Washing smells yukky

tadpoleuk

I had this problem for months, even had the repair man out as i was blaming the new washing machine. He said the smell was a build up of human fats and suggested i did a boil wash once a week to clean the machine. I tried many tips off the net like soda crystals, vinegar etc until a little old lady at the bus stop told me to switch back to powder (i had started using liquid to keep my new machine ungummy). It was that simple. Now even when i dry clothes indoors and without the heating on this can take a couple of days they smell fresh. I have an old clothes rail and take things straight out of the machine put them onto hangers and on the rail. This lets everything air fully as they are not folded and makes things much easy to iron. All the clothes are in one room so i can open a window without making the whole house cold and i dont get the chinese laundry effect with things draped over doors bannisters etc.

melissa'smoney

I've found this too. For years ive used liquid and liquid tabs....my washing never smelt 'right' and always slighty 'wet doggy' my mums washing always smalls lovely so decided to use the same washing powder as her....ariel powder, its made such a difference!!

Also manke sure you clean the thing (dont know what it called) at the bottom of the washing machine, the bit that collects all the grime. I found that mine was full of hair (have 3 cats and a dog) so i clean this regulary now and put it on a 90 degree cycle every so often and its much better

tadpoleuk wrote: »

I had this problem for months, even had the repair man out as i was blaming the new washing machine. He said the smell was a build up of human fats and suggested i did a boil wash once a week to clean the machine. I tried many tips off the net like soda crystals, vinegar etc until a little old lady at the bus stop told me to switch back to powder (i had started using liquid to keep my new machine ungummy). It was that simple. Now even when i dry clothes indoors and without the heating on this can take a couple of days they smell fresh. I have an old clothes rail and take things straight out of the machine put them onto hangers and on the rail. This lets everything air fully as they are not folded and makes things much easy to iron. All the clothes are in one room so i can open a window without making the whole house cold and i dont get the chinese laundry effect with things draped over doors bannisters etc.

mae

If my clothes smell like you are saying I put a drop or two of vanilla essential oil on a cloth and put this in the drier with the rest of the clothes and that does the trick. But that doesn't help with the things that can't go in the drier sorry.

Newgirl_2

tadpoleuk wrote: »

I had this problem for months, even had the repair man out as i was blaming the new washing machine. He said the smell was a build up of human fats and suggested i did a boil wash once a week to clean the machine. I tried many tips off the net like soda crystals, vinegar etc until a little old lady at the bus stop told me to switch back to powder (i had started using liquid to keep my new machine ungummy). It was that simple. Now even when i dry clothes indoors and without the heating on this can take a couple of days they smell fresh. I have an old clothes rail and take things straight out of the machine put them onto hangers and on the rail. This lets everything air fully as they are not folded and makes things much easy to iron. All the clothes are in one room so i can open a window without making the whole house cold and i dont get the chinese laundry effect with things draped over doors bannisters etc.

I completely agree with both bits of this post. Many years ago, when liquid wash had just come out, my Mum had the repair man to the washer and he condemned it, unrepairable, all down to the liquid detergent she had used. It was Radion, not around any more, but it was a combined wash and softener. He said use powder if you can and, if you must use liquid, don't put it in the drawer, use a dosing ball. I'm sure liquids have come a long way since then but I still never put them in the drawer.

I also agree with flushing the machine out.

As for the drying problem, I use an airer (I also have a couple of great 'over door' ones from Ikea) but I put most things on hangers, or clip small things on with pegs like on a line. I never get smells when I do this and they dry much quicker. The only time I have had smells is when things have been taken out of the machine, folded in a basket and forgotten. Then, a quick re-wash usually solves it.

Hope this helps

Newgirl