Need help eliminating metallic odor that develops spontaneously on washcloths.?
Question:Our washcloths develop a strong metalic odor spontaneously. We find this even with new towels. The washcloths smell fine for weeks or months, then one day they have this metallic odor. If we pick up the towel (even dry!), the odor transfers to our skin and lingers for hours (it won't wash off). We're also not in the habit of using them wash metal objects - just children.
We've tried numerous remedies: using vinegar in our wash; soaking the washcloths in baking soda and water; soaking them in rubbing alcohol; changing our detergent. We don't use fabric softener. Nothing seems to work.
The washcloths are never in contact with anything metallic; they aren't hung on metal towel racks. They are immediately wrung out and left to rest on the tub or the sink (porcelain).
Does anyone know what might be causing this, and what we can do to prevent the odor from developing or how to eliminate it?
Answers:
You could live in an area with a hard water supply. Often with hardwater, you have high iron content in the water. Check out your washing machine for an orange stain around the lip or inside. Phone your city to ask whether your water is hard or soft water. If it's hard, you could have this problem. You can buy a water softener specifically for iron from your local hardware store.
The only other thing (I can think of) that it might be is that you live in an older home that allows moisture to build in areas where you have water like your bathroom or kitchen. If this is the case, you could have our little problem of mildew spores that float around and when they come into contact with damp clothes they seep into them causing the mildew-y smell (it can seem metallic to some people). If this is the case, try your local hardware store for a mildew killing solution (all natural) or 1/20 of bleach and water around your window sill. Properly ventilate when doing this and wipe or scrub away the mildew around the sill. You'll have to do this periodically throughout the year. In the meantime, use a small amount of bleach (depends on how large your washing machine is) with your next laundry load (colour safe if washing coloured clothes). Make sure you add the bleach to the water before adding any clothes or you'll remove the colour and not the mildew. Also, do not follow the instructions on the bottle of bleach for adding it to your laundry - use WAY less or you will ruin your clothes. Or, you can buy chlorine free bleach that may do the trick, though I've not tried this yet.
I think everyone has that problem to a certain degree; particularly with dish clothes. I've noticed it is the worst out at my in-laws house and believe it is because they have well-water.
My suggestion is just to wash as frequently as possible. Never use a dish cloth for more than half a day and always leave it hanging.
Also, if you do have well-water, make certain your sulfur isn't out of control. I have never had well-water myself but I do know there are levels that need to be checked every-so-often and additives available if needed.
I would take one of the offending towels to a local government certified testing authority ASAP. Sounds like there is more to this than meets the eye. Good luck!
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