2Bclothes%2Bhorse%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

lazer

i have the same problem too!

I tried the kitchen - but then the clothes smelt of food so that didn't help.

My flay only has storage heaters too - so couldn't even out the heat in for a few hours to dry clothes!

I now have 3 clothes horses and an electric radiater

I put all the clothes on the clothes horses and put them all beside the radiator.

To make the most of it 0 I out all the light clothes, underwear, blouses etc closest to the radiator and when they are dry move them abd out the heavier clothes in the best spot

Hannah_10

The smell could be because the sump on your washing machine is filthy and needs a good clean out. To do so get white vinegar (38p for 500ml in Adsa, but available in any supermarket) and pour a cup (or a mug if you feel the need) into the soap draw, then run it on a 95 degree wash (or the hottest your machine will go) whilst empty. Let it run through- spins and all.

If you do that once a month it's good machine maintainance.

thistledome

I've found some washing products to be worse than others for this. Surf Small and Mighty made my clothes stink! It seems to give the clothes an almost greasy feel and they take longer to dry with this stuff, which means there's more chance of them getting smelly. That was my experience of it anway. I only use it now for stuff I'm going to tumble or hang out. Cheap Co-op bio washing powder seems to rinse out well. You could also try a tablespoonful of white vinegar in the conditioner dispenser.

Agree with others that it's best if you can hang clothes on a horse (and open a window in that room if you can), rather than a radiator or bannister.

We bought a dehumidifier last year as we get really bad condensation and this helps the clothes dry much quicker, but it's not a cheap solution.

cagneyfan

I make sure that I hang the items over two rails of my clothing horse, and every now and then I turn each item over. Try not to have clothes touching each other so that air can circulate.

I usually put my socks on the radiaters which dry fairly quick when it's on, but again, if it's not on I constantly turn the items over just so that the air can get to the underside of the clothes.

Also, try not doing a full load ( know they say you should for economy), but it's far easier to get a small load hung on the horse and dried than be lumbered with loads of damp clothes.

DazzaMc

Thanks for all the suggestions.. I'm gonna try the cheaper options first see if they work lol. Will get some white vinegar and will we have some radiator airers in the bathroom already so I'm gonna try hanging the towels on there with the window open see if that works. But won't steam from the bath / shower make them damp?

helen6

I`m lucky that I do have a spare room but if I didn`t I would do this in the upstairs lobby. In the room there`s 2 doors opposite the window so I put 1 hook in each door frame and they are not huge hooks. I wound a clothes line from 1 hook to the curtain pole wound the line round it and then over to the other hook and then to the other end of the curtain pole ( only try this if you`ve got a solid curtain pole I`m not wanting the blame if your curtains fall down) I just peg the clothes up like you would outside and I don`t care if anyone sees them, your get your clothes dry for free !

plainsie

I've been looking at the JML Dri Buddi in Argos. Costs £60. It's got some good reviews.

jazzconfused

sorry to divert this post but does anyone know how to removed the dirt that is slowly buiding up in washing machine rubber ring? hope that makes sense.. thanks.