Washing smelling odd - is it Lenor?

[shovetheholly]

So my washing has started to smell odd, so naturally I had a panic that my machine was all dirty.

I cleaned the filter.

I did a boil wash.

I put in a load of washing machine cleaner and did the empty 60 degree wash.

I am getting the washing out to dry the second it stops, and using a heated airer.

It still smells weird.

Could it be my fabric conditioner. I normally get Lenor blue. But I've just noticed this stuff has 'spring awakening' written on the bottle. Is this a different fragrance from the ordinary blue stuff?

[rabbit123]

Spring Awakening is blue Lenor. It's always been called that

[shovetheholly]

Thanks rabbit.

I don't know what could be causing this. Help anyone?

[Eggsbutnobacon]

Sometimes my washing smells like vomit ( unfortunately). I don't notice it when I take the clothes out of the washing machine but once I've dried it. It doesn't seem to matter if I've hung it out or tumble dried it. I haven't changed anything, use sunny days soft rinse ( the yellow one) but this still happens occasionally and I have to do my wash all over again.
At first I thought it was just me and my strange sense of smell but the family commented as soon as they put something on.

[MaryDoloresOHoolihan]

I love most fabric conditioners and change them about regularly, but I find all the Lenor ones to be incredibly pungent and awful-smelling - particularly the blue one. I once used it on some clothes that were drying on the radiator, and my friend said it smelt wierd and "off", not like the fresh smell of washing.

[rabbit123]

shovetheholly, what detergent are you using?

[shovetheholly]

I am using Persil bio Small and Mighty at the moment. I was using Ecover, but I thought it might be the detergent, so I switched about 3 weeks ago.

The smell is kind of musty- like clothes smell when they have been left in the machine for hours before being hung out. But they aren't being left in for hours and they are getting dried quickly. It's not really pungent, but it's definitely not right.

I also keep the machine door and detergent tray open for a couple of hours after I've done a wash to dry it out. Have done this for years.

Am really getting bothered and upset by it! I just want my washing to smell nice again

[biscuitbadger]

Oh no :(
Mine has been like that recently too, it started when I switched to liquid detergent instead of powder. But I also changed fabric softener and was trialling doing more cool washes. A laundry makeover which I now regret.
I did all the things you said. Hot washes, empty washes. Ran it with vinegar in. Cleaned out the little drawer (which was minging). Stopped the cool washes. I've tried using vinegar instead of the fabric softener to see if that will clean anything out of the system. Clothes smell a bit better from doing that.

I just put a load on now with a capful of zoflora in the fabric softener drawer - came across that one on a mn thread :) Really hoping that sorts it.

I've binned the new fabric softener, and planning to switch back to powder if the zoflora thing doesn't work.

[shovetheholly]

I just went outside, and found out that the external drain is blocked with a leaf. I'm not sure it's what is causing it, because I think the problem predates leaves coming off the trees? But it certainly won't have been helping.

I'm going to buy some powder today too, biscuit - that is some smart thinking. Hopefully we can crack this together! Sisters of the strange-smelling washing!

[annielostit]

Mine did this when I used liquid & gel detergents.
Did a hot wash & cleaned with white vinegar & bicarbe the smells gone.
I only use powder detergent now. (Tesco own brand) & white vinegar to soften.
The white vinegar works on teenage sports tee-shirt arm pits too.

[annielostit]

Here this☺
www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry-washing/how-to-clean-a-smelly-washing-machine

[biscuitbadger]

I am hoping to avoid cleaning the filter. I have no idea where it is, and it sounds like a messy job!

[Buzzardbird]

Have removed your dispenser drawer and looked behind it?

[rabbit123]

Ditch the liquids & switch to powders. Liquids cause slime to build up in the internals of the machine (especially on cool & quick washed) they don't contain and oxy bleaching agents. Bio or non bio powders are better for the machine & give better wash results too.

[Missingthesea]

My DD had a similar problem (smelly laundry) when she used Small & Mighty Bio!

[Corialanusburt]

Although it's probably not responsible for your smell, o think there's something up with fabric conditioners. I wasn't buying Lenor becauseof its odd meaty/chemical smell. Then Comfort became new and improved and also got this horrible smell.
Now i only get the own brand posh mini bottles. Any own brand will do from Morrisons to Waitrose. They tend to have a nice floral non chemical smell.

[annielostit]

I only washed out the drawer & run a hot vinegar bicarbe wash. No filter cleaning.

[biscuitbadger]

Any progress holly?

Running mine with the zoflora instead of fabric conditioner was definitely an improvement. As was running it with vinegar instead of fabric conditioner!

My plan is to switch back to powder, ditch the fabric conditioner, and keep using the zoflora.

[MrsT2007]

Make sure you wipe and clean the door seals too. They can harbour stinky ming too

[HyacinthBouquetNo1]

I had this. After some research, it appears to be caused by bacteria in the washing if you are using bio detergents. They do a good job of geting rid of stains with enzymes but do nothing for bacteria. You need nonbio which contains bleach to kill bacteria. Problem solved

[poisonedbypen]

I think you've got it the wrong way round, hyacinth?

[HyacinthBouquetNo1]

No, nonbio contains bleaching agents so bacteria are killed. This is what i found out when i looked into it. I use Lidl's Formil nonbio powder or Asda nonbio tabs. Washing smells great again

[rabbit123]

Both Bio and Non-Bio powder contain bleaching agents. The only powder that doesn't is Colour Protect.

None of the liquids or pods contain bleaching agents either.

[dementedpixie]

Non bio and bio powders both contain bleaches unless they specify it is for colours. Liquids do not contains bleaches so don't keep the drum as clean. The difference between bio and non bio is that bio also contains enzymes to help break down food stains.

[foursillybeans]

I (very embarrassingly) called an engineer out to my machine when it did this. It was indeed liquid detergent causing it. As soon as I stopped using it everything smelt fine again. I have heard many other people say this since and also have quite a few friends who use liquid detergent and their washed clothes do have that unpleasant odour. I assumed they were leaving their clothes in the machine for a long time after the wash had finished.

[wowfudge]

shove the things you've done to clean your machine have probably loosened a load of gunk inside it. Try at least one more long wash at the highest temperature with either soda crystals or vinegar. And stop using liquids.