Adult puke smelling clothes - please help!

[Bloopbleep]

I have a problem with my denims always smelling like vomit after having been washed. I suspect they were left damp for too long once upon a time and have never recovered no matter how many times or how hot I wash them or whether they're hung out to dry or tumble dried. They go into my drawers smelling like detergent and come out smelling like puke but it's only my trousers and one jumper. Not everything in the drawer smells so I don't think it's dampness in the room and other drawers are unaffected. Before I throw every pair of denims I own out, is there some secret I'm unaware of that would remove the smell of vomit? Would washing in bicarb damage the machine or the denim itself? Would it even make a difference?

I've tried scented drawers liners and putting bars of soap in and cedar blocks and spraying with vinegar (don't try that if you plan on wearing them!) - I use a dehumidifier just in case, but there is still eau de puke on my clothes :(

Please Help!

[StUmbrageinSkelt]

Plain white vinegar in hot water. Soak. Then wash in a hot wash.

If that doesn't work then bicarb in hot water. Soak. Then wash in hot wash.

I live in the subtropics and if I don't hang the washing or put it in the dryer in time we deal with this a lot.

[donajimena]

www.getsmellout.com/how-to-get-smell-out-of-new-jeans/

I had a lovely pair of jeans from Next. I never got the smell out and they did refund

[Bloopbleep]

Thanks stumbridgeinskelt I shall look into those methods

Thanks donajimena sadly my denims are too old to return complaining of the smell. They didn't smell like this when I bought them. I'm going to try the bicarb wash then a vinegar wash or maybe the other way around...

[FrogFairy]

If the vinegar/bicarbonate don't help, try a glug of Zoflora, Napisan or the Dettol in wash anti bac stuff.

[donajimena]

If you use zoflora when do you add it and where in the machine ? Id like to use it on my towels

[Bloopbleep]

Oh thanks frogfairy what's zoflora? I'm sure I remember my granny having a wee bottle of it on her windowsill for years but. I've no idea what it actually is.

[Ausernotanumber]

I would try the antibacterial laundry additive and a hotter longer wash. And tumble after.

[AnnieOnnieMouse]

I'd dump them in the wash with a bottle of vinegar as well as ordinary detergent- doesn't matter what sort of vinegar - I use the cheap Aldi stuff for washing DH's manky, stinky sailing and running kit, as he often leaves it in the car until it stinks to high heaven. Had to do that last night, actually - stuff now line drying with no smell at all.

[coolpotato]

I just put the zoflora in the drawer with the powder detergent at the start of the wash. I tend to use the 'linen' fragrance, Fantastic on sports kit and towels....on anything in fact.

[Ninasimoneinthemorning]

Could you put a table drier sheet on them in the draw?

[FrogFairy]

Zoflora is concentrated disinfectant. Some put in the fabric conditioner drawer but I add it to the main wash with powder.

There is currently a long Zoflora thread on housekeeping for anyone interested.

[sonias27]

I would recommend this odor spray remover. It can be used on clothes or any other space where odors present.

[shockedballoon]

Zoflora for sure. I learned about it on here and use it for when tshirts etc get that faint lingering underarm whiffyness.
I put it in the prewash though. Works a treat, though I've never had a whiffy jeans problem to try it on.

[Bloopbleep]

I have a shopping list for today. Vinegar and zoflora. I'm throwing everything at these before I have to give in and replace them.

shockedballoon the word whiffy always makes me giggle like a child. I'd never considered my rancid denims as whiffy:)

[Bloopbleep]

Thank you all. I have tried three different loads of washing. One with bicarb, one with zoflora and one with dettol for clothes (didn't even know that existed!) so now to test which one works best .

[coolpotato]

Bloop - you're our very own Which? Tester!

[AnthonyPandy]

What temperature are you washing them on?

[Bloopbleep]

It's sadly exciting cool potato so far they all smell perfumed. The bicarb one smells mostly of the soap powder. I got the linen fresh zoflora but it doesn't really smell that strong. The dettol is a bit minging tbh but they're all better than puke. They're all put away in a drawer -except the dettol one that I accidentally left in the garden and I'm not going out in the dark to get it (monsters lurk)- I shall return to sniff daily to see if any return to puke smells. Day one down so far so good (God my life is sad)

Anthony pandy - prior to my experiments this week they were washed at both 40 & 60 (hottest my machine goes but with a prewash) - made no difference.

[shockedballoon]

Love the comparison test! Let's hope 'whiffyness' doesn't return

[Eggsbutnobacon]

There was a similar another thread running a few weeks ago about washing not smelling as fresh as it should when coming out of the machine.

I have sometimes noticed exactly the same smell on occasion and not just on denim but the whole wash.
Initially I thought it was just my sense of smell until the dc told me their bath towels smelt of vomit ( or in their words puke!) and dh took his freshly washed sweatshirt off in disgust saying the same thing.
I really can't work out what the common denominator is. Its so annoying having to wash everything again and hope for the best.
Maybe somebody who works for a detergent company may come along with an answer.

[Bloopbleep]

If it's coming out of the machine smelling like that it could be that your machine needs a tinge with bicarb or bleach. If you use liquid instead of powder you're prone to getting stinky washes as the detergent builds up. Doing the odd empty wash with only bicarb helps - as does using powder instead of liquid.

[Bloopbleep]

Not tigge but can't for the life of me think now what it should be. Possibly rinse

[Bloopbleep]

Tinge even :(

[AnthonyPandy]

Do a 90 degree empty wash, maybe with a clean towel in, and wash then (assuming that towel doesn't smell) do the jeans again at 60.

[Bloopbleep]

It's not when it's washed that they smell, I know it's not coming from the machine. I'm thinking at some point they've been left lying wet and now can't wash out the smell (although my testing this week seems promising) My machine doesn't have a 90wash