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Housekeeping

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Original poster

DP's washing is smelly

27 replies

SheepNoisesOff · 26/03/2013 14:48

I've asked him numerous times to figure out what the problem is and get it sorted, but it has never happened.

DP's washing comes out of the washing machine smelly, and if he hangs it indoors then the whole room starts to smell. It's not the machine; my washing and the children's washing comes out fine. I occasionally clean the machine with vinegar and I'm positive that it's not the machine itself that's the problem. I've washed his clothes myself to make sure it's not that he's forgetting the detergent or something like that, but they still come out stinking. If he puts something else in with his wash (like the children's clothes) then that comes out smelly as well.

I couldn't say exactly how it smells but it does almost smell like there's been no washing detergent put in with his wash. Sour, basically.

Any tips? I can't stand it, he hangs his washing up indoors and then leaves me at home with that horrible sour smell!

OP posts:
cupcake78 · 26/03/2013 14:51

Is he putting too much in at once? Is he putting the washing powder/liquid in the right container? If its only his washing he must be doing or not doing something different.

Other than that I'd say clear the filter, give it a good wash cycle with some detergent in it on a hot wash and hope.

cupcake78 · 26/03/2013 14:52

Oh I've just seen that you've tried all my suggestions. Sorry he must just be stinky Wink

Freddiemisagreatshag · 26/03/2013 14:52

Steep his stuff in the bath with powder on it?

HotCrossPun · 26/03/2013 14:54

Tis a strange one!

What does it smell like before he puts it in the washing machine?

derektheladyhamster · 26/03/2013 14:55

maybe his clothes need a longer cycle than he's doing? a hotter wash or prewash might help

Original poster
SheepNoisesOff · 26/03/2013 14:55

Haha cupcake I think so too Grin The funny thing is the clothes don't smell bad when they're dry (thank goodness).

Freddie that might be an option, it does seem like a bit of a faff though because he's not going to do it and heaven knows I have enough to do as it is. I was also thinking about chucking some vinegar in with his wash, but I would have to catch him in the act of doing his washing first.

OP posts:
Freddiemisagreatshag · 26/03/2013 14:56

I'd steep it in the bath with tons of good quality detergent. I bet he's not putting in enough and using a low temp.

Original poster
SheepNoisesOff · 26/03/2013 14:58

HotCrossPun I haven't had a good whiff of his clothes before they go in the wash but I wouldn't say that his washing smelled any worse than mine. Perhaps a bit manlier in smell Wink so not exactly fragrant, but not horrible like it does when it comes out!

Maybe I can convince him to try a prewash. He normally washes everything on 60 degrees (next hottest setting is a boil wash, 95 degrees, but maybe we should try it for the socks and jocks at least).

OP posts:
Freddiemisagreatshag · 26/03/2013 14:58

As an aside, I found my washing didn't smell as fresh when I was using supermarket own non-bio and washing at 30

Rhianna1980 · 26/03/2013 14:59

Certain clothing material seem to lock the sweaty smell in it no matter how many times you wash it. I had couple of items like that which I ended up throwing away.

Try using lenor spring awakening conditioner . It smells Devine !!! And the smell stays on the clothes for a very long time .

MissFenella · 26/03/2013 15:03

hot wash and try adding napisan too

HazeltheMcWitch · 26/03/2013 15:06

Does he use bio wash stuff, and enough of it?
Is he taking it out of the washer as soon as it's finished?
Maybe try that Sports wash stuff for stinkers and see if that makes a difference?
Or tell him to rub vinegar on the underarms prewash to get rid of the ponk?

Original poster
SheepNoisesOff · 26/03/2013 15:14

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all these tips and I think I'll try all of them one by one (with throwing them away as a last resort!)

I might have to try some bio washing powder, I hadn't thought of that. I do have some lying around (I only use it for cleaning though). DP has sensitive skin & psoriasis so I might have to Google first to make sure it won't be an issue for him. We are in NL so I will see if there's any special washing powder available for smelly people.

Just a small whinge to you all about how this shouldn't be my problem, DP is in general a caring partner but he really takes the piss with certain things and the bloody washing is one of them

OP posts:
SatsukiKusukabe · 26/03/2013 15:20

I buy baking soda in bull for cleaning and I always bung a cup of that and a cup of vinegar in with my washing. doesn't irritate my skin and I have excema have read you should use them together so thigh dont upset phone balance. that could be bollocks however does get rid of all smells even cloth nappies

Freddiemisagreatshag · 26/03/2013 15:20

You can re-wash in non bio with tons of rinses if sensitivity is an issue.

SatsukiKusukabe · 26/03/2013 15:21

bulk -bull
though- thigh
ph balance- phone balance.

HazeltheMcWitch · 26/03/2013 15:24

It's rubbish that this becomes your problem, OP. I sympathise. My ovaries seem to ensure that this happens to me sometimes too.

I'd really try telling him that his clothes DO stink. That he needs to try bio first then an extra rinse as 1st trial. If he itches, he then tries bio 1st instantly followed by non-bio.

CrazyOldCatLady · 26/03/2013 15:51

I'd say he's overloading it. I did the same myself for a while and the stuff stank. Get him to do half loads for a week and see what happens.

mathanxiety · 26/03/2013 16:36

If you can find borax it helps with smelly washing-related problems.

I think he's skimping on the detergent because of his sensitive skin.

colditz · 26/03/2013 16:43

I was all adult clothes with biological powder. My kids are fine with non bio but I find that adult clothes are never properly clean without a good long biological dousing.

colditz · 26/03/2013 16:44

Give the washing an extra rinse to shift the powder residue, but never ever skimp on the powder, or the quality.

KelleStar · 26/03/2013 16:47

My husband is an engineer, his clothes get greasy and really sweaty and I put his on a pre wash with napisan, bio powder and an extra rinse cycle. No conditioner as I don't get on with the smell whilst pregnant.

Our machine also has a sports clothes wash, this is really effective but quite a long cycle.

BettyandDon · 26/03/2013 16:47

I just think he needs some new clothes...

erowid · 26/03/2013 18:27

Hang to dry outside on a sunny day. My clothes get a bit musty after drying indoors over the winter.

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 26/03/2013 18:35

When he dries it, does he leave it all creased up in lumps or does he spread it out so that the air gets at it all properly?

I've had to rewash stuff after DD didn't hang it right and it went musty.