Smelly laundry?
Question:I'm 19 at uni England, and have trouble with my laundry. I use Persil liquitabs (the little gel things you put into machine), and i put the highest amount into the machine. I follow the care labels, except for the fact that i dry my clothes in the tumble dryer. I am active and cook lots so my clothes get dirty quicker, but i have a lot of clothes. In the past my clothes used to smell of burning and toast after i had put them in the wash, but i didnt put the right amount of detergent in (before i used bleach) and maybe machine broken.
Now the clothes smell of fish once they have dried off - maybe i am doing something wrong with the tumble dryer perhaps?
But also my question is if i can override and get rid of all those odours on all of my clothes if i wash all the clothes?
I know that vinegar works to get it out - but how much and when do i insert? Also i am unable to open machine when the wash starts. Is it possible to make my clothes clean, do i have to use vinegar? Help, thanks
Answers:
Put less clothes in and more soap and use hot water.
Sometimes a baking soda detergent will help. Also, you might consider pre-soaking your laundry if it's really that dirty. Finally, anti-static/softener sheets freshen up laundry well.
Fabric softener will sweeten them up, as long as you are getting them clean. Just a thought if you are in a school setting. You might be subjecting your self to a prankster. Just a thought. Good luck
have you tryed putting the washer on an empty cycle to clean it out! my washer smelt of stail water so i did a bleach wash then i put it on with just soap powder (no clthe) it worked for me good luck
First off,do not overload the washer and don't allow clothes to lay around too long before washing.
Try pine oil in the wash-directions on on the back or 20 mule team borax added with detergent.I use both depending on my husbands clothes----diesel fuel,soot from fires as well as mildew when he puts them in the hamper wet.This has always worked for me.Lemon can take care of a fish odor also(probably about 1/2 to 1 cup per load)Directions for pine oil cleaner are on the label
use baking soda, like a half a cup per load. make sure you dissolve it befoe you add cloths. cheers
First, I'm not a chef.
But, I have had smelly laudry problems because my wife and I are both active people (and we have a four year old).
I started using SURF detergent because it specifically has enzymes that kill odor... And it worked.
I tried Strong smelling Fabric sofeners with the downey ball and many layers of fabric softener sheets in the dryer (and I still do); but the thing that worked best is when I switched to SURF.
And if we're talking about Whites, use a full cup of the best Clorox bleach you can afford w/the detergent.
Check the weight of the clothes you are putting in the machine. Persil liquitabs are the right size to use in a domestic machine which takes around 5 kg max (less for synthetics) but the machines you are using in the laundrette are probably designed to take twice this. It should say on a notice somewhere what weight they will take.
Then you just need to adjust the dosing. If your clothes come into the 'heavy soil' category then wash slightly less than the recommended weight in order to get them really clean. My current favourite is persil gel tablets (powder tablet + gel for stains) but I have also used biotex in the past- use this in the prewash cycle if it is inconvenient to soak.
Firstly you must reduce your load,and what programme on the machine are you using.?
Today is going to be hot so try and dry outside!
Vinegar will rot your clothing, there is a valuable product called Oxyclean for coloureds and white laundry.
Please dont use bleach either ,
solution, less in machine use bold liquid and a fabric conditioner.Then dry outside, or on a coat hanger by a window..... good luck washing is a pleasure if you get it rite!!!
Sounds like you need to find another place to wash your clothes. They must not be getting properly rinsed. It is important not to put too many clothes into one washer. Match the colors for each load. Blues with blues, whites with whites. Be sure you are using a quality detergent (I like 'ALL' or Tide). The cheap detergents just won't clean properly; if you test it out you can see a difference.
You need to get the vinegar into the rinse cycle somehow when the water has just begun to fill up pour in about a cupful of vinegar. Baking soda works, too.
I bet the driers are worn out --sometimes that will make the clothes smell burnt. As for the fish smell--maybe someone before you washed something gross (shrimp or a frog?) in the washing machine; I don't know.
Be sure you use some type of pleasant smelling fabric softener sheets in the drier. That will help a lot with odours although they can be a bit cloying.
About the bleach-- a very small amount--half a cup or less mixed in a liter of water will help remove bad smells but again you have to add it to the wash water without getting it on the fabric of your clothes.
I dont know. If all else fails get some Febreeze clothes freshener.
PS If you are desperate fill a tub full of warm to hot waater and soak the clothes in that with a cup of vinegar mixed into the water. Let them stay in overnight and wash them the next morning.
Let's assume that all is well with the machine.
1. Don't overload the machine - clothes will not wash properly if you do.
2. Don't over soap/suds/detergent - clothes will not be cleaner and will be hard with excess soap.
3. Rinse very thoroughly to remove any excess detergent.
4. Use a fabric softener/rinse aid to soften and freshen your clothes.
5. Think about changing your usual detergent to another one - you may have 'hard' water in your area and this can cause a problem with detergents and the like.
6. Think about using a water softener [available in most grocery stores] - if you determine you do have 'hard' water in you area. Check with local authority or neighbours.
7. If at all possible NEVER dry your clothes in a dryer - it damages the fabrics, dulls the colours, shrinks others and doesn't leave a 'nice' smell or freshen, deodorise or sterilise your clothes like the sun and air does.
8. Bleach in your machine with detergents and rinse aids, nullifies, so this wastes the bleach and it doesn't do anything. It also will make your clothes 'stink'. If you require to use bleach, do so but only on its own in a separate container/bucket or bowl.
9. Washing all your clothes as I have instructed, may get rid of the odours, and using vinegar or lemon in the final rinse water could help too.
I hope I have given you some ideas in solving what must be a very frustrating problem. Good luck!
Run your machine (EMPTY) on the hottest wash possible with a capful of bleach. Let it go through it's entire cycle.
Those liquid tablets are rubbish, use Surf powder tablets that you put in a little bag on top of the clothes in the machine, not the drawer. Don't overfill your machine otherwise nothing will wash properly.
Use comfort as well to prolong the life of your clothes.
When using the dryer, again-don't overfill, and use on a lowish setting, otherwise you are just baking your clothes!
If your clothes are still smelling weird, you will need a new machine.
first get some soda crystals (super market, well cheap) empty bag into empty drum, run machine on boil wash and clean filters and soap powder drawer (even though you use in wash tabs). change washing powder, i do this from time to time as i get used to the smell an i like to be able to smell that my clothes are clean! currently im loving bold, built in fabric softner and both my kids have dry skin and it doesnt irritate them. make sure you dont overload your machine give things plenty of room to move. clean out your dryer defluff and all that, and use bounce, everything comes out smellin great, if ya need a cheaper option my mate uses supermarket baby wipes and the work the same way, also make sure your laundry doesnt sit wet in the machine for hours, smells start really quick then you'll have to rewash, good luck
When you add your clothes and detergent, also add 1 cup of ammonia (or 1/2 cup) to the load.
Ammonia is a natural water softener to help get the clothes cleaner.and it also removes greases and odors that absorb into your clothes.
I've worked in the restaurant business and my husband in a machine repair job.we both got greasy and smelly clothes until I tried this.
It works very well! I use the lemon scented but it won't matter if non-scented.
Just add and then walk away, the scent will not overpower a home, just the room for a short time - and it's not long at all.
Yes you can eliminate those odors with one cup of White Vinegar in the hottest water your clothes can handle, just don't put any clothes than can shrink in hot water and don't add laundry detergent to your wash while this treatment is being used, if you have a very large load I would suggest you use one and half cups of vinegar. During your regular washes you can use vinegar in your rinse cycle just fill the fabric dispenser this will leave your clothes fresh and clean and will remove odors and residues left on your clothes from the detergents you use, will also remove stains Good Luck !
The first thing I would suggest is this. Sometimes the water pipes of the machine need a good cleaning, So put your machine on the highest setting,which normally is 95ºc and add bleach, do the same again and add vinegar. This will give the machine a good clean before you do your washing again. Then ask your care taker at UNI to check the water pipes, it might have something to do with the water coming from the main supply. Sure you are washing your clothes the right way. Might be the actual water supply
Baking soda will neutralise the bad smell. However I would try changing your washing powder, I find persil is cr@p at getting rid off smells, try bold 2in1that should shift it.
Of course you can't open the washing machine once it has started this is a safety feature to stop you pouring gallons of water onto the floor! if nothing else has worked try some fabreese [not sure of spelling] or supermarket similar this works well on my sons t-shirts that always release a smell of sweat when ironing a good squirt of this sorts it out!
Don't know if you have it over there but I like arm & hammer detergent. It does a great job at getting clothes clean.
If they are greasy use some amonia (put in when it is the main wash water going through the soap dispenser) read instructions on bottle.
Idk about bleach in front load washers as you need to add it durning the wash cycle.
I don't like liquid fabric softner as I think it makes clothes weaker.
Fabric sheets (Bounce look for a 4 or 5 in smell) work good.
Air drying is the best for getting rid of smells.
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