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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Smelly washing

36 replies

LouiseEH · 10/10/2019 17:06

How can I stop my washing on the clothes horse from smelling? I didn’t have this problem in the summer but now it’s getting colder, my washing is taking longer to dry and is starting to smell. I do have a tumble dryer, which I use a lot but some things can’t be tumbled.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 10/10/2019 17:10

What are you washing them with? I do most of my laundry with daz,which is good at eliminating funky smells. Conversely, I use method or ecover liquid on non-tumble dry clothes (generally my more expensive things!), which I wash in smaller loads and finish with a vinegar rinse and give them lots of space on an airer.

PickAChew · 10/10/2019 17:10

Just to clarify, it's daz powder that I use.

NuffingChora · 10/10/2019 17:14

Wash them again at a slightly higher temperature (if they can take it) with something like napisan or dettol laundry disinfectant to get rid of the smell (I find washing again alone doesn’t get rid of the smell if you can’t then tumble dry the items) And get a dehumidifier.

BertieBotts · 10/10/2019 17:15

What kind of airer do you have? I get this problem if the clothes aren't spread out well enough. I find when I use a tower style airer it's better, because I can spread things out more in winter. And place it near a radiator or the oven, if you can (but you can only do this if you don't tend to fry things, since frying anything will transfer cooking smells to clothing)

Original poster
LouiseEH · 10/10/2019 17:17

I usually use whatever is on offer or is the cheapest in whatever shop I go to. Recently it’s been Aldi’s liquid tabs with Asda’s anti bacterial laundry cleanser, have just changed to Aldi’s washing powder instead to see if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 10/10/2019 17:18

The ones that are like three stacked Xs are especially crap for this.

You need one of these.

www.argos.co.uk/product/8505655

www.argos.co.uk/product/8500368

Closetbeanmuncher · 10/10/2019 17:19

A dehumidifier next to it should do the trick.

Crazyladee · 10/10/2019 17:21

I don't think it's the type of detergent you're using, its the fact they are not drying quickly enough.
Can you place the airer in a warmer place? Or even somewhere with a window open? Can you spread them out better on the airer? Spin them on a higher spin setting?

Original poster
LouiseEH · 10/10/2019 17:21

This is the airer I have. The only space I have for it is under my stairs. With two small children I have A LOT of washing to do so lots to dry so I can’t spread it out as much as I’d like.

Will having a fan blowing on it help in anyway?

Smelly washing
OP posts:
SapatSea · 10/10/2019 17:27

I used to get this problem around this time of year too before its cold enough for the heating to click on but can't dry outside. I solved it by buying an extra rack and putting only half a load on each rack so the clothes aren't so densely packed. I also use a bit of Dettol laundry cleanser in the conditioner drawer (but I see you do this) and bio powder . I have 4 racks out in the kitchen atm its pretty crowded but once the heating clicks in it'll be fine agian. I have a decent dehumidifier (£140 type one) but find it doesn't seem to help that much with drying.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 10/10/2019 17:31

Just tumble everything. Nothing shrinks.

BertieBotts · 10/10/2019 17:34

This will fit in the same amount of space but not have clothes lying over each other. www.argos.co.uk/product/8500492

Under the stairs is really bad for airflow though. Can you not even tuck it in the corner of a bedroom? We have one in our room, and one in DS1's room.

Smelly washing
SapatSea · 10/10/2019 17:34

That's the rack I have, I have 4 of them as my older kids seem to do no end of washing, loads everyday and yet they rarely head out. WE don't have a drier in this house with its stupid fully "integrated " kitchen.
Could you tumble some things on their own on a low setting? I used to seperate the towels out and do them on their own, then the bed linen and then some other stuff like PJ's and T shirts on their own on low it stopped from clothes shrinking. I have been known to put the heating on for an hour or so , but open the doors and windows, festoon the radiators with clothes just to give them a blast of heat to boost them along this time of year.

redchocolatebutton · 10/10/2019 17:35

ok, so you have an airer that doesn't allow much air circulation, plus you have in a corner where there is not much air circulating.

can you put it in/over the bathtub and leave the window slightly open/the fan running?
or can you get a (electric) dehumidifier to place in the room you dry your clothes in?

heated airers are great, but again, you need to have air circulation to get clothes dry.

BertieBotts · 10/10/2019 17:36

If you have the ceiling space, get the one which is taller than that from Argos (I linked it in my first post). You can fold away one side so the footprint ends up teeny but it holds the clothes a decent amount of space apart from each other. It holds 3-4 full loads of laundry, or 2 if you fold one side down (or spread them out)

I've never had a tumble drier and I swear by these.

Rafflesway · 10/10/2019 17:37

I find there is very little nowadays that can't be tumble dried even where the label says not to.

Do you have a low heat and /or gentle/delicates setting on your dryer? Try these settings where you are nervous and keep checking. You should be fine.

The washing is smelling because, as a pp stated, it isn't drying quickly enough. This time of year is a nightmare for family laundry.

dottiedodah · 10/10/2019 17:50

Try to tumble as much as possible .I always double spin mine so it will dry more quickly .Also use 2/3 cups Comfort and a laundry cleanser as well .Most clothes will be OK on a low heat or just dry for 20 mins or so

confusedandemployed · 10/10/2019 17:53

I have one like @LouiseEH and I position it right next to a radiator. On especially damp or cold days I throw a double duvet over the top. Everything is always dry within a few hours.

Original poster
LouiseEH · 10/10/2019 17:58

Thank for all the help :) I’ve got lots of different things to try now and hopefully it’ll get better when I put the heating on lol

OP posts:
SpoonBlender · 10/10/2019 18:35

Smelly washing is almost always due to gunk in the washing machine.

Go around and under the folds of the door rubber seal with a cloth - clean out the gunge. Do a boil (90 degree) whites wash (no clothes!) with a bit of bleach, or a lot of vinegar. Do another boil wash with nothing added, and another if it still smells of nasty or bleach or vinegar.

All these 'dry your things faster' will help, but actually clean clothes won't go manky on an airer.

bluetue · 10/10/2019 18:56

Can you up the heating for a few hours to dry it quicker?

MissSmiley · 10/10/2019 19:10

What about a Lakeland heated plug in dryer but I second cleaning the machine properly first

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 10/10/2019 19:16

It's hard work but you need to rotate the washing on the airer a bit. Things that are thinner and quicker to dry should go on the inner parts. Turn things over, shove small things on the radiators. Hang shirts and tops on coat hangers around the outside of the dryer. Iron things when they're still ever so slightly damp. Clean your washing machine. Use powder rather than liquid or tabs.

pigglypug · 10/10/2019 19:20

I've had this problem too recently! It's from overloading the airer so things don't get the chance to dry properly.

I've managed to resolve it a bit by hanging anything I can on clothes hangers on the edge, so it leaves more space on the actual airer for things that need to be there.

Use radiators, doors etc for as much as you can and make sure everything on the airer is properly spread out.

pigglypug · 10/10/2019 19:20

Ah yes @Nextphonewontbesamsung has all the good advice!