Help! Stinky clothes

[carovioletfizz]

Not sure if it's the washing machine or tumble drier, but I think probably the machine as we didn't have this problem with the old washing machine.

Clothes smell OK when I take them out the washing machine - not super clean, just kind of nothing - but as soon as they go in the drier and the heat and steam hit them they smell awful and fusty. The kids are complaining that their clothes smell! I've tried spraying the clothes with Febreze and putting tumble drier sheets in but the fusty smell remains. Does anyone have any advice? We're a big family so it's hard not to use the dryer in winter.

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

When we had this problem we ran one of those cleaning sachets through the machine (empty of course!), cleaned the detergent drawer and seals out, and switched to powder from liquid.

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

When we had this problem we ran one of those cleaning sachets through the machine (empty of course!), cleaned the detergent drawer and seals out, and switched to powder from liquid.

[Clargo55]

I would do a deep clean on both machines and see how you get on after.

[123bucklemyshoe]

powder is supposed to better as apparently liquid can cause icky smells...

[carovioletfizz]

I use an eco-ball...DH is going to look at the pipes to see if the clean water isn't flowing out properly. Thanks for the advice, going to try doing a clean first.

[Alwayscheerful]

Do a maintenance wash on very hot with a cup of white vinegar in the dispenser drawer.

[PigletJohn]

eco-balls


the washer needs a hot hot hot maintenance wash with some soda crystals, and the clothes need washing powder. Clean the filter too.

[valiumredhead]

I agree with piglet John. start using powder after a few boiling washes with soda crystals in the drum,I use half a bag.

Ditch the eco balls!

[Layl77]

Empty out a water drawer first on both. Then run a 90 deg wash with a capful of bleach bicarbonate of soda.

[gamerchick]

So you're never using detergent?

Could you maybe use detergent one week and your balls the week after? No wonder they are smelling. Eco balls are grand but I still think you need to use soap every now and then.

[Clargo55]

You need to clean the seals, filters and dispenser draws as well as a maintenance wash to clean the pipes and drum.

Yes ditch the Eco-balls.

[BrownSauceSandwich]

Agree with the others, the ecoballs won't help. Fair enough to use them some of the time, but constant cool washes with no detergent or non-bio don't clear the organic slime from the washing machine's innards. Regularly clean your washing machine, and once a week or so, run something through on a hot wash (ideally bedclothes, to kill off dusty items).

[BrownSauceSandwich]

Argh! Autocorrect!

Dustmites, not dusty items.

[mousmous]

agree about the eco balls. and the maintainance wash.
laundry needs soap. you only need very little. or half and half with soda crystals. you can also get perfume free detergent if you are worried about that.

[valiumredhead]

Your washing machine needs detergent to get rid of all the grease and gunk from your clothes.

[e1y1]

Agree with the others, get rid of the eco balls, laundry needs detergent. That's why it's stood the test of time and we have used it as long as we have. It is needed. It would be great of we could ditch the detergent - for the environment and cost but something's are just too good to be true and eco balls are one of them :)

[Artandco]

We use an Eco egg. Clothes never smell. We add a little fabric conditioner if want fragrance

We wash all towels and Bedding on 95 degrees.

And wash machine on empty with white vinegar at 95degrees every 6 weeks

[valiumredhead]

The vinegar and hot washes will do the job of the detergent.