Clothes have horrible cheesy smell after washing them :(

Twoface

OP did anything end up working to rid the smell? I am laying in bed feeling very unhappy as MY DOONA COVER SMELLS LIKE CHEESY PONG TOO! I have had an issue with a variety of laundry items. With some of my clothes I didn't even try and bother to find a way to get rid of the smell, I just threw them out as the smell is so yuck and pungent as u perfectly put it! I haven't used this doona cover for long and don't want to chuck it... The sad thing is that I think I know the cause of the odour and that would be my fault... Leaving wet clothes in machine at end of wash cycle for too long... forgetting about them for half a day in summer... And then flat mate didn't reakise and puts them into dryer. .. I think it happens even hanging out forgotten wet 'clean' on clothes line... It is possible to detect the pong on forgotton wet kaundry in the machine without drying the items ... I think drying 'sets' the smell and forever after the items are cursed with odour that increases in pungency with body warmth. The worst part is that I thought my friend had personal hygeine issues but looking back I think her clothes had this issue, not her... Also she has dogs and I have dogs so if I washed something doggy and it got keft in the machine, maybe that's the real odour source? Pretty sure it's just heat and no air that does it tho... If I open washer lid the smell won't happen...on fresh clothes left wet and 'clean'' in machine?. Another thing... If I fold up an item of clothing that has this smell and place it next to an item without the odour, in the wardrobe or drawer, then the actually infects the other clothes it's touching... So disgusting...

SuzieSue

Twoface wrote: »

OP did anything end up working to rid the smell? I am laying in bed feeling very unhappy as MY DOONA COVER SMELLS LIKE CHEESY PONG TOO! I have had an issue with a variety of laundry items. With some of my clothes I didn't even try and bother to find a way to get rid of the smell, I just threw them out as the smell is so yuck and pungent as u perfectly put it! I haven't used this doona cover for long and don't want to chuck it... The sad thing is that I think I know the cause of the odour and that would be my fault... Leaving wet clothes in machine at end of wash cycle for too long... forgetting about them for half a day in summer... And then flat mate didn't reakise and puts them into dryer. .. I think it happens even hanging out forgotten wet 'clean' on clothes line... It is possible to detect the pong on forgotton wet kaundry in the machine without drying the items ... I think drying 'sets' the smell and forever after the items are cursed with odour that increases in pungency with body warmth. The worst part is that I thought my friend had personal hygeine issues but looking back I think her clothes had this issue, not her... Also she has dogs and I have dogs so if I washed something doggy and it got keft in the machine, maybe that's the real odour source? Pretty sure it's just heat and no air that does it tho... If I open washer lid the smell won't happen...on fresh clothes left wet and 'clean'' in machine?. Another thing... If I fold up an item of clothing that has this smell and place it next to an item without the odour, in the wardrobe or drawer, then the actually infects the other clothes it's touching... So disgusting...

What temperature do you wash your clothes at?

Seronera

All the advice about washing machine airing (door open), cleaning seals and the occasional 90C cycle is good. Its most likely the 40c programme is the problem. My machine has a 50c cycle that does not damage coloureds and seems to get over the pong problem. Rather than subject the coloureds to 90c and risk them, is there an intermediate hotter wash option on your machine you could try and see if it makes a difference.

In my professional capacity I have known owners wanting to get rid of their washing machines with frustration at this problem. A variation in their regime has cured the problem every time....so far.

Twoface

Without getting a thermometer into the machine water I don't know the temp... Which country are you all in? Australia's washing machines normally come with only cold, warm and hot ︎settings... The temperature really depends on how hot the (outdoor) hot water system is set to, which I wouldn't know how to tell what it's on, or how to change it... Hot is definitely too hot and there wouldn't be any hot water left for showers etc, I always opt for warm as I figure my body is warm and the enzymes in laundry detergent are for human body stains 😷 sorry for the typos in last post, I was dead tired!

Gingernutty

TimBuckTeeth wrote: »

It is bacteria or mold causing the smell.
First of all make sure the machine is clean. 90C wash with some soda crystals and bio washing powder. Then clean the filter.

To stop the smell you need to wash at 60C or more, preferably with some oxy bleach powder. Then dry the clothes quickly (on sunny day outdoors or in a hot tumble dryer) until thoroughly dry. Most of these will not do the clothes much good (shrinkage or fading) but I only do a few delicate synthetic items at 40C now.

I never wash above 30C unless I'm following the instructions for dyeing.

Once a month I run a hot bleach wash.

Empty the filter.

Run the machine on it's hottest wash with a pre-wash with bleach.

Take out the drawer and thoroughly clean it. Try to leave it out between washes.

Never close the door between washes.

If you can imagine, there's standing water left in the machine after every wash which can fester until the next wash.

Minimize this by making sure the machine doesn't get the opportunity to grow mould by thoroughly airing it.

holgate79

I had the same problem. I changed from using a liquid detergent back to an old fashioned washing powder and it did the trick. I think I was too heavy handed with the detergent and the quick wash couldn't rinse it all out so it left a residue on the clothes?

Anyway... I didn't change any of my other washing habits and this worked.

SuzieSue

Twoface wrote: »

Without getting a thermometer into the machine water I don't know the temp... Which country are you all in? Australia's washing machines normally come with only cold, warm and hot ︎settings... The temperature really depends on how hot the (outdoor) hot water system is set to, which I wouldn't know how to tell what it's on, or how to change it... Hot is definitely too hot and there wouldn't be any hot water left for showers etc, I always opt for warm as I figure my body is warm and the enzymes in laundry detergent are for human body stains 😷 sorry for the typos in last post, I was dead tired!

This is a UK forum and most of the washing machines here let you choose the temperature that you want to wash at which is why I asked that. Our washing machines here a mainly cold feed, so they take in cold water and warm it up to the temperature we have set the machine at and so using a washing machine will not use up the hot water for showers etc.

Do you run a hot wash occasionally to clean the washing machine?

Twoface

Our dishwashers heat their own water but not the washing machines, alas. I have cleaned washing machine however that is not the ongoing cause of this issue... The load got the stink in it once only, from hundreds of loads... now it cannot be removed from the clothing... I need to know how to fix the fabric if it's at all possible 😷

Norman_Castle

I had a few fleeces which always smelt even after washing . Regularly adding two capfulls of white vinegar to the conditioner drawer removed the smell. White vinegar kills the bacteria. It doesn't leave a vinegar smell in the clothes.

tired_dad

If it's only t shirts, not other clothes and only after you are wearing them in hot environments like clubs, I'm sorry to say it's probably more your body odour.

Bacteria don't replicate fast enough to cause a problem in a few short hours.

Have you smelt your armpits? Is it the clothes or you. Who says its offensive? Is that your personal assessment or independently verified?

Try changing your body odour. Look it up, could be dietary.
Just a thought