Smelly washing

jollyPam

it’s been in the living room since yesterday ,6 pm and still damp and smelly , which I think is due a problem with spin speed on the eco cycle ( I obviously need to give it another spin): Should it be rewashed now , when still wet , or wait for it to dry?
would normal bio powder get the smell out?

-taff

It should only be smelly if you've left it too long before drying i.e. shut in the machine, or there's a problem with  the machine, such as the water is not emptying fully and is sitting in there stagnant, or the machine itself needs a clean.

Once you've worked out which one of those it's likely to be, more suggestions will be available

But if you think it's because you left it too long, then yes, wash before it dries.

rach_k

Wash it again with a detergent you know cleans well.  It doesn't matter if it starts off wet or dry.

Really, even if you left washing soggy for a day or two, it shouldn't smell.  If it does, that would indicate that either it's not getting properly clean in the first place (is your eco wash the most suitable cycle for what you're washing?) or that the environment is mouldy/mildewy.  If the house is fine, maybe try a different wash cycle or check the machine is clean or consider a different detergent.

PasturesNew

Wash it now, while wet. No point waiting for it to dry... it smells, wash it now. 

jollyPam

-taff said:

It should only be smelly if you've left it too long before drying i.e. shut in the machine, 

Hi , it normally dries overnight, with the window open, so was wondering what Went wrong this time . Spin speed on eco is 800, obviously not good enough for pure cotton tops and pyjamas.

Spank

Wash it again but not on an eco wash. I would then put the machine on a boil wash whilst empty to clean it out

Pippiny

Spank said:

Wash it again but not on an eco wash. I would then put the machine on a boil wash whilst empty to clean it out

^^ This.

Also, don't skimp on detergent, make sure you're dosing properly for load, size of machine, and dirt level of the items. I tend to wash everything at either 40 or 60 degrees on a long Cotton cycle using maximum detergent, and since doing this we never have an issue with clothes smelling, even if they take a long time to dry or are left in the machine over night.

olgadapolga

I always found that smelly washing stayed smelly if washed again when wet. I let it dry (preferably outdoors) and then wash it again, usually solves the odour problem.

luvchocolate

Run the hottest wash cycle once a month with an empty drum 

greenbee

luvchocolate said:

Run the hottest wash cycle once a month with an empty drum 

And make sure you have cleaned out the filter, and taken out the detergent drawer and given it (and the hole it came out of) a thorough clean. 

[Deleted User]

What detergent do you use?

I'd been using gel pods / liquid ball thingies for years because powder makes a mess in the drawer and it needs cleaning out often. Had never been satisfied with the washing machine and clothes often came out pongy.

During lockdown I took the machine apart, cleaned all the pipes, the drum, filters etc made the machine clean like new ... Clothes still smell.

Bought some power detergent one time as they didn't have any pods in the shop and what do you know ... The clothes don't stink anymore!