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My laundry smells foosty - what am I doing wrong?

thehappybutterfly
Posts: 2,053 Forumite

I wonder if anyone can help. When I do my laundry, if I don't get it out of the machine and dealt with immediately, it stinks. Like it's been left in the machine for 2 days and not just 2 hours. What am I doing wrong?
If I take it out the machine and leave it in the basket, it also smells really bad.
It's a new machine - less than 2 months old - so I don't think it needs 'cleaning'.
Please help! I'm sick of washing the same load over and over again. :mad:
If I take it out the machine and leave it in the basket, it also smells really bad.
It's a new machine - less than 2 months old - so I don't think it needs 'cleaning'.
Please help! I'm sick of washing the same load over and over again. :mad:
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Comments
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Could it be the detergent you're using? I know lots of people found Ecover left their clothes and machines smelling a bit funny.0
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Liquid detergent can also gloop up the pipes and cause a foosty smell. The best detergent for washing machines is the big box stuff, it scours the pipes out. Try running a 90'C wash with non bio big box powder, a scoop of washing soda and then run a rinse cycle with a cup of vinegar in the conditioner drawer. You can put washing in with all of this, yes, something like old towels or wash clothes that don't mind the high temperature and you're not worried about getting them spotless.Val.0
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Does it drain straight to the drain, or into the sink outlet pipe before going to the drain? My friend's DD had a problem with her washing that was traced back to the shared outlet being blocked with grease and gunge...0
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Bacteria can grow very rapidly in warm and moist conditions i.e. a nice new load of wet washing. I would get your laundry out of the machine as soon as the cycle is over.
Do you wipe the drum dry every time after you take the laundry out? Bacteria can grow in a nice damp washing machine drum.0 -
Thanks for the replies.
I use a liquid detergent, at 40C but I don't use a lot - 1/2 capful (lovely soft Scottish water!). ATM I'm using Persil but it's usually Surf.
It drains straight to the outside.
How often should I run a boiling wash to clear it? I sometimes do this when I notice the smell happening frequently. Maybe every 4 months. Should I be doing this once a month? I'm so envious of people whose houses smell of lovely freshly washed laundry and mine smells like a dosshouse!0 -
Kitchen_Garden wrote: »Bacteria can grow very rapidly in warm and moist conditions i.e. a nice new load of wet washing. I would get your laundry out of the machine as soon as the cycle is over.
Do you wipe the drum dry every time after you take the laundry out? Bacteria can grow in a nice damp washing machine drum.
No - I'm usually throwing another load straight in. But not always. Maybe I should try this.
Also, when I do manage to get the load out the machine straight away, I sit it in the basket in the hall ready for hanging out/tumble drying but it can sometimes sit there overnight. And, I think there is a hot pipe under the floor...... so I'm really just providing another warm moist home for those pesky bacteria!
Hmm, it's all beginning to make sense.0 -
thehappybutterfly wrote: »When I do my laundry, if I don't get it out of the machine and dealt with immediately, it stinks. Like it's been left in the machine for 2 days and not just 2 hours. What am I doing wrong?
If I take it out the machine and leave it in the basket, it also smells really bad.
I'm sick of washing the same load over and over again.
Don't leave it in the washer, remove as soon as it is done. While it sits in a heap, wet it is going to start to smell. It needs to be separated, hung or put to dry as soon as you can.
Also it could be the detergent you use so try a different product and ensure you wipe the door and seal after use, also leave the door slightly open to allow air flow to the drum & seal, no need to do after every wash but after the last wash of the day (you can also use a softening tablet/powderor stores own version as it helps protect & clean your machine).
Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.0 -
I am really sensitive to the icky foosty smell (love the word foosty!) so we take straight out of the machine and straight on to the driers/rads/line/whatever and aim to get stuff dry as quick as possible once washed.
we no longer use fabric conditioner and i have found this helps avoid the foostyness but we do need to run a hot wash every so often and we do that when we wash the dog towels in the hot wash to make sure both they and the machine get a good clean!
we're also not brand loyal with washing detergent and we use whatevers on good offer so it could be tabs or powder or liquid (currently almat from aldi but i dont really like the smell of the non bio one)
deffo dont let stuff fester wet in the basket over night x (love your usename!)Blah0 -
Do you leave the soap drawer and drum slightly open when you're not using the machine? I've found this makes a difference. And congratulations on inventing my new favourite word"Save £12k in 2019" #120 - £100,699.57/£100,0000
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Don't suppose your machine is an LG OP?
I've had loads of machines through the years, the LG I bought is the only one I ever had this issue with.
My washing is taken out the minute the cycle finishes and is hung up or tumbled immediately. I still never have that clean fresh smell I used to get. This machine is horrible and has been since day 1.Herman - MP for all!0
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