My laundry smells......

[PersisFord]

I went away for the week, and when I came back there was a load of laundry wet in the machine. That's 3 weeks ago now and despite lots of washes the offending clothes still smell terrible. Also, I have washed the machine on empty on a hot wash, used a washing machine cleaner, cleaned all the filters.....and still the clothes coming out are not quite fresh smelling. It's revolting.

What can I do? Part of the trouble is that the smelly clothes have got in to other washes and contaminated them!!

[wobblywonderwoman]

Vinegar

[CMamaof4]

Did u put it on the maximum temperature when cleaning like a 90?

[wobblywonderwoman]

Vinegar

[dementedpixie]

Zoflora in with the softener can help neutralise the bad odours on the washing

[DevelopingDetritus]

Just a thought. Is the water actually getting hot? Also is the powder/liquid actually getting to the clothes and not getting blocked somewhere. The other thing to try maybe is a cup of white vinegar. What temperature is the wash on?

[Heathen4Hire]

Dr Beckmann Washing Machine cleaner?

[holidaychocs]

Have u tried the clothes outside first? I usually just re wash and it's fine tbh

[Increasinglymiddleaged]

Wash it at 60. Temps lower than that don't kill the mould/ bacteria which are what smell.

[holidaychocs]

Drying the clothes I meant to say

[PersisFord]

Oh loads of lovely replies!! I did the hot wash at 90 and it was dr Beckmann washing machine cleaner. I haven't been washing at 60 though....I'll try that although I fear for some of the things.....we can't wear them as thy are though so I guess there's nothing to lose.

Part of the trouble is that we are using those horrible fairy liquid pods for the girls' eczema....so the stuff is definitely getting there as it's in the drum but they don't smell great at the best of times. We don't use fabric conditioner but I could pop some vinegar in - with the clothes?

[PersisFord]

I dry outside whenever I can - one little lacy cardy was so rank I left it out for about 3 days and it does smell better now. Still not fresh....

[DevelopingDetritus]

I think a 40 wash should be enough, I agree, dry outside if possible, a nice sunny windy day.

[dementedpixie]

Liquids aren't great for machines either. Could you use a powder version as they contain bleaches that help clean the drum?

[DevelopingDetritus]

What about trying the Fairy powder or liquid instead. Or another mild one. I've had the Ecozone liquid and fabric conditioner recently, it's nice.

[MunchMunch]

When I've left stuff in the washer, although not as long but still smells, I've dried the clothes and then re-washed and they've been fine.

I've tried washing them again when they're wet and I think they keep the wet foisty smell.

[llangennith]

Change to another non-bio detergent. Fairy nonbio tabs don't dissolve properly in my machine.
Dettol antibacterial laundry liquid should get rid of the smell.

[Teabagtits]

Bicarbonate of soda worked well for me as did dettol antibac for clothes. Vinegar worked ok but didn't rid of smells completely and I never got round to using the zoflora. I had clothes that would end up smelly after a day or two in the drawer - really bad like Pyle so I guessed the bacteria causing the smells weren't being killed off properly. After posting on here the above remedies were suggested and now my clothes smell fine again.

[Ollivander84]

Dettol anti bac or napisan

[QuackDuckQuack]

DH's sports kit has some sort of issue with the fabric that means it starts to smell after a few wears/weshes. Soaking it in napisan sorts it.