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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

talk to me about how you wash your clothes

41 replies

chumbler · 15/08/2015 07:21

my clothes have begun to smell after being washed, and after some research I'm a bit confused!

this is what I do weekly -
1 large load colours 40deg, 30min quick wash (includes pre soaked stained clothes)
1 small-medium white load 40deg, 30min quick wash (again usually includes pre soaked stained clothes)
towels and bedsheets on 40deg 30min wash (not together)

I use fairy non bio liquid straight in the machine with clothes. no softner (eczema)

I don't do any maintenance washes, not sure what to do?

I dry my clothes indoors on electric dryer all together

they smell Sad not really really bad, but they don't smell fresh. what can I do???

OP posts:
Tangoandcreditcards · 15/08/2015 07:29

I had a similar problem.

Stopped doing quick washes and that helped.

Also now use powder and not liquid.

Liquid is designed to last the wash, whereas powder is designed to dissolve. So liquid doesn't rinse as easily (especially in a quick wash) and the washing machine gets clogged with soap scum causing smells.

NB I got all this from other threads on the Internet, so make of that what you will. But it's definitely been better since I started doing long washes.

Tangoandcreditcards · 15/08/2015 07:31

Oh sorry. I also now do at least one hotter wash a week (60degs - towels). To help clear out the pipes too.

I am energy inefficient Sad but my washing doesn't smell damp any more...

Penfold007 · 15/08/2015 07:35

Use a bio laundry product, it's the perfume in detergent not the bio bit that can irritate eczema. Don't overload machine and set at 40deg on a full not quick wash. Towels, sheets need a full wash preferably at 60deg. I like to add Dettol laundry additive or a splash of Zoflorain the conditioner secretion as like the fabric conditioner with Febreeze.
Spread clothes out on the aired so they are not bunched up, if you can line dry them I think it helps.

You can clean your machine by running it empty on a very hot wash. Most supermarkets sell a washing machine cleaning product and I like to add that but you can use washing soda.

JugglingChaotically · 15/08/2015 07:36

I use liquid only and no softener (eczema also) but only use quick wash for things that are barely worn - swim suits, clothes almost clean etc.
For the rest I use a 1hr wash if normal or the full wash and water plus if muddy kit, school trip horrors etc.
But I do towels on 90c and bedding on 60 for bed bugs
Yes, I am probably ocd with laundry!!!
Suggest a couple of 90c washes with no clothes and some powder to see if that helps
Good luck!
(Ps have given up on pre soaking and add vanish to the wash instead!)

wowfudge · 15/08/2015 07:36

The smell is coming from the machine. You are not using hot enough washes or powder which contains bleaching ingredients to stop the gunk that otherwise builds up in the machine.

You need to give the machine a maintenance wash - there are hundreds of threads about this on here. Stick some washing soda crystals in instead of the laundry liquid and put it on its hottest, longest wash.

If you've never done this before and have been washing as you describe for a considerable time you may find this dislodges the residues and you need to repeat this cycle in order to completely clear things.

To stop this from happening again first switch to powder as no liquid contains bleaching agents and they contribute to the build up.

Do a hot wash every week - this is perfect for towels - so a wash at 60 degrees as a minimum.

Stop using the short wash programmes so frequently. You need to use mainly full length programmes to stop the build up of smelly gunk.

HTH

addictedtosugar · 15/08/2015 07:38

Agree with the above
Switch to powder. The loose stuff that goes in the drawer, not the pressed tablets.
Do one of the washes as a longer cycle, and maybe hotter ocasionally.
Is there any way of drying outside? I'm assuming not, but outside, or next to an open window will also help if its dry.

Superexcited · 15/08/2015 07:39

Do you take the clothes out of the machine and hang them up as soon as the wash cycle is complete? Leaving them in the machine or in the wash basket whilst wet can lead to musty smells.
Other than that I would add some detail,laundry cleanser to the next few washes just to make sure that any bacteria in the clothes is killed. I know some people are not fond of detail laundry cleanser but I find that it gets bacteria smells out of clothes that soap powder doesn't manage (especially sweat on gym clothes).

cherrytree63 · 15/08/2015 07:39

I've had this problem too. So now I use powder, a couple of drops of Zoflora in the rinse cycle, and a weekly hot wash of towels with soda crystals added to washing powder.
I take the clothes out of the machine as soon as the cycle has finished, and leave the door and soap dispenser open to air and dry.
When I think of it I take the soap tray out and clean up any gunk that's built up under it, clean the tray and the filter and button trap.

Superexcited · 15/08/2015 07:40

^ dettol, not detail.

Artandco · 15/08/2015 07:41

They aren't being washed long enough.

Here our standard cotton wash is 2 1/2 hours. The Eco one is over 3 hrs

cherrytree63 · 15/08/2015 07:44

Also I've cleaned the machine by running a hot cycle using dishwasher tablets that are brilliant for degreasing.

Ginfox · 15/08/2015 08:14

Try using white vinegar as softener. Apparently it helps rinse out the soap, which would otherwise go stale when clothes are dry. Vinegar evaporates as clothes dry, so no vinegary smell.

Been doing this for years and works for me (and cheap too)

Original poster
chumbler · 15/08/2015 08:25

wow thanks everyone Smile had no idea quick wash was so bad, only being doing it for a year.... Blush

about to run a couple of really hot, really long washes

and I'll start doing longer washes for clothes. would you recommended normal cotton wash or can I use eco wash??

OP posts:
Original poster
chumbler · 15/08/2015 08:26

oh cool, so I'll run a hot wash now with no clothes, just powder and some vinegar?

OP posts:
Penfold007 · 15/08/2015 08:26

OP I prefer the normal cotton wash.

Flossieflower01 · 15/08/2015 08:34

I do 20 loads per week HOW do you only have three?! Our bedding alone is more than three!

I use bio powder and the 'normal' length cycles, 40 deg for clothes, 60 for towels, bedding and teenage PE kit. I put a few drops of zoflora in the fabric conditioner section when washing towels and PE kit. I do an empty 90 deg cycle with soda crystals about every two months. Only every use the 30 min cycle to rinse something that's basically clean anyway. My in laws only every use the 30 min cycle and non bio liquid and all their clothes are a bit grubby....

Original poster
chumbler · 15/08/2015 08:37

oh no I hope I don't look grubby!! Grin

haha well 1 colour wash which I now think should be split into 2 as I do have to cram it into the machine, 1 white, 1 towels, 1 bedding. so 5 altogether now. I was doing loads as I separated baby's clothes from ours but now I do them altogether

that's also why I want to stick with non bio as better for baby I am led to believe!

OP posts:
PolterGoose · 15/08/2015 08:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StealthPolarBear · 15/08/2015 08:47

Never understood thay about the economy settings on machines. Less water but more electricity surely?

poisonedbypen · 15/08/2015 08:53

Don't use powder in the maintenance wash, you are trying to clean it out. Use a cup of white vinegar. no need for non bio for baby clothes. it's a myth.

BeaufortBelle · 15/08/2015 08:55

I do bedding and towels on 60, 1 hr, 26 mins. Everything else on 40, occasionally more delicate stuff on 30, 20 min quick wash (the stuff dd discards after wearing for three hours). Always persil non bio and comfort sensitive.

I collect the tea towels and cleaning cloths and about every three weeks fo a 90 wash set to 2.5 hours with aerial bio, and a handful of soda in the drum.

No probs with smells since

justabigdisco · 15/08/2015 08:58

You need to do proper cycles, not quick washes. Quick washes are for occasional small loads for freshening up, IMO

justabigdisco · 15/08/2015 09:06

Agree with others about regular maintenance washes with vinegar or soda crystals, also leave door open after washes. I only ever use non bio though and it's fine.

TongueBiter · 15/08/2015 09:15

It can take two or three empty washes to properly dislodge and clear all the gunk if it's been there a while ...

Original poster
chumbler · 15/08/2015 10:59

is white wine vinegar OK?? I hope so... Blush

OP posts:
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