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Original poster

My clothes smell and I can't get rid of it!!!

45 replies

Stevenmil · 19/10/2018 21:27

I learnt about laundry stripping and tried to apply it to my clothes. The guide would use washing soda, washing up liquid and borax ( i would use borax but I think it's illegal in the UK ).

My routine

110ml of washing soda -> Lots of washing up liquid -> soak for 3 hours

110ml of washing soda -> Lots of washing up liquid -> Soak for 3 hours

one scoop oxi bleach -> Soak one hour

Vinegar wter rinse in washing machine

Result: bad smell

Second time ( much harder now that I'm in student accommodation )

110ml of washing soda -> Lots of washing up liquid -> Soak for 3 hours

one and a half scoop oxi bleach -> Lots of washing liquid -> Soak 3-4 hours -> Rinse with vinegar

Two detergent pods -> 100ml washing soda -> 30 minute clean

Result: bad smell with perfume trying to cover it

I'm honestly out of ideas now. It's really hard to hand wash in uni using a baby bath tub. My clothes stink and it's embarrassing to stand near people.

Are there any places where I can take my clothes to professionals to clean in the UK?

OP posts:

Haworthia · 19/10/2018 21:30

Ok, so since you started “laundry stripping” they’ve started smelling? Have you just tried washing them again, but in a standard washing machine with standard bio detergent?

What’s the rationale behind laundry stripping?

MissMarplesKnitting · 19/10/2018 21:32

Why are you hand washing?

Is this instead of or on top of machine?

Lucked · 19/10/2018 21:34

Yes I am baffled too. A good bio detergent will work well as long as there is enough water in the cycle and it is an appropriate cycle ( not 15 mins)

I have had the odd polyester top which has retained smells which I have had to bin but most of my clothes including the synthetics are absolutely fine.

makingmiracles · 19/10/2018 21:35

Do you have a job where you get particularly oily? Trainee Mechanic?
Why are you laundry stripping?
If you haven’t got a machine to wash clothes in, take them to the uni launderette, wash with non bio and use white vinegar in place of fabric softener, they will smell no more! HTH

eurochick · 19/10/2018 21:45

I expect it's got nothing to do with how you are washing but rather how long the clothes take to dry. It's common at this time of year for it to be quite hard to dry clothes, so they end up with a damp smell. If they are really bad try dettol laundry liquid in with the wash, wash as normal and then dry quickly (maybe try a heated airier).

Nothisispatrick · 19/10/2018 21:47

Washing machine?

speakout · 19/10/2018 22:00

Are you using a machine?
How are you drying?

Why are you messing about with all these protocols?

I would put the whole lot into a regular washing machine, normal Bio powder 40/60 degree long wash and line or tumble dry.

Thistly · 19/10/2018 22:02

What temperature is the water you are washing and rinsing with?

Bluntness100 · 19/10/2018 22:02

Can I ask why they smell bad? That seems an awful lot of cleaning to be fair.

QuestionableMouse · 19/10/2018 22:03

They're probably not drying quickly or well enough.

Try a normal hot cycle and dry in the tumble dryer.

PeakTrans · 19/10/2018 22:05

Yes to a laundrette.

MsNowtyBach · 19/10/2018 22:07

I have strip waged cloth nappies and the method is nothing like what you have posted.

Try:

Rinse
Normal wash with power,
Then two washes without powder.

MsNowtyBach · 19/10/2018 22:07

No drying in between.

Mumof1andacat · 19/10/2018 22:12

Dettol laundry cleanser with bio liquid or powder on a normal 40 degree wash and tumble dry or line dry. Clothes that havnt been dryed properly will smell damp

speakout · 19/10/2018 22:13

University accommodation will usually have laundry facilities. Don't they provide a laundry room with washing machines and driers?
Is there a launderette nearby?

TheSpottedZebra · 19/10/2018 22:19

Yep. Another vote to say wash them conventionally, engineering laundrette and pay attention to how they dry. We used tumble driers at uni halls, and that was decades ago, as any other way would lead to stinky damp clothes.

SoyDora · 19/10/2018 22:22

I may be being a bit stupid here but is there a reason you don’t wash them in a washing machine?

hannnnnnnxo · 19/10/2018 23:32

What is the bad smell you’re experiencing exactly? Because it seems like it could be the result of clothes not drying properly rather than not being washed properly - ie damp clothes, when clothing smells really strong, musty and foul. Smells worse than the load did going in, just awful. You might need to invest in better drying equipment, especially at this time of the year when you can’t rely on the weather.

My university accommodation had dryers - it’s a shame yours doesn’t

Original poster

Stevenmil · 20/10/2018 02:31

First off, I would like to thank you for all the replies! Didn't expect this much attention. This is my first time using mumsnet but I can find any way to quote a reply so I'll address afew points like this.

''Ok, so since you started “laundry stripping” they’ve started smelling? Have you just tried washing them again, but in a standard washing machine with standard bio detergent?

What’s the rationale behind laundry stripping?''

Since I started my first strip, after three weeks the smell would reappear. My latest wash was using washing machine with two laundry pods and the bad smell is still there only it's just masked by the perfume.
The rationale was that conventional washing didn't work. My clothes always came out rancid smelling. The first strip worked brilliantly for 80% of the original smell but it's still lingering.

''Why are you hand washing?''

I had been a washing machine for the last year, but the smell had gradually gotten worse. I assumed it was because the dirty water wasn't rinsed out properly.

''Is this instead of or on top of machine?''

I'm not sure what you mean but my university has front loaded washing machine.

''Do you have a job where you get particularly oily? Trainee Mechanic?
wash with non bio and use white vinegar ''

Hit the nail on the head. I forgot to mention I've been using lots of oils. The smell originally appeared when I started using coconut oil for my eczema, then I switched to Shea butter or soybean oil. This is the rancid smell that I can't get rid of.
Before the strip, I used vinegar and it did nothing.

''I expect it's got nothing to do with how you are washing but rather how long the clothes take to dry.''

Every single wash has always been a tumble dryer after ( except summer )

''What temperature is the water you are washing and rinsing with?''

40 degrees previously

'' Try:

Rinse
Normal wash with power,
Then two washes without powder.

No drying in between.''

I don't dry in between each wash

''Dettol laundry cleanser with bio liquid or powder on a normal 40 degree wash and tumble dry or line dry. Clothes that havnt been dryed properly will smell damp'

Doesn't work tried this

--&

Finally, there have been so many replies telling me to use a washing machine and tumble dryer. Of course I have tried used a washing machine and dryer in the past and as I have said above, it hasn't worked at all and the smell has been building up throughout the year. The smell had gotten so bad that this was necessary

I dont think going to a laundrette will do anything because I already have the facilities here at university. I HAVE to go to a professional the has the right cleaners.

The main suspect here I think is the oils. Normal detergent can break down sweat enzymes but oils are different

OP posts:

Original poster

Stevenmil · 20/10/2018 02:37

The smell would make the entire room stink**

OP posts:

MonteCarla · 20/10/2018 02:38

Do you use soap or shower gel?

MissKnackered · 20/10/2018 02:40

Try biological powder, but read the packet for correct dose for water hardness and soiling and machine size.
Make sure washing machine is clean.

DeltaZulu89 · 20/10/2018 03:01

Why are you using washing up liquid? Do you mean laundry detergent, or are you talking about fairy liquid?
I don’t want to offend you, but are you sure the smell is as bad as you think? I know if I forgot deodorant, all I can think of is how much I stink, but when I ask DP he says he can’t smell anything. Have you checked with friends?
I think that’s excessive washing tbh, and if your clothes genuinely do smell so horrific, it’s time to start replacing them, maybe just one or two items a month if affordability is an issue, and then put your oils on at night so you’re not putting clothes on oily skin.

Lucylugs · 20/10/2018 03:14

Are all you clothes synthetic? Acrylic like running gear, lycra /elastine tops, jeans with polyester etc. Maybe try cotton t shirts, shirts and jeans andsee how that works. Also if you drink coffee / red bull etc the caffeine makes you sweat and it smells and can be really impoasible to get rid of.

FrameyMcFrame · 20/10/2018 03:25

The op says the smell is from oils used for her skin condition; NOT from sweat.

Op, how about dry cleaning or asking about it at the local dry cleaners?

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