Ecover floor cleaner, DS and my washing machine

[MrFibble]

I fear that DS (2yo and turning me gray) has just poured half a container (approx 500 ml in total) of Ecover floor cleaning fluid into my washing machine whilst it was running. The washing stinks of strong Ecover IYSWIM. Do you think it can be rescued by rinsing and rinsing and rinsing or am I stuck with aire-de-floor-cleaner?

What should I do to shift the smell?

Well, I've washed it 4 times, tumble dried it and now I am going to hang it outside all day (providing it does not snow or drop below -10!) and see if that shifts the smell!

DS is a demon. He also unplugged every cable on the hifi and turned off the router in the time it took me to go to the loo. I should know that whenever there is silence, there is chaos...

Ah yes, silence = up to no good.
At least you know your clothes are really, really clean, and environmentally friendly too!

We went to see our charming, delightful 'good as gold' 6 year old grandson last night on his birthday and reminisced about his toddler years.
He was an absolute force of nature, the fastest child on earth, I looked after him a few days each week and can honestly say I've never met such a child!
I bought a cupboard for the computer and another for the TV and DVD as they would be on or unplugged in a twinkle, the shopping would be unpacked and all over the kitchen, all the toys out in the first 5 mins of his arrival.You couldn't leave a knife out anywhere on the work surface as he could climb on anything. No stairgate could keep him in or out of anywhere he wanted to be.

He wasn't naughty just like a toddler on speed! By 18 mnths he could switch PC on at the wall, open said cupboard, turn on PC and start browsing Cbeebies before you had drawn breath. In fact I think I've blanked out exactly what he was like as it made my nerves bad!
He's still super fast, (never say screwdriver in front of him as one is in your hand before you've finished the sentence!!) but is immensely organised and helpful, kind and funny. He still talks your head off all day long, but is a true joy.

I did laugh last night though when my daughter said with heartfelt feeling in response to the usual, '6! Where has the time gone?' remarks, 'I do feel that I've known DS2 for a very long time'

That made me smile (and has given me some hope!)

Sorry was wanting to talk about our boy and empathise and forgot to say, Good luck with the Washing! The smell will fade and you too will look back in fond rememberance!!

And thank God it wasn't bleach!
My DS used to put bags of crisps in the washing machine and turn it on.

Earthymama - your DGS sounds like my DS!

DS is 2. This morning he took all the shelves out of the oven, put in all his toy food and turned on the oven. He also attempted to make espresso for me (bless!) and was up on the kitchen counter with the coffee grinder and was busy taking the beans out of the high cupboard. I also found a DVD in the CD player in the kitchen and the WII handset plugged into the USB port of my external disk drive. All this in less than 10 minutes.

One of his first words was, "screwdriver!"

I love him to bits but he is turning me gray rapidly.

Chillohippo - whoever said silence is golden has obviously never met our offspring!

Oh blimey, MrFibble! Did all the toy food melt or did you get to it in time?

Got to it in time!

All cleaning fluids now stored on high shelves so I can see that DS will be busy this afternoon pushing chairs around to get to them.....

My heart goes out to you.

You might need to thoroughly clean out your washing machine first and then redo your load of washing. Something like HG Service Engineer (available from Lakeland) might help to get rid of the smell and any remaining linseed oil from the floor cleaner.

Do you think a 90 degree boil wash would help?

Thanks for the tip - shall go and look at Lakeland (any excuse to peruse that site!).

Nightmare Mr Fibble!!

I'd empty washing machine. Run a 90 degree empty load with bleach, washing powder, fab conditioner to try and tackle the washing nmachine smell.

WRT your smelly washing, I'd try a normal wash but double up the amount of washing powder and fab conditioner. It may be worth getting some super strong smelling fab cond like Lenor if you ususally use an eco one.

I am mother to Earthymama's DGS. I too have gone rapidly grey and I think I have mentally blocked out the more 'difficult' times I had with him as a toddler.

Tho still shudder when I remember him climbing out of his cot, silently opening FOUR stair gates as he progressed through the house, climbing out of the dog flap, negotiating steep steps down to a bolted gate where we had a full 10ft paddling pool set up on the decking. I woke up, searched the house, no DS! Finally found him, naked but for his nappy, trying to climb into said pool!!

PS, he is FAB now and excellent at finding anything we've lost, 1st with his shoes on, will get everyones, hats, scarves, coats, gloves without being asked and 'organise' them into getting ready, including his 13yr old big brother

Good luck with the stink!!

OK - the washing was hung outside all day. The smell of floor cleaner has gone but mainly because it has been masked by the aroma of the muck that was spread on the fields behind my house yesterday morning. Lovely.

A 90 degree wash seems to have sorted out the washing machine.

BuckBuckMcFate - it is cheering to hear that you survived your DS's toddlerhood. I found my DS this morning with a pair of scissors (that are stored in the head high cupboards in the kitchen) trying to cut off his nappy... He was standing on a high kitchen stool to do so.

Give me strength!