Washing smells of wet dog HELP

[zara5897]

For the past few months our washing (weirdly predominantly white loads only) stinks of wet dog once washed. Less so when tumbled dried, but even through that it smells faintly. Tried doing smaller loads, larger loads, tried bi-carb soda and white wine vinegar and washing machine cleaner, air dryer, tumble dryer. Nothing works!!!

We use fairy bio and sometimes vanish.

Any ideas??? driving me nuts! My scrubs stink of wet dog it's so embarrassing. I don't know what to do.

Do you use powder or liquid/pods? Powder helps keep the drum cleaner as it contains bleaches.

Have you done an empty hot wash and cleaned out the drawer and the bit the drawer fits into? Also clean out the filter

Use liquid pods. Have cleaned drum, filter, drawer numerous times. Hot washes loads. Feel like I've done everything so I don't know why this is happening. Can't afford a new machine either... arghhh. Will try using powder.

Is this every item of every load? Sometimes if we leave things wet or slightly wet too long, like it takes ages to dry, or we leave it in the machine too long, we get this kind of smell that doesn’t ever leave some items.

Try a bit of laundry sanitiser or zoflora in the fabric softener bit of the machine when washing your scrubs. Can you not tolerate bio powder as that might be an option too as the enzymes can break down stains and smells

I have the same issue. Not all clothes but t shirts and leggings. I've tried everything

Its normally if they're wet too long before drying out.

I always found this with fairy. When I read the thread title, I thought "I bet it's fairy"! No idea why it would suddenly smell like that to you now though if you've always used it before?

I have this. I think it’s the drying process and the detergent used.

I have switched to pods lately and my washing is smelling beautiful.

🤷‍♀️

We have the same thing. It's a build up of the fairy pods and it seems to affect jersey the worst. Every couple of months I throw everything that is jersey fabric on a 60 wash with powder and it stops it happening. I always use powder with the whites so the liquid residue doesn't build up in the machine.

I thought that about the drying, but I put them onto dry immediately (it's a washer dryer) and they still smell faintly of dog when I do that - deffo not as strong though.

The pods are a newer thing, we used to use liquid. Can't remember if it started when we changed to pods? Hmmmm. I don't think so. I'll certainly check.

Adding something to the washing is something I haven't tried, other than vanish of course.

Has anyone experienced this and actually solved it by doing something? Interested to hear if you have.....

My science lab pal told me that plastic wrap in the pods doesn't fully dissolve and leaves a residue that really hard to clear.

I have a septic tank and she was explaining how it stops the tank working properly.

Ditch the pods and stick to powder and in the meantime do a couple of 90° washes to try to remove any build up of gunge in the machine.

@PurplePixies awesome. Thanks X

What have you tried to clean the machine?

The only thing I find works is half a bag of soda crystals in the drum on a hot wash.

I wasted a load of time with vinegar, bleach, bicarb, empty hot wash, dishwasher tablets - and nothing worked very well, there was a funny lingering damp smell on clothes.

Did Soda crystals and the water coming out was grey, I was really shocked at how dirty it was AFTER I'd tried all the other recommended cleaning tricks! Funky smell disappeared immediately.

I was just about to suggest soda crystals in a 90 degree wash. And using them alongside the powder in all washes. I ona 90 degree wash fortnightly to clean the machine through.

Yip it's the pods. I only use powder now. Soda crystals good idea.

Just come on to say i had this when using liquid in pod / dosing ball. Ran machine on empty with soda crystals in drum and calgon tablet on 90 degrees. Then used powder from then onwards, and i dont have a problem. I will bet it is the liquid, horrible stuff!

Soda crystals 💯🙌

I use it instead of vanish in my was from time to time really brings whites bk up too!

There was a program on Channel 5 the other week about laundry. The expert said that for best results you need to use powder, but don’t put it in the dispenser drawer put it in the drum before you load it.

I’ve always used powder but didn’t put it in the drum, I do now and my washing smells so much cleaner. Not that it smelled bad before mind.

A soak in Napisan will lift the smell from the fabric. I rescued a t shirt and some gym clothes this way, probably read about it on here. IMO it’s something that happens in the fabric rather than the machine as not all fabrics are prone to wet dog stench.

I was having this problem, I dry my washing indoors on an airer as well so it wasn't nice. I literally switched to the gel/liquid in the drawer and a different brand. It hasn't done it since weirdly, I just Tesco own brand washing gel/liquid and I also use a fabric softener. Always make sure you take it out when the wash finishes and don't leave it in the machine too long after

I have this but with dark loads. I'm going to try the sofa crystals.

Have you cleaned your filter (put an old towel on the floor before you open it)? Have you cleaned the rubbed seal around the drum. Use a thin sponge and with your fingers go all the way doing a 360. Old stuff will not dissolve with a washing machine cleaner.
Have you cleaned your soap dispenser.
Go back to powders and use an anti-bacterial liquid in the softener compartment.

Is it just your scrubs? Are they a mix ? Polyester and other synthetic fabric retain bacteria from sweat, especially at low temperatures

Definitely try switching to powder, made a huge difference for us. Also double check you've wiped clean the door seal, it's amazing the gunk and grub that gets stuck there.

Give it a rinse once it's done.

I had this with my dark loads. I put it on a rinse after and it smells fine after that.