Laundry problems - everything smells! (and eczema...)

[Yellowingtrees]

For about 18 months DH did all the laundry, but we're swapping jobs, partly because all our clothes now smell... I don't seem to be able to get on top of this, so I need advice! What I've done so far

• Clean the seal (handfuls of sludge, but it's still spotty w mould stains which I can't get off, even after following all the instructions I can find
• Used washing machine cleaner
• Run a 90 degree wash
• Used white vinegar
• Cleaned the filter and the drawer, and always leave the door open

The machine itself doesn't really smell any more, but the laundry - in particular towels - often smells horrible. The towels can't really be used for more than 2 days, which is hopeless.

I line dry everything - easy this summer, so I don't think this is a drying problem. In the winter we have a hanging laundry thing and a dehumidifier. I usually use Ecoleaf liquid detergent, but we are almost at the end of that, so I'm up for trying other things.

I either need to use non bio for everything, or to separate out my son's stuff (he's got horrible eczema-prone skin) which I would do for a while, if it allowed me to wash whatever has got into the clothes out again!

Suggestions? Advice? Thank you!

Put bicarbonate of soda in the drum and put it on a 60 degree cycle.

Tesco non bio pods work for us.
I can smell persil and fairy from a mile away!
Always extra rise. I don't dry dd's bedding outside as she's severely allergic to pollen

I'd love to use an eco product but my family's clothes all stink unless I use fairy non bio dissolvable pods

When mine were babies they used to have dreadful eczema. I stopped using fabric softener altogether and switched to ecover detergent , which I think did help the eczema a bit, but the clothes always smelled unpleasantly damp.

I used to add a couple of drops of lavender oil which was much better than nothing, and not at all overpowering (and obviously you can control exactly how much you use). I was grateful when I was able to make the switch back to regular fairy non bio, though!

You could try some Dettol antibacterial washing liquid, put a good amount in for a cycle.

I am very sensitive to scent in detergent and biological detergent.

I use Bio D lavender and Waitrose Surcare.

Ecover laundry liquid. I use the unscented but sometimes use the lavender. It's very lightly scented

This happens to me every time I switch to the Eco laundry stuff - it just doesn't seem to get them clean.
I use Fairy non-bio pods for clothes, and bio powder for sheets and towels. I also use nice fabric conditioner.
My machine is a bit grim as well, there's some black mould on the seal that I tried almost everything to get rid of, but the clothes always smell nice. I sometimes put towels on at 60 if they start getting that musty smell.

I stopped using Ecover after reading about laundry smelling awful. Maybe Ecoleaf is the same. Have you tried Sure Care sensitive? I found that ok with eczema

Only use liquids for dark washes. For lights/whites/towels etc use powder.

Ecover non bio powder with lavender and eucalyptus has been fine for all of us - DS and I both prone to eczema

Ooh Question -
When the WM goes for a cleaning cycle it states "empty drum"
If I have some kitchen cloths that need washed , What's the harm of them going in too ?
I do the dishwasher empty apart from a small bowl of white vinegar on the top basket , but nothing else .,

I've done this, checked with the washer repair man first who said, "can't see why not"; worked fine.

Word of warning - I'm on my third washing machine element. I used to use torn up rags for cleaning then chuck them in the washer because I resemble a duck's bum with regards to frugality. Do not recommend this. Both the failed elements were coated in limescale (very hard water area) and bits of frayed rag, that had caused the elements to overheat and die. So I now use microfibre cloths and those knitted cotton dishcloths from the supermarket. Have used a drum clean to clean them because it only takes and hour and washes at 90deg and it works a treat.

Bio-D powder works for us. Its unscented. They also do a sanitising powder (a bit like Napisan but eco froendly)

Use powder and wash towels at at least 60.
We are an eczema family and I use bio powder. A decent long rinse means there is nothing left on the clothes, this also negates any smell of detergent.
Non bio liquids, especially the eco stuff, are shite.

Damp, musty towel smells usually mean trapped bacterial buildup, which eco-liquids can't always kill at low temps.
Try running towels on a 60°C wash using a sensitive non-bio powder powder contains oxygen bleach, which liquids lack plus an antibacterial laundry cleanser. For the seal mould, press bleach-soaked cotton wool strips onto the rubber overnight.
Over at MCH, the most common fix brought up for damp-smelling laundry is simply swapping liquid detergent for traditional powder detergent!

IV e been using ecover liquid with Dettol laundry disinfectant for a while which is helping with a problem like this.

White vinegar in the soap drawer, do a short 40 degree wash without any detergent & then run your normal cycle, that's what I have just done after my new sheets arrived stinking of mould.