Greasy unwashed smell from sheets

[Lulapointless]

I wash my sheets at least once a week - i know this is hotly debated on here. They are pure cotton and I usually wash them at 60in biological powder for whites. If I dry them and put them straight back on they are fine, but if I store them for a week then put them back on there is a faint smell. I can't quite describe it. A sort of greasy smell.

I've been at home all day and have washed the whole lot at 90 twice but I have not found that has helped in the past. Is there anything else I can try? I'm not a fan of fabric conditioner as it makes my eyes stream.

I sleep alone and I had never considered myself to be particularly greasy or smelly until this issue arose.

I thought the enzymes stop working at temperatures higher than 50? Perhaps 60 is too hot for bio washing powder.

Maybe try a non-bio laundry detergent at a higher temperature?

Do they? I will just stick the whole lot on again at 50 to see if that helps. Not got any non-bio in. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes, when washing at 60 the bio doesn't work. Try non-bio and adding a bit of Napisan or Dettol Laundry detergent to the wash.

Dettiol laundry stuff is brill

40 degrees is apparently best (from what I've seen on the internet). Perhaps there's a temperature suggested on the back of the box though?

Good luck!

Better to use a 30 or 40 wash if you're using biological. I only use biological in the pre-wash cycle, then non-bio for the main wash. 40° for towels & sheets here, always with a pre-wash, everything else gets washed at 30. No nasty smells. I do line dry if possible though, it definitely makes everything smell nicer!

Ive tried the dettol laundry stuff and that hasn't helped. I'm not sure about the washing at 40 thing because i always wash all the bedlinen at 40 first in case there is any blood, then I wash it at 60. So the 40 wash should shift the smell. But it doesnt. Anyway I have put it on again at 40 (don't have 50 on new machine). I might stick some vinegar in. I won't know if it has worked until next time I put these on the bed. The ones on there now I just washed and put straight back on so they smell fine.

Do you use emollients or any skin products with paraffin? They can coat sheets and it is hard to get them off, apparently. If yes, you may need to use an old fashioned scrubbing brush in the bath!

Otherwise, perhaps run a cleaner through your machine then wash again with Napisan?

Not the day to suggest this, I know, but drying things outside always helps with odours.

Do you use fabric conditioner? I don't, & it's completely fine. Stopped a couple of years ago & it hasn't made any difference to anything except how much we spend on laundry products.

No fabric conditioner and no lotions or anything like that.

The washing machine is brand new and the problem pre-dates that. It is just bedlinen that is affected, as well as a t-shirt I use as a pyjama top. I never wear that more than one night before washing it. I've tried soaking the t-shirt in various things and nothing has helped a difference.

I am actually going to ask somebody tomorrow if I smell.

Try soda crystals in the drum (use powder too)
They are recommended for greasy stains so should help.

Is it not where you are storing them? Are they picking up cooking smells or something in the cupboard where you keep them?

Yes I will try soda crystals. I have a packet somewhere. I don't think they are picking up smells as they are just on a shelf on the aiting cupboard. The tshirt is in a drawer in my bedroom. I think the smell must be really ingrained. It is a faint smell but it is there.

Only thing I can think of that is body oils - but washing at high temp should sort that.

What's been mentioned up thread is right that enzymes stop at about 40-50 degrees, but unless you have an old hot fill washer the enzymes will still be working as the water heats up gradually and enzymes are for stain removal.

Have you tried a different detergent (still a Bio for whites, but maybe a different brand).

Only last thing I can think, as you say it only happenes when stored - where are they being stored? It could be materials in the storage cupboard (eg what's it made from or paints used in it). Is it all sheets or just one particular set?

washing at high temp is fine with bio powder. it takes quite some time for the water to reach temperature.

op it's the wardrobe? are the sheets completely dry before soring them away? can you put a bar soap in with the sheet togive off scent? a block of cedar wood?

I've started using detergent tablets after years of using capsules. Clothes smell a lot cleaner.

My sheets smell like that if they have been stored. I liken the smell to a very faint wet wool kind of smell. I use unstoppables on my sheets now and the fragrance really does last.

Try some zoflora in your wash, could the greasy smell be where you are storing them ? Maybe a slightly damp or unventilated cupboard? X

Are they being dried properly?

Not for sheets, but I use a cupful.of vinegar to get rid of smells from gym kit. I hung it in with the detergent and it shifts the smells.

Do you always use the same laundry powder? I switched to a new one and it smelt to me like mildew/ washing that's been left wet too long. I couldn't bear to sleep in the bed but smelt fine to DP. Perhaps it's a fragrance issue?