laundry smelling after washing - any washing machine experts out there?

[ik9000]

Recently all my clothes have started stinking, but AFTER washing - before the mockery starts. T-shirt I'm wearing today honks of musty staleness and I've been wearing it for only about 2 hours now. (and the wearer without said t-shirt is not smelling). It didn't smell when I took it out the drawer this morning. Equally it didn't have an amazing fresh smell that clean laundry usually has. But the honk coming of it now is quite annoying, particularly as I'm at work and can't change it for another.

T-shirt is freshly washed, taken out the machine reasonably promptly and air dried. Machine is the same one the flat had when we moved in a year and a bit ago. It was fine back then. Problem only started a month or two ago.

The other thing I've noticed is that clothes don't feel quite as wet as they used to when we take them out the machine.

Any suggestions about what could be causing the problem, and what I should check for? I'm inclined to check the inlet hoses when I get home to make sure they're not kinked or something. Could it be a blocked filter or the like somewhere in the machine? Are there any washing machine gurus out there? Would a lack of water cause said problem?

It's all very confusing. No amount of extra powder/different powder/washing time etc seems to help. If anything too much powder makes the clothes feel a bit icky, like it's not all washed off. However the machine is not spitting out warnings or faults suggesting it is lacking water feed. I'm really quite perplexed.

[kalniel]

First check/clean filter, then drains, then inlets

Also check if there is any mould around the door seal.

[ik9000]

First check/clean filter, then drains, then inlets

Also check if there is any mould around the door seal.

where would filter be?

mould round door - yes. Been trying to shift it using water and kitchen towel. Should I use something else?

Drains, we're in a first floor flat. Do you think there might be a backing-up problem? I'll stick some drain unblocker down the sink (same branch as the machine) and see if it helps. The kitchen sink plugs sure do gurgle when machine is in use thinking about it.

[jimbouk]

I'd stick a generous amount of laundry liquid/powder in and run it empty on full temperature.

Could be the drains, as a first floor flat we had a very shallow pipe running from one end of the building to the other from our kitchen so that it stayed within our building. Combined with a 180 degree turn at the end and a blockage was inevitable. It should be obvious though from watching the washing machine, ours was so bad water was going up and out of the sink when pumped out.

[Lil-Diabo]

The filters are usually near the bottom of the machine. (At least they were in the last few I've owned)
There's a big kinda screw/plug thing (sorry it's hard to describe)
In some cases you might need to unclip a panel of sorts.

Might be a silly question, when last did you clean it?
Every few months we buy some random washing machine "cleaner" and run it on the hottest programme.

[herulach]

You'll probably find a filter behind a flap on the front of the machine - when you pull it out it will gush water so take care (ours has a length of flexipipe to drain it first). I suspect this will be absolutely hanging.

As far as the mould goes, give up using kitchen towel and get the bleach and a scourer out - just make sure you put at least one empty wash on after. They're usually held on by a plastic retaining ring thats easy enough to pop off so you can pull it flat.

Asda sell a cleaner called 'Dr Beckmans Magic clean' or something for about 3 quid. I stick it through ours about once every 6 months.

Once you've got it clean if at all possible see if you can leave the door open for a few hours after use, it will stop mould build up.

[OilSheikh]

1. Use quarter bottle of Parozone bleach ( available at 99p stores ) and run a full cycle.
2. Use Calgon and run a full cycle

What washing product do you use ? Stop using powder. Invest in Daz or Surf small & mighty.
And, do you dry your clothes outside in the sun or does it dry inside on your radiators ? Inside drying will always stink.

[OilSheikh]

Since, you are at work now, buy Dettol, mix with water and sprinkle on your t-shirt. At leats you will smell much better and Dettol's smell is stronger than even Lynx!

[Rob_B]

I'd stick a generous amount of laundry liquid/powder in and run it empty on full temperature.
...

Nooo! Many problems are that people use too much detergent, empty the trap (as mentioned, flap on front, unscrew then drain) Then pop a full 500ml (or so) bottle of clear vinegar in the machine, close the door and put on the hottest/longest wash cycle available (no need to spin of course)

Of course using a drain cleaner on the shared drainage may also help. Also make sure that whenever you're not using the machine you do not close the door fully, always leave it open a little which helps reduce moisture/mould.

[Kumagoro]

Or washing machine has always been bad but as I rent I can't change it.

I have tried 90 degree longest washes, that Dr whatever cleaner, loads of white vinegar and now I an trying some fertility anti bacteria softener for low temp washing.

after all that things are better but still not great. tea towels are the only problem now but haven't had the chance try try the fertility on them yet.


The rubber seal has a patch of mold that wont come off and lots in the hidden fold that also seems impervious to bleach. Perhaps a new seal would be a better idea. Anyway...

I have found that excess soap can actually make the clothes more likely smell so stick the machine on rinse again after to wash it out and a good soon.

[g8ina]

Soda Crystals have sorted this for me on more than one occasion. Two cupfuls n a boil wash might help.

A LOT cheaper than Calgon etc.

[finlay666]

Soda crystals do work, just remember gloves

Hot water + vinegar is good for cleaning off mouldy patches around the door, just add some elbow grease

Fusty clothes seem to be either steeping in the water too long or not dried quickly enough in my experience, the cold weather obviously hinders the drying process

[Ferral]

This happened to ours a few weeks back

From doing a bit of research it is washing on 40 with the gel type liquids that cause it.

First off you need to take out the drawer where you put powders etc and give a good clean in there and also fully clean the drawer itself.

Then fully clean around the door seals and where you put the clothes in the drum.

DO NOT use bleach or similar product to clean anything that is rubber, same goes for putting bleach type stuff in the drum itself. Bleach will corrode the drum and rubbers and you will have an expensive repair bill when things like seals, hoses and possibly even the drum itself corrode.

What you need to do is use a washing powder rather than gel.

To get rid of the horrible musty smell do a hot wash (90 degree white wash) with washing powder, put the powder directly in the drum and set it away empty, you can also add a bit of white vinegar to this wash in the same way. This will kill all the bacteria that causes the smell and should sort the issue out for you.

Another thing is once you have finished doing a wash, get clothes out immediately and leave the door open when not in use so air can get in and essentially dry out the machine ready for next use.

[ik9000]

We do use powder - that's the thing! Only liquids that go near it have been fabric softener and wool liquid wash for the delicates. (and water obviously)

[ik9000]

First off you need to take out the drawer where you put powders etc and give a good clean in there and also fully clean the drawer itself.

will do

DO NOT use bleach or similar product to clean anything that is rubber, same goes for putting bleach type stuff in the drum itself. Bleach will corrode the drum and rubbers and you will have an expensive repair bill when things like seals, hoses and possibly even the drum itself corrode.

I was about to ask if bleach was a good idea on rubber.... but is it that bad? bathroom gloves don't exactly disintegrate when we clean the toilet with bleach for example. Equally I wouldn't put bleach near my trainer soles.... In the name of science I will buy a rubber bouncy ball, some cheap rubber gloves and a few O-rings. I will immerse them in bleach and monitor their progress. Watch out for a rivetting youtube upload in a few weeks time.

To get rid of the horrible musty smell do a hot wash (90 degree white wash) with washing powder, put the powder directly in the drum and set it away empty, you can also add a bit of white vinegar to this wash in the same way. This will kill all the bacteria that causes the smell and should sort the issue out for you.

Will putting vinegar in the thing not be as bad as putting bleach in it? That's a lot of acid to attack seals, metals and the like.

Another thing is once you have finished doing a wash, get clothes out immediately and leave the door open when not in use so air can get in and essentially dry out the machine ready for next use.

This is a bit of a problem - the door swings to under gravity. Annoying. We'll have to get a piece of polystyrene to force it to sit open an inch or so. Like I said above though, it's been this way for a year or so without problem before.

[peterb]

For what its worth, don't use fabric conditioner as I have found it encourages mould growth, particularly round the door seals. I always dry out that little pool of water that collects in the creases of the door seal anyway, and keep the door slightly open when the machine isn't in use. I also use the tablets or liquitabs that go in the drum, rather than powders in the powder dispenser. They cost a bit more, (look for supermarket offers - there are always some on!) but doesn't give a build up of soap in the drawer.

If you are using low temperature washes, try using an additive like Vanish. They do a version called Vanish hygiene. You don't need to use it every wash, but might be worth trying on the clothes that smell musty to kill any mold spores. Again, look for supermarket offers!

Don't use chlorine based bleaches in the machine - but you can use bleaches base on hydrogen peroxide.

It might be worth running the machine on a hot (90 degree) cycle, but if you live in a hard water area, use a water softener tablet (Calgon or supermarket own brand) or use washing powder which usually has water softeners as part of the formulation.