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Original poster

Laundry starting to smell when drying!!!!

37 replies

LittlePaganB · 11/07/2019 15:58

Hey everyone.

Recently I have noticed that our laundry (not all of the wash only some, like pj's, socks, pants and the odd tshirt) is starting to smell like wet dog when they are drying.

I have thoroughly gave the washing machine a clean at least five times now over the past month and the filter is clean so I am unsure as to why the clothes are still smelling.

I dry my clothes outside and my partners indoors due to bad hay fever. When I dry the clothes inside I make sure each item of clothing is very spaced out of the drying rack and I put them in different rooms so they are not all cramped together. I also have the windows on lock position and put the dehumidifier on, but still some of the clothes are smelling musty and horrible. It is driving me mad!!!!

Just wondered if anyone has had the same issue and how the went about resolving it?

Thanks :)

OP posts:
Glitter99x · 11/07/2019 16:02

All I can think of is a really strong scented laundry powder/liquid/capsule. Your washing machine has been cleaned multiple times so surely can't be that.

Glitter99x · 11/07/2019 16:03

We have the same problem, except for us I think our machine needs cleaning lol

ThePhoenixRises · 11/07/2019 16:07

Change the washing powder you use.

I had the same trouble with a certain brand, switched to another brand and it no longer happens.

Imicola · 11/07/2019 16:08

If you don't hang the washing as soon as it is done it can start to smell, and I find once an item starts smelling it doesn't ever go away. You can try washing with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar (can't recall exactly how to do it, but Google should help)!

orangeshoebox · 11/07/2019 16:09

are you washing below 40 degrees?

jonesy22 · 11/07/2019 16:10

Watching this thread as I have the same problem Sad

QuilliamCakespeare · 11/07/2019 16:11

Ours did this recently and I resorted to throwing some clothes out because they never smelled clean, just musty. Our washing machine is fairly new too so I know it couldn't be that.

I sorted it by:

  1. Running a 70C maintenance wash
  2. Doing 2 x washes using biological washing powder.

Everything smells fresh again, thank god. It was driving me crazy! I've reverted back to non-bio powder (or gel) for our usual washes and do a bio one every now again for bedding or towels (I get itchy if I use too much bio powder).

Lllot5 · 11/07/2019 16:12

Hot water. As hot as the clothes will allow none of this 30 degree quick wash lark.
Also never heard of someone having hay fever so bad that you can’t dry laundry outside. Learn something new every day.

Original poster
LittlePaganB · 11/07/2019 16:14

I hang the clothing out as soon as the machine has finished.

It is just so weird how out of a full load it will be certain things that small, so maybe it has something to do with the fabric maybe as well.

Think it may be the capsules in which I am using. May try cutting them out. I have brought these soap nuts so may just give them a go for a while and see how I get on.

OP posts:
Original poster
LittlePaganB · 11/07/2019 16:16

Yeah, I read it somewhere that if you suffer from hay fever it is best not to hang your washing out to dry in high pollen season. As the pollen can stick to your clothing.

OP posts:
QuilliamCakespeare · 11/07/2019 16:19

Read my post! Grin

It's probably bacteria in the washing machine that needs shifting. Changing washing powder probably won't help - I tried three different ones and it didn't make any difference.

SudowoodoVoodoo · 11/07/2019 16:26

Is there a filter in the machine you can check and clean? Ours tends to gather coins (DH) and Lego then the water gets trapped and starts smelling.

ProfYaffle · 11/07/2019 16:27

Maybe that Dettol laundry cleanser thing? I've found it helps shift lingering sweaty smells and makes the machine smell fresher.

ThePhoenixRises · 11/07/2019 16:29

LittlePaganB
It was Ariel capsules I had to stop using.

Have switched to using Fairy capsules.

Needallthesleep · 11/07/2019 16:33

I started a thread recently with the same issue! Ideas that came back:

  • make sure you aren’t over filling the washing machine
  • if you live in a hard water area you need to use more of the washing powder
  • switch from liquid to powder
MessyMummy15 · 11/07/2019 16:33

Ooooh ooooh I had that!! Then I started using a cap of zoflora disinfectant in every wash.
No more problems!! 😍

alwaysonadiet1 · 11/07/2019 16:35

Have you tried an empty cycle at 90 degrees to kill off the bacteria?

dementedpixie · 11/07/2019 16:36

Don't use capsules or liquid, they don't keep the drum as clean as powder.

BertieBotts · 11/07/2019 16:39

Do you ever do wash cycles at 60 degrees or higher? You need to every so often to clean out the machine. If you don't have any clothes to wash at this temperature you can just run it empty on the hottest cycle.

I also find particularly with certain fibres, you need to collect up everything which has the musty smell and do a one off wash at 60 degrees with NO fabric softener. You can use washing powder (not 2-in-1) and a capful of white vinegar if you want to.

If you use the drawer - stop. Get one of those astronaut head things for putting the powder/liquid directly into the drum.

Cheesymonster · 11/07/2019 16:39

When you run a maintenance wash, do you put detergent in?

CoffeeAndCakeEssentials · 11/07/2019 16:40

We had this. It was 3 pairs of DS trousers that really stunk and was making his whole bedroom smell. I tried everything - cleaning the machine, different detergents, washing with vinegar etc. In the end I chucked the smelly trousers. Problem solved. No smelly laundry since!

LoafofSellotape · 11/07/2019 16:42

2 dishwasher tablets in a 90 degree empty wash every now and then. Keep doing it until the smell has gone.

It's all this wash at 30 business that does it.

DonPablo · 11/07/2019 16:43

It could be that theyre taking too long to dry.

Also agree with the laundry disinfectant if you're washing at low temps.

Nothing worse is there... Beautiful clean washing not smelling clean. (I mean there are obviously way worse things in life, but you know what I mean!) Smile

DontCallMeShitley · 11/07/2019 16:47

Put the wash in with half a bottle (minimum) of white vinegar, start the cycle on a hot wash, no less than 40 degrees. Let it run for 10 - 15 minutes once it is full of water and heated up. Then press soak/pause/stop whichever you have and leave it to soak.

If you can manage it, go and restart it every half hour, let it run for a while to move the washing round, then stop it again. Leave it overnight to soak, and wash it in the morning.

Change your detergent, then do the same as above with detergent in the wash. It should remove the smell. If it doesn't you need to look at other solutions. It may be that you are leaving the stuff to dry for too long and it builds up a pong.

NabooThatsWho · 11/07/2019 17:30

Liquid/capsules makes my laundry smell bad and fusty. Washing powder always makes it smell lovely and fresh.
I think the liquid doesn’t agree with my machine.