Help please, smelly clothes

[Anewuser]

I’ve finally persuaded my son to let me go through his stuff - he came back from Uni a week before lockdown. I could smell a disgusting odour in his bedroom, it turned out he had left a bag of bagels at the bottom of a massive box full of clean clothes.

They now smell mouldy and although I’ve put them through the washing machine twice, they still stink. How do I get the smell out....please, any suggestions?

First off he should be googling and doing it! There’s no way my mum would be washing my clothes if I’d left bagels in them 😂

Baking soda. Or if you don't have that, white vinegar. Mix some (maybe Google amounts?) with water and soak for a good while before re washing. Both usually remove any bad smells. Failing that, some Lenor fabric softener now has added febreeze so may help?

This is the type of one-off event that Zoflora is actually for.

Thanks for the replies.

You made me chuckle TeddyIsaHe, you’re right I should make him do it himself but I was fed up of waiting.

Mylittlepony374, currently washing again in white vinegar, so thank you.

PotholeParadise, I haven’t heard of zoflora but have just ordered some from amazon so thank you.

Be warned, a very, very, very little goes a long way in the washing machine, and don't start using it to fragrance your furniture like some people do. It's disinfectant not perfume!

I think the vinegar should work I use it as a softener when washing the dogs bedding. She stinks to high heaven and if I just wash with normal laundry liquid and softener then I can still smell her faintly off the covers when washed but when I use white vinegar they come out lovely and fresh smelling.

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I’d hang it outside for as long as possible. Rain and / or sunshine will both help.

Thanks for the heads up PotholeParadise.

Briefdisaster, unfortunately the vinegar didn’t work, glad it works for your dogs bedding. It’s out on the line in the rain as suggested by bonzo77 and that’s where it can stay until Friday when my amazon delivery of zoflora arrives. At least it’s not stinking out the house.

How does it smell now?

Soda crystals. Works wonders

Just £1

Dettol washing liquid.

Thanks to Bonzo and Pothole his clothes smell great. Zoflora got rid of the smell and they're currently blowing on the line in the sun.

Many thanks mumsnetters.

Awesome! Leave them out there on the line to air out as long as you can. Just in case...