How do I get the smell of wee out of DCs school shorts?

[magneticmumbles]

DC has continence issues. I found a pair of his school shorts in a plastic bag at the bottom of the laundry basket that had sat there for a week over half term (DH very kindly left them there). They were washed as normal and came out smelling of stale wee. I've tried a stain remover spray, neat bio detergent, a hotter wash, extra rinses, strong smelling detergent and fabric softener, etc and I can still smell it. They've been washed 4 times now. It smells better, but it's still there. Does anyone have any suggestions to get this smell out? Everything else is coming out of the washing machine fine.

White vinegar. My DC's still wee the bed and ds11 will leave his wet clothes and bedding in a pile in his room all week and some things take an age to stop smelling of wee.

Dettol laundry cleanser

Baking soda & vinegar in the machine and on their own on a cold wash

A very long cold soak with Napisan and bio detergent.

For next time, give them a good long cold soak before the first wash. Hot washing can "set" the smell and make it harder to remove.

Washing soda and bicarbonate of soda good for any wee smells from anything

Oh ok, perhaps that's the problem then- I'm using too hot a wash. I assumed a cold wash wouldn't kill off any bacteria.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try them all!

Should I soak it in vinegar? It won't ruin the fabric/colour?

I second Dettol laundry cleanser. Makes the washing machine smell nice too.

Agree with vinegar and Dettol.

Hang them on the line in the rain for a few days then rewash.

Morrisons is a fantastic stain remover spray In pink bottle, spray the shorts and them soak over night in cold water. Only thing I found that got rid of the wee smell when my boy was toilet training. He's autistic, non verbal and we has a lot of accidents x

I put Milton tablets in the washing machine along with bio detergent whenever I need to wash stuff that's had bodily fluids (D&V generally) on it as it takes the smell out first time.

I'd ask DH how he was going to do it.

Speaking of Napisan - is it still available to buy? Can't seem to find it anywhere anymore?

Always drop anting like this in a bucket just bicarbonate works on its own

@Onynx actually I don't know, I always used to get it in Asda but haven't been for ages

I'd do a vinegar wash first to take out stuff like fabric conditioner.
Then wash with normal detergent and some if the Dettol antibacterial laundry cleanser

@Attache I'm in Ireland and it hasn't been in any shops here for ages either. I hope it hasn't been discontinued 🤔

Soak overnight in a mix of 1 part white vinegar 3 parts water. Wash the next morning with a normal 30 or 40 degree wash. Works a treat at killing off stinky bacteria

A good splash of Zoflora in the fabric conditioner drawer (no fabric conditioner)

Tesco and sainsburys near me both stock nappisan, it's near the milton and bottles in the baby bit.

Dettol usually does the trick for me, drying the so outside helps too. Or as someone already suggested just hanging outside for a while whatever the weather.

Canesten rinse.

Honestly, after everything you have tried, I would cut my losses and bin them.

What is a canisten rinse?

The amount you would spend on running the machine and various products it would probably be cheaper to get him some more from the supermarket.

Sainsburys sell napisan. I add it to the nastier laundry the boys create.