left in the washing machine too long smelly clothes - how to fix?

[Apileofballyhoo]

So the washing machine isn't working properly and keeps stopping mid cycle - I think it's because the water is coming from the cold tank and we've had issues with water pressure and air locks etc etc - anyway this last load has taken nearly a week to wash with all the stops and starts and not rinsing, and now that I've finally got the suds out I think the clothes are a bit smelly. I really don't want to wash them again with more detergent as I'll be going back to square one, so I was wondering if a rinse with vinegar or something would help.

[PenguinBear]

Is there a friend who could run them on a quick cycle through their machine?
Where are you in the UK? If I'm nearby, I'll put them through my machine for you, I love washing!

Can you call out British gas or whoever you are insured with to try and sort problems with machine/tank etc?

[Apileofballyhoo]

Thanks for offer but I'm afraid we are separated by the Irish Sea! I can ask my friend to put them through but I have to be honest I have a touch of obsessiveness about my washing so that would be a last resort.

Going to ask fil to look at the water tank in the attic and if that isn't the problem I'll look at getting the washing machine fixed. I don't want to bring up washing with pil in case mil offers to do it and I can't cope with that, I'd have to do it again myself anyway. I fully accept I am a bit weird about this!

[TheContrastOfWhiteOnWhite]

I think the only way to get rid of the smell will be a new wash. Maybe you could try a rinse with some fabric conditioner, but you'll just be covering up the problem in the manner of air freshener.

If your machine keeps stopping mid cycle another possibility is that something has worked its way into the drum and keeps blocking the outlet pipe and causing the machine to shut off

[MistyB]

A cup of white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda would probably work. You might leave it to soak mid cycle but that sounds like it would be the easy part! The hard part will be getting the wash done before you have lost all benefit and the mould / bacteria starts to grow again!

[Apileofballyhoo]

Right, thanks for those suggestions! I guessed the fabric condition would just add a horrible masking smell - so will try the vinegar first as I have some and then the soda if that doesn't work. It stopped again at the rinse part of the cycle but at least more suds were washed out during the wash and drain part. I've switched it off now to give the tank a chance to fill up again before I try a rinse. I'll add the vinegar before I put it on. I had used Vanish hygiene so hoped they wouldn't be too smelly, but I've just checked and they are rank. Thanks everyone!