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AIBU?

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DH and festering laundry - am I being fussy?

185 replies

GardenAnarchist · 10/06/2025 17:12

Important background context: DH and I both work hybrid, flexible wrt days on-site or at-home. DH has a good habit of going for a jog every morning before he starts work.

My problem is that he frequently "helpfully" starts a laundry load containing his gross sweaty sports kit plus whatever he finds in the family laundry basket - and he'll do this whether or not one of us is at home that day. So of course what happens is the wet laundry sits in the machine all day, festering and developing that "fermented wet laundry" smell that is really hard to get rid of.

Today for example DH started the laundry early in the morning and swanned off to work (I had already left), I got home from work after 4pm, opened the washing machine, nearly died of the smell, had to run an extra rinse cycle with vinegar, then had to hang out the laundry at nearly 5pm. So chances are the stuff won't even get dry by bedtime and will probably still have the lingering smell 🤢

I have reminded DH numerous times to check whether I'm going to be at home before he decides to run a laundry load or at least to avail himself of the amazing time-delay function on the machine so it finishes later in the day! (Today he definitely knew I was out because he even asked me to pick up something from the shop near my work!) Yet he keeps doing this Angry

I have a suspicion he simply can't smell the fermented wet cloth smell although he claims to understand my objection. DC and I can all smell it, our pet hate is the clothes that seem to have been de-smelled, but then when you put them on and your body heat warms them up slightly, the stench is back and wafting all around you 🤮 It probably wouldn't bother me as much if DH would just do this to his own clothes, but he always adds everyone else's clothes into the load.

IABU - What a helpful domesticated DH, and what is this smell you mention anyway?
IANBU - There was a reason why the time-delay function was invented, and that festering damp smell is one of the low-key worst smells!

OP posts:
ClaireEclair · 10/06/2025 19:16

We sometimes leave our washing in all day as we forget we put it on and it never smells bad. Something might be wrong with the machine!

mindutopia · 10/06/2025 19:13

Dh washes his own clothes separately. They are stored in a totally separate location in the house. I’m not responsible for his clothes and he isn’t allowed to touch any other clothes.

It’s easy for me to stay on top of the washing that way. The dc and I are on a good routine. Family clothes washing, minus Dh, is my job and no one messes with it. Just like I don’t tell him how to sort the recycling (okay, sometimes I do) or mow the lawn.

We stay out of each other’s way and it’s fine. Only rule is separate baskets. He literally washes his clothes about once every 6 weeks. I got fed up with his dirty clothes piling up in the family basket for months on end. So he’s been banished and now lives out of a festering bin liner of dirty clothes. Not my problem. No longer in my way. 😂

SquitMcJit · 10/06/2025 19:11

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 10/06/2025 18:14

I am another who is really sensitive to that sour smell of improperly dried washing. I can smell it on workmates or people just walking past. But I regularly put a wash load on last thing at night and don't hang it out until lunchtime the following day and it doesn't have that 'tang'. IME it takes a couple of days of sitting around damp for it to acquire that smell - or for it not to be dried properly.

Are you absolutely sure that it's the going through the washing machine that's making the stuff smell and that it's not actually going in already smelly? Because washing that smell out is damn near impossible without special treatments, so I wonder if his running kit is carrying that 'sour' smell all the time?

Yep. I cannot stand that smell. Would never leave damp washing sitting in a machine or in a wash basket for any amount of time as it does start to smell of this gross smell. Even if washed at 60 and in a clean machine.

Clothes that have dried too slowly smell of this too. So many people absolutely reek of it - wet umbrella smell. Workmates, people on the bus when their clothes are warming up, bloke I stood next to for 30 seconds in Superdrug earlier.

I’m not criticising people if they are struggling to get clothes clean and dry but I do think some people just can’t smell this smell and leave clothes sitting in a machine or drying slowly for several days. It’s the worst smell.

Mintsj · 10/06/2025 19:11

GardenAnarchist · 10/06/2025 17:22

I do a soda crystal hot wash about once a month, should I do it more frequently? Most of our loads are 20/30C for eco reasons, maybe that is a problem?

Or possibly my nose is particularly sensitive to that smell - I can definitely detect it if laundry has been sitting all day (today for example would have been about 7 hours). I have always had an especial hatred of that smell for as long as I can remember.

If you are doing large loads, containing really grim stuff like his sweaty gym clothes, all at 20 degrees, it's going to be mank. Mank covered in washing machine detergent chemicals. Lots of modern machines don't use enough water to rinse properly.

If you have something like towels or sheets that you can put through at 60 degrees once a week, I think that would help your machine. It's probably really gunked up.

Strictlymad · 10/06/2025 19:10

All washing at 40, beds and towels at 60 and I can leave it all day no smells

lifeonmars100 · 10/06/2025 19:08

my washing does not pong and I have to dry it inside because of my awful hay fever. I do a 90 degree machine clean as and when I remember and use that Dettol machine cleaning stuff. Took a duvet cover out this morning that got washed last night and it was fine and I always do the sniff test to make sure it is ok

WhySoManySocks · 10/06/2025 19:06

Don’t hang it. Leave it wet in the washing machine with a time delay until the next day, so that when tomorrow morning he reaches for his clean kit he’ll instead find it wet in the washing machine.

How many running shorts does he have? 😬

orangedream · 10/06/2025 19:03

I know that smell, it's disgusting and nearly makes me retch. I'd ban him from adding anyone else's clothes in with these washes he leaves sitting in the machine.

melmos · 10/06/2025 19:01

Thanks for reminding me to hang the Washing out 😅

BellesAndGraces · 10/06/2025 19:00

GardenAnarchist · 10/06/2025 18:28

It's the new 'cancel the cheque' Grin

I think I’m starting to understand the whole “cancel the cheque” thing. Vast majority of posters have pointed out that you’re probably using crap detergent and washing at the wrong temperature and that’s the likely reason your clothes smell after a while. You have barely acknowledged that and instead are insistent that your DH just needs to do what you say or that you have some sort of super special nose when, actually, your newly washed clothes are just carrying a load of bacteria still. Posters keep saying the same thing over and over again because they think you haven’t seen it when actually you’re just choosing to ignore it because “use a delay function” seems more logical to you than actually washing your clothes properly. I reckon reading your posts is just as annoying to posters as “cancel the cheque” is to you. Just saying …

olympicsrock · 10/06/2025 18:56

You need to wash things like sports kit and anything that has developed a pong at at least 40 degrees. The cool thing ashes have been the problem and some of the garments may just need binning now.

babyproblems · 10/06/2025 18:54

I think you need to disinfect your machine. I’m shocked laundry is smelly after only a couple of hours damp in the machine?? I’ve never had this ever. A couple of days yes but not hours. I think your machine is all gunked up!

Luciferthethird · 10/06/2025 18:52

There was a detergent I used to use that I always felt my clothes had a fermented smell after, I wish I could remember what it was, once I changed it hasn’t been an issue since maybe it’s that, who knows 🤷‍♀️
I’m also very sensitive to the damp clothes smell but I can leave them in overnight with no issues.

SharpLily · 10/06/2025 18:52

We used to live off grid so I had to wash at low temperatures - there simply wasn't enough power for hot washes. This experience taught me that being eco about washing is a complete con because my husband gets very sweaty at work and I had to replace his work clothes so often. Notihng environmentally friendly about that. It definitely made a big difference and I now wash his things at 60c with biological washing powder and white vinegar in the fabric conditioner drawer. Even 40c isn't really hot enough on very sweaty clothes. By all means use the eco cycle, which will take a long time, but set it at at least 40c.

This must be your problem because we all do know that smell but it shouldn't happen after just a few hours. It can only be that the washing isn't clean enough.

littlemissprosseco · 10/06/2025 18:51

GardenAnarchist · 10/06/2025 17:22

I do a soda crystal hot wash about once a month, should I do it more frequently? Most of our loads are 20/30C for eco reasons, maybe that is a problem?

Or possibly my nose is particularly sensitive to that smell - I can definitely detect it if laundry has been sitting all day (today for example would have been about 7 hours). I have always had an especial hatred of that smell for as long as I can remember.

Your low temperature is definitely the problem. Wash at 40, with biological powder.

godmum56 · 10/06/2025 18:46

Sewaccidentprone · 10/06/2025 18:35

i always thought my machine was clean till I saw someone pull back the rubber seal and wipe round the inside. I did the same and it was rank 😫

This stuff is AMAZING its a thick gel and clings right around the seal so you can get it clean all round. Wipe loose crap away, treat the seal with gel, leave overnight. Wear rubber gloves and wipe as much of the gel off as you can then give the machine a long hot wash. If the machine still smells bleachy, wash something like teatowels, dishcloths or towels that you don't mind getting bleached but I've never found it a problem. The product really does work like the pictures shown, no I have nothing to do with the company. https://musthaveideas.co.uk/products/mould-magic

Mould Magic

Mould Magic

https://musthaveideas.co.uk/products/mould-magic

ChocolateCinderToffee · 10/06/2025 18:46

I knew before I got to it that the wash temperature would be the cause. I do a 90C wash of towels and bedding once a month, the rest of the time it’s the economy 40-60C wash, delicates wash for jumpers etc. I can leave it in the machine overnight without it smelling.

HighlandCowbag · 10/06/2025 18:44

You need to change how you wash clothes mate.

We have smelly jobs/hobbies. DH is a builder, I have ponies, we have an allotment, ds is 11 and hormonal, dd works in a fast food restaurant. Everything goes in together. I often wash in a morning, then dry at teatime. Sometimes I forget and its the next morning!

Nothing ever smells when it comes out. I use big box wash powder, fabric conditioner and dry on 40 for darks 60 for whites. Full length wash cycle, about 2.5 hours.

I know the environment benefits from lower temps but honestly, it just doesn't get stuff clean on a quick cycle. I occasionally use the daily wash function (about an hour) and I can tell the difference.

donotaskmesillyquestions · 10/06/2025 18:44

We have a system here where any sweaty gym stuff is quarantined in a plastic tub in the garage until there’s enough for a full load. It’s never mixed with normal clothes. Then it can be properly washed to remove the stinkiness! I would assume that as OP isn’t complaining about all their laundry smelling, it’s the sweaty stuff contaminating everything else.

Gyozas · 10/06/2025 18:41

I got home from work after 4pm, opened the washing machine, nearly died of the smell

You nearly died of the smell after a few hours in the machine? I might suggest you get your machine services. It’s must be pretty dirty if things smell that quickly.

LongPole · 10/06/2025 18:40

One other really important point OP - sometimes if you got out with something like a washing machine on and the machine causes a fire it can invalidate your insurance. People have been caught out by this, so it’s best to check to ensure you won’t lose everything by having a machine on whilst you aren’t there….

TheTwenties · 10/06/2025 18:39

wash sports stuff separately and definitely no fabric conditioner or combined washing liquid/fabric softener. If you have an express wash just get him to put the gym stuff on that on its own and hopefully it’ll be express enough to finish and hang up before he leaves home. Even a 15 minute cycle on items worn that day will be fine.

PassTheLemonDrizzle · 10/06/2025 18:38

You need to wash at a higher temperature especially as you are sensitive to the smell. You can still be economical by using an eco cycle but just make sure that it’s set to at least 40 degrees. These cycles tend to be longer (ours is 3.5 hours) so the washing will spend less time sitting in the drum once it’s finished. Also make sure you are using washing powder and not liquid.

LongPole · 10/06/2025 18:38

TomatoSandwiches · 10/06/2025 17:21

There's something wrong with your machine, it shouldn't smell that bad for washing done within 24hrs.

This! I have ADHD and sometimes forget waking, it doesn’t smell that bad. Do you leave the door open to air? And do you clean the seals and such?

LimitedBrightSpots · 10/06/2025 18:36

Tbh, I don't wash really smelly gym or running kit with the rest of the clothes. It goes in a special laundry bag and DH does it separately. I might be being ridiculous, but I don't like to think of all that sweat and grime in with my little kids' lovely fresh pyjamas. One of my pleasures in life is when they snuggle up on my lap on the sofa in completely clean pyjamas, so I'm not letting DH's rank, practically crawling gym stuff anywhere near the family wash.

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