Smelly laundry

[Notsureofname2]

for a while now I’ve noticed laundry is coming out smelling stale despite lovely smelling washing powder and fabric conditioner going in the machine. I’ve recently started using Calgon…then we started doing washing overnight when it was cheaper with electric. The first load came out smelling clean and I was happy to do night loads. However again the washing is coming out smelling stale..:again despite Calgon and powder and conditioner etc .
is it because the laundry is staying in the machine for 12hrs (6hrs before wash then approx 5hrs after finishing wash)??? Or is there something else I can add or do? I’m going to run it again later with the same clothes and empty it straight away to see if it’s more likely the staying in machine that’s the problem.any advice appreciated, thanks

Do a drum cleaning run at 90°C or use washing machine cleaner.

That should sort it.

90 with no clothes or anything in? Thanks

Yes.

Dishwasher tablets at a 90 degree wash also helps

I sometimes get smelly clothes and a hot wash sorts it.

That and you need to get the clothes out and hung up ASAP. Can you set a timer so that the wash finishes as you're getting up?

Have you cleaned the filter? That would be my first port of call.

Then agree with suggestions of a hot wash - no detergent but add half a cup of baking soda and another of white vinegar straight to the drum.

How’s your detergent drawer? And rubber seal around door? Any mould/gunk?

I absolutely love a washing machine thread 😂

Can you not set a timer so your washing starts in the middle of the night and finishes as you're getting up? I think leaving it in the drum definitely leads to a musty smell

I use a liquid to get rid of bacteria , it’s £3.50 in Tesco and you use it in the fabric softener drawer. It really works .

Need to clean drum out with the hottest wash your washer can do. Mine has a drum clean on it the washer starts flashing after 40 washes saying it needs a drum clean. It usually about a 2 and half hour wash but get rid of any smells.

Sal

Make sure you leave the drawer and door open between washes to air.

Have you taken the drawer out and given it a good scrub all around and in the 'hole' left behind when the drawer is out. It can get well manky in there.

I wouldn't leave washing in the machine after it's finished. Wet washing always starts to smell because bacteria grows on it. it needs to be on the line or in the dryer ASAP.

Yep. My washing would start to smell if it was left in the drum for 5 hours.

All the cleaning advice is good, but I do clean my machine regularly and still need to set the timer if I'm running it overnight so that it finishes around the time we get up.

Clean out the filter, people always forget to do this and it's usually the reason washing smells bad

Literally refreshing this thread to see if OP has cleaned her filter 😂

Thank you all so much!!! So I cleaned the drawer a few days ago, but smell continued. There seems to be a feeling that start the cycle closer to wakeup time is better?!!
im never sure…personally don’t like dirty clothes staying in machine for hours beforehand, but also don’t want freshly cleaned clothes sitting there waiting to be hung up and then becoming smelly! So I run it as soon as cheap rate starts so clothes are cleaned as soon as possible…if that makes sense!
or I could go back to washing at times other than between midnight & 4am! 🤣🤣🤣

Embarrassingly…where’s the filter??!!! I’ve cleaned the drawer and always leave machine door open to air x

It’s usually at the bottom of the machine, behind a removable panel.

If you’ve never done it before, prepare for a lot of water to come out, so either tilt the machine back and put a bowl below the filter before you open it, or open it a little at a time and mop what comes out with towels.

Switch the machine off at the socket before hand and obviously do it when the machine is empty.

Let us know how you get on!

Doing a 90 degree wash with Calgon in there tonight. Is it wrong to be excited?!

Oh right, I regularly leave dirty clothes in the machine for several hours before the wash. I figure they're just going to get cleaned so it's okay? I often set a timer so the wash is finishing as I get home from work.

Really excited for your fresh clothes this morning OP!

I've noticed that I've switched back to non biological washing powder due to allergies and eczema , my washing smells so much better, no more nasty smells. I've also switched from liquid /pods to powder and think this has made a difference.

Hope your washing machine clean works!

Other things to try:

What temperature are you washing at? If you're washing at 30 you may need to up to 40 if that's not getting stuff clean.

You might need a longer cycle if you're using a shorter one.

Are you using a decent washing powder and are you dosing correctly for your machine and water hardness- read the package and measure in a scoop or a jig. Liquid doesn't always work as well as powder and pods are very hard to get the dose right, you may need to use two pods which gets expensive. I prefer bio to non bio as I find it cleans better at lower temperatures but you might like to experiment.

Just adding, since I took my own advice above, I can leave clean washing in the machine for up to about 24 hours before it gets smelly - because its really getting clean.

Do you Wash everything at 30? Obviously that's better for the environment, your clothes and your energy bills, but you will eventually get a buildup of bacteria etc and need to clean the machine. Good luck!

It’s not wrong but did you also clean your filter?

Somethings worked! Thank you all! I always use non-bio powder & wash at 40
anuway. Maybe I didn’t use as much powder for some washes?! I dunno.
also brought some scent pod things from Aldi yesterday…the pink ones smell amazing!!! Laundry smells lovely today! Really sad but I’m so happy!!! Hate musty yucky smelling clothes!
Cleab washing, Aldi and a not-yet-brought-until-it’s-on-offer Ninja 15-in-1 are my obsessions today!