My clean laundry smells really bad

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 05 2005 Posts: 3503

I finished a load of laundry and it smelled awful. not just that it didn't smell fresh and clean, but it literally smelt bad. and its been like this for a while, the laundry coming out smelling bad, but today was the worst. I thought I would pass out. and I have a ton of dirty laundry, at least 3\4\5 loads worth, but I can't get myself to do it when I don't even know if its coming out clean. it sure doesn't smell clean. please help me. thanks.

are u sure you're using the washing machine properly? maybe try switching to a liquid detergent (if u usually use powder)

funny story: my first year as a staff member in camp, I accidentally put my dirty cloze into the dryer instead of the washer along with a cup full of powder detergent. when I came to pick it up, and it was dry, I thought "oh cool, this machine must wash AND dry the cloze" (thinking I got a great bargain for my 4 quarters Rolling Eyes

)
well, when I shlepped it all the way back to my bunkhouse and started to fold it, I figured out what happened.... Laughing

First, I would check that the filter is clean. This is usually a simple procedure that you can do yourself. Read the instructions for your machine to find out how to do it.

If that is not the problem, I would call in a technician.

May your laundry soon be smelling as fresh as Flower

!
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Posted: Sun, Oct 07 2007, 5:21 pm Post subject:

hm ... is there something rotten in the machine ... are you not changing it to the dryer soon enough ... what about adding baking soda to the wash ... are you using warm water ... sounds frustrating - hm hope you figure it out !!!
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NUTso but cute ~ things balance out Nervous

Just a day or two before sukkos, when I was doing pile after pile of laundry a whole load came out smelling bad. So I put in new powder and new softener and did the whole load again. Same result.

In the end I called my great technician (we are closely related by marriage 8) ). He quickly fixed the problem by turning on the water tap. Embarassed

Of course I had forgotten that the machine had made a funny noise earlier that day and I had asked him to fix it. But being a man he hadn't thought of turning the water back on again after moving the part I had accidentally moved. Confused

Anyway, MDM, I am quite sure no-one is as stupid as me Embarassed

and that's not the problem. Hatzlocho in solving yours.

That was weird and it's never happened to me before. I answered a post and then it wasn't there by the time I posted.

I guess she decided she shouldn't be talking to me after all. Crying or Very sad

Platinum Member Joined: Apr 15 2007 Posts: 5828

no
I simply remembered it happened to me before that the clothes were damp and I thought they were washed
hence the question disappeared.

Posted: Sun, Oct 07 2007, 5:39 pm Post subject:

shalhevet, don't take it to heart.
just enjoy your clean laundry (hopefully)
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Posted: Sun, Oct 07 2007, 5:41 pm Post subject:

at least now there is proof Twisted Evil

Platinum Member Joined: Apr 15 2007 Posts: 5828

proof of what anonymous person?
did you read above?

Silver Member Joined: Mar 20 2007 Posts: 944

MosheDovid'sMom, did you put too much clothes in the washer? If you pack in as much as you can (btdt), it does not get clean. If you have a top loader, they need room to move around. My husband works out every week day, and when he clothes sit (like they did last week), they smell so bad you can pass out from the smell. I add bleach to the load, and move right away from the washer to the dryer. If they sit in the laundry basket wet before going into the machine, they can smell as well.

Did you figure out the problem in the end?

Leah, who was almost done with laundry when my DS dumped a whole ton in there! GRRR! Mad

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48144

There takeh might be something wrong with your washer. In the meatime, you might try double rising and adding fabric softener.

Have you looked into washing boosters in the store, I used to use something with baking soda, I believe...and like everyone else says, don't overload the machine.

Moderator Joined: May 20 2007 Posts: 2329

I add ammonia to my loads. I learnt this when I had laundry smelling bad, and since you cant add bleach to dark loads, I always used this in place in the dark ones. Also, where I live now, I cant use bleach due to a septic system, so I add ammonia to every load, and it smells really fresh.
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Platinum Member Joined: May 06 2007 Posts: 8512

I always used to add vinegar to the load. It stops clothes from bleeding (a huge fear of mine) and the soap counteracts the vinegar smell so they always smell fresh.

When I had clothes coming out really smelly, it turns out that I didn't switch them fast enough and because it was a hot day, they mildewed. Keep the top open when not using it, add vinegar (1/2 c) and switch asap.
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Just Plain Frum!

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20487

A friend of mine with 4 small kids, some of whom wet at night (big pish loads in the washer) just told me that the laundry detergent interacts with the ammonia in the pish to produce a horrid smell. Could this have happened to you? I never heard of such a thing because I don't let the linens get so wet (my kids are in diapers until they stay dry and I don't leave wet linen, if something happens, on the bed).
She suggests washing with vinegar, as others have suggested here.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48144