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Our washing smells. T-shirts and other stuff comes out with a 'damp' smell (as if it's been left in the washing machine too long).
It's taken out quickly and either tumble dried or hung indoors (where it dries quickly). Gets washed at a cool temp (sub 40C).
When we moved here we got a new washing machine and a water softener. Does anyone else who has one recognise this problem?
What type of detergent do you use? Liquid types can leave a scummy layer round the inside of the machine which can result in a bit of a whiff. Use powders and/or difficult an occasional hot wash.
Run the machine empty on a hot wash to clear any muck/nasties out.
Try adding a little Napisan to each wash...should help kill any bacteria that are causing the stink.
Sub 40 isn't hot enough to kill the bacteria in the clothing or lingering inside the machine. You need to do a hot whites wash every week or so to keep it all sterile. Also check inside the bottom of the door seal for pooling water that has gone rank and grown mildew.
Ours has a kind of filter thing under a cap at the front at the bottom. It was clogged with lots of lint/fabric and smelly water. Might be worth a try as well as the hot temp wash (possibly with some bleach in too).
Yup run it on a hottest wash possible empty and stick a splash of white vinegar in the powder tray instead of detergent. That'll get rid of it.
I had this problem
And started using a biological liquid instead of non- bio
smells were then gone
I now mix them up - use non-bio most of the time with the occasional biological to keep they nasties at bay
The wife reckons non bio powder causes smelly washing after a while and will only use bio now.
But this is my wife.
Do a boil wash empty with a powder detergent to scour and clean out the interior of the machine at regular intervals. Before doing the boil wash empty out the lint trap underneath and clean out the scum that has collected there. The rest as above ^^
And started using a biological liquid instead of non- biosmells were then gone
She may be right after all.
Chuck a dishwasher tablet in and run the machine empty at max temp.
Clean the rubber gasket thing
When I wash towels (though this isn't every week) I put them through at 75.
Door gets left open so inside should dry out.
Seals are clean.
We're using non bio powder at the moment or Persil 'small and mighty' colour which has is a bio liquid according to Persil.
Add a heap of cat litter to every wash.
You can find lots of info on the web about mould growing on the drum - it does not take long to build up. Solution is much as above but worth reading the detail. It took several goes to get rid of the mould from my drum and I had to replace the seal it was that bad.
Occasional bio wash. Having said that, old cotton clothes do degrade and rot over time anyway.
Run the machine empty on the hottest available wash, with detergent and some supermarket own brand thin bleach (i.e. stuff without foaming agents). That should kill off any bacteria in the drum.
If you manage to clean the machine stop using softener. I believe it only makes the clothes anti static or something but adds considerably to the stench of most machines.
Worth wiping the tray and door seal (all the creases and folds) after every wash to stop a build up of crap, too.
I had this issue. Bought some Lenor Unstoppables.
Poor a small tub into the wash and your clothes smell amazing.
Will try using bio though.
Do a boil wash empty with a powder detergent to scour and clean out the interior of the machine at regular intervals.
This. Our machine needs doing every couple of months or it starts going manky.
No need to do that hot wash empty; throw in the bedsheets and give them a good blitz.
The advice to leave the door open is good as well; we wedge ours open with the detergent dispenser cup thingy stuck in at the top.
Add a heap of cat litter to every wash
New or used? 😀
We use the detol stuff instead of napisan. works well on stinky stuff covered in sheep poo, gym clothes and dog beds etc
Add a heap of cat litter to every wash.
That's the most bizarre advice.
Catsan (recycled sand and lime)
Silica gel based?
Wood or paper pellet style?
What's it meant to do? I can't see any of them doing either the washing or the washing machine any good (but yes, it's pretty good for drying out/stopping shoes smelling.
On a different tangent.
Ours has a really strong smell when you open the door, not quite solvent/white spirit but allong those lines. Definately not a mouldy smell.
Only noticed it in the last few months, and it does disappear quickly, anyone else get it? Person non bio liquid if it's that but it still smelled when I washed my kit in nikkwax, anyone else has noticed.
Check your machine waste pipe, the angle it connects into the sink waste pipe too. I did my plumbing and the sink waste pipe could flow into the machine in tiny amounts
I've had this problem with cotton T shirts, Fleeces etc. Tried everything, even moving house and using a new washing machine.
Using Ecover non Bio which has a neutral smell. Tried some Fairy I found at the back of the cupboard. Smelt like a tart's boudoir.
Bio may be the way forward...
Funny, it's only my stuff, not the missus's or daughter's...
In addition- wash your muddy clothing less (shorts to be honest). Shake it well before, rinse then put in the machine. Never just chuck in especially over autumn/spring. Alot of grit, sheep poo and bacteria.
I wear my shorts for 2-3 weeks. Tops, lycra, socks washed immediately
I think I've found the problem. Washing machine has a 40 Eco programme as standard. It seems that's not actually a 40C programme - it might reach 40 briefly but is probably closer to 30C. A wash that smelt at Eco doesn't smell now it's been through a short (real) 40 programme.
Check your machine waste pipe, the angle it connects into the sink waste pipe too. I did my plumbing and the sink waste pipe could flow into the machine in tiny amounts
+1 for this, I was getting some backflow in the drain/waste pipe to which made the drum a bit wiffy. I just wedge some things under the last foot of pipe (before it meets the sink waste pipe) so it angles slightly down as it hits the sink waste pipe.
Also doing the occasional boil wash as others have mentioned helps kill any mold/bacteria in the system