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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:
TomatoSandwiches · 10/06/2025 17:21

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

Lammveg · 10/06/2025 17:20

This calls for a separate basket for DH smelly clothes.

Annoying though because then I guess he won't be washing the family laundry..but what help is it anyway if you're having to re wash?

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 10/06/2025 17:20

Designate him a job you don't like and you be The Laundry Lady...
Like bins /picking up dog poo
Have nice fresh clothes...
Leave his for him to wash. He can smell like Stig Of The Dump
.

BovrilonToast · 10/06/2025 17:20

I think there’s something wrong with your machine. I leave mine that long regularly and it never smells, and my sense of smell is annoyingly good.

Nurseryquestions86 · 10/06/2025 17:19

It shouldn't smell like that so quickly. Is your machine dirty?

IAteAllTheCake · 10/06/2025 17:18

I can’t stand this either. I put a timer on my phone to let me know when the washing machine finishes (even though the lying bastard lies all the time about how long is left) just because even a few minutes makes me paranoid about the festering smell.

I also get freaked out by mould spores being left inside the machine and all of us turning into cordysep zombies ! 🧟‍♀️

YANBU - your DH’s washing machine game is gross 🤮

Mischance · 10/06/2025 17:18

Does your machine have a delay cycle.

JHound · 10/06/2025 17:16

Why is the laundry smelling that quickly?

Loubelou71 · 10/06/2025 17:16

Is this what they call weaponised incompetence....that would drive me mad. I'd be hiding my washing so he couldn't helpfully do it

Mintsj · 10/06/2025 17:15

Dirty.

Personally, if I had sweaty sports kit in that situation, I'd put it on an express <2kg wash for 15mins on its own and hang it up almost immediately - wouldn't wash with the rest of the family laundry.

Plus, the laundry shouldn't be smelling. Is the machine completely clean? It sounds like it could do with a 90 degree wash to flush it right through, and I would also do a washing soda crystal wash. And ensure the filter and seal/door is completely clean all round.

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