Smelly Laundry - Cortlandt Manor,NY

Updated on January 24, 2011
J.C. asks from Bronxville, NY
10 answers

Hello ladies,

Sometimes my sheets and tablecloths come out of the dryer and still don't smell fresh. Any suggestions on how to make them smell fresher??

Thanks!!

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So What Happened?

Thanks, moms! My hubby has a lot of body oils which I think is the problem with the sheets. I'm going to try baking soda and vinegar rinses. I'll grab some borax, too!

I'd love to hang stuff outside but I have bad allergies so I can't do it. That and it's winter in NY.

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R.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Ive tried the vinegar and it didn't work for us... but baking soda in the wash worked wonders :) Cheap too.

3 moms found this helpful

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B.B.

answers from Chicago on

Have you tried wiping the drum with some water & vinegar? maybe it just needs to be washed itself and its not the clothes?

My husbands clothes are seriously stinky- I used scented softner in the washing machine and in the dryer and it seems to help. I also used the softner that is made by arm and hammer and it breaks the stink!

2 moms found this helpful
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E.M.

answers from Honolulu on

I put vinegar in my wash as a fabric softener and then hang dry them. After hang drying they get put in the dryer on tumble for 10 minutes to soften. They always smell wonderful.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.C.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I put vinegar with a couple of drops of lavender or lemon essential oil in my washing machine for the "fabric softener." It works great as a fabric softener, is safe for your washer/dryer, and the smells are totally gone, even the gross, smelly towels that were left at the bottom of the hamper...

1 mom found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Tallahassee on

You may need to clean your washing machine. Clorox makes a washing machine cleaner and it worked very well for my washing machine. I tried Tide's washing machine cleaner multiple times and it did nothing to help. I had to use the Clorox washing machine cleaner twice and now my washing machine no longer smells and neither do my clothes. Also, on stinky laundry loads I use baking soda and vinegar with the detergent and I pour vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser and I do one extra rinse to make sure all the soapy residue is off the clothes. Good luck!

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K.M.

answers from Chattanooga on

Vinegar, baking soda, oxy cleaners, borax, and washing the clothes every time they are worn (or almost every time). The vinegar and the baking soda are great for maintenance upkeep. The borax and oxy are great for soaking.
My hubby's body chemistry is very strong... stained with stink are the socks and undies. All of the above at discretionary intervals works great for me. :)

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L.W.

answers from Portland on

Do you leave wet clothes in the washer for long periods or time? Doing that can create a smell that is nearly impossible to get rid of! If that's the case run an empty load with just bleach (or vinegar) and hot water. That should help! Sometimes just switching soaps helps too. I notice that I get used to the smell of our soap and can't really smell it anymore, but my husband says they smell good. Maybe switch every 6 mo or whenever to keep it fresh!
If they get "stale" from being in the closet, throw them in the dryer with a new dryer sheet and a wet washcloth. The steam from the washcloth drying with activate the dryer sheet and help them refresh. And there's always Febreeze!

A.S.

answers from Detroit on

Borax and don't leave anything in the washer for any length of time. Dry immediately and make sure the load is FULLY dry.

I wash with Wisk and drop in some Borax or use the Tide pacs and use Snuggle Blue Sparkle liquid softener. Then, in the dryer, I use the Snuggle Blue Sparkle softener sheets. My laundry smells wonderful every time.

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T.R.

answers from Houston on

I've been using Arm & Hammer with Oxyclean Stain Fighter. My co worker also said that 1 cup of amonia will do the trick!

N.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had the front loader washer issue..and a friend recommended Borax...good old fashioned Borax. It is cheap..and I add a small amount to the section where I also add my detergent (currently using Wisk...its inexpensive and I get the gigantic one at Sams Club for HE washers). I haven't had a problem since..but I do add the litlte bit of Borax to every single load.

My hubbys work out clothes, and his work uniforms and even his towels were just gross...and then the other laundry started to smell. All of it was done together..then I started seperating it more and more...the uniforms always seperate..but then his towels (he uses smaller ones by preference)...and his other clothes...just trying to figure out the problem!! I am way sensitive to smells! After a week or 2 of using the Borax for everything....all is well!

Now its all fine!
Good Luck!

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