Automatic washing machines have greatly simplified the difficult procedure of removing dirt and stains from clothes. However, this miracle of technology can also bring surprises. It happens that laundry smells bad after washing, despite using detergents with a pleasant aroma.
There are two scenarios when all things at once or just one item smell unpleasant. In the first case, the reason lies in the machine and the choice of powder for washing the item. If there is only one item emitting aroma, then you will have to deal with it separately and, possibly, use a different cleaning process. It is worth considering the possible reasons in order to determine exactly why things smell bad after washing.
Clean the machine
Start by cleaning your washing machine. Mix water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio, pour the mixture into the bleach compartment and run the wash cycle.
Alternatively, you can use regular bleach. If you have a machine self-cleaning mode, then run this program.
Do not mix bleach with vinegar. This composition is too aggressive. Use only one of the cleansers.
After finishing washing, wipe the gaskets near the door with a sponge or soft cloth to remove mold.
Preventive Actions
It is very important to promptly remove dirt and wipe the cuff.
The best way to avoid the problem of clothes smelling bad after washing is to take preventive measures. Doing them won’t take much time and effort, but will eliminate the need to decide why your laundry smells bad after washing. You need to do the following:
- keep the door open at all times for free air exchange;
- after the machine has washed, wipe the cuff dry each time to avoid mold;
- wash and dry the dispenser for powder and other products;
- do not put things in the machine for storage, otherwise the laundry will acquire an unpleasant aroma after washing (a special basket is more suitable for these purposes);
- avoid leaving washed items in the machine for a long time after the end of the cycle;
- perform periodic cleaning of unit parts using special means;
- Do not get carried away with washing powder and exceed the recommended dose.
Using conditioners will not allow you to notice in time that things smell bad after washing; a pleasant aroma will simply mask the problem.
If all the recommendations did not help to understand the question: “After washing, things smell damp, what should I do?”, you need to call a specialist. Perhaps the problem turned out to be much deeper, and concerns the technical condition of the washing machine.
Open the door
After cleaning, open the door and ventilate the drum. This procedure should be carried out after each wash to allow the internal parts of the unit to dry. Mold likes to grow in damp and dark places. Ventilation and light will prevent its appearance.
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Reasons why washed items smell sour or rotten
The most common source of stench is considered to be moisture that remains in the drum and folds of the sealing rubber of the hatch after washing. This creates increased humidity inside the machine.
If the door is not left ajar for ventilation, then this becomes a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and the formation of mold.
Then the laundry feels sour after washing. Laundry smells similar if it is not removed from the drum for a long time after spinning.
There are a number of other reasons why freshly washed laundry smells bad:
Wrong choice of washing powder .
Sometimes, even a high-quality, expensive detergent leads to an unpleasant odor from the laundry if it is not used according to the instructions. Thus, dry compositions in low-temperature washing modes (below 60 ᵒC) do not fully dissolve and remain on the walls of the tray, drum and drain hose. After a while, this sticky mass begins to emit a stench.- Excess washing powder . The result will be the same as in the previous case. The remaining powder is not completely washed out of things and settles on the internal elements of the machine, eventually forming a foul-smelling mucus.
- Lack of proper care for the washing machine . It is important to systematically inspect accessible elements and clean them. Particular attention should be paid to filters, sealing rubber of the hatch and the detergent tray. Mold usually forms there over time.
- Long-term storage of contaminated items in a closed machine drum . Since this is not a very suitable place for storage of this kind, as a result of the combination of dirt and high humidity, a persistent rotten smell arises. It is advisable to purchase a separate basket for such purposes.
Sometimes things go down the drain after washing. This is a common occurrence if the drain hose of the machine is not connected correctly. Violation of water drainage technology leads to the penetration of the smell of sewage into fabrics.
It is not recommended to try to install a household appliance yourself without the proper skills. The desire to save money often leads to its rapid spoilage or unsatisfactory washing.
A sharp chemical or rubbery smell emanating from washed clothes is possible when using new equipment. There is no need to panic, as this is a completely normal phenomenon and will go away on its own after two or three washes. It is better to run the first 2-3 cycles empty.
Don't put off washing
Don't put off washing very dirty items. As long as the clothes are in the basket, bacteria will actively multiply on them. The longer you keep your items dirty, the more difficult it will be to get rid of the unpleasant odor.
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Wash dirty items in small batches. Do not allow heavily soiled clothes to accumulate in the laundry basket, especially during the summer.
Eliminating the causes of odor
After identifying the cause, it is necessary to take a number of measures to eliminate it:
- check the drainage filter at the bottom of the machine and clear it of debris;
- remove and wash the detergent compartments;
- check the sewerage and the correct connection of the hose;
- run a preventative wash with the addition of citric acid;
- clean the hatch cuff
- Monitor the cleanliness of equipment at all times.
It is also worth keeping track of the time that the laundry remains in the washing machine before washing and the time the laundry is already clean and damp.
Pre-soak
If your items still have a sour or musty smell after a previous unsuccessful wash, use pre-soaking. This will help eliminate the stench.
Fill the bathtub or sink with water. Dissolve half a glass of baking soda in the liquid. Soak the items overnight in the prepared mixture, and in the morning wash them as usual, trying to avoid mistakes.
Odor removal products
If a bad odor comes from mustiness or mold, it will be difficult to get rid of it by simply airing it out. It is necessary to eliminate the most important problem - to get rid of bacteria and their further reproduction. For this purpose additional means are used.
Vinegar
When using this product, pour a weak solution of vinegar into the compartment, not powder. To do this, start the wash as usual. In the middle of the wash, stop the machine for a break of about 20 minutes. Then continue washing the laundry and also add a vinegar solution when rinsing. Afterwards, the laundry must be well ventilated and dried. Vinegar can also remove the bad smell of laundry and clean the washing machine from mold.
Soda
Baking soda is also an excellent odor absorber. It is added to the washing machine instead of powder and an accelerated wash is started. Just like with vinegar, soak it. Clean linen is placed in a closet, which is also pre-treated with a solution of water and soda. Thus, it is possible to completely get rid of pathogenic bacteria. Baking soda is the most inexpensive, but very effective method of getting rid of odor.
Iodine
Clothes that have acquired the smell of mold take it with them to the closet shelves. To remove it not only from linen, but not to spread it to other things. You can use a bottle of iodine. It perfectly replaces flavor sachets. You just need to use it carefully. Place it in a deep bowl, using cotton wool instead of a cork, through which the substance will enter the air. Iodine vapor will kill any fungus and prevent its reappearance.
Flavors
Both artificial and natural sachets can be used as flavorings. Coffee will be a good filler; it will give the laundry a pleasant aroma. Instead of coffee, you can use regular soap. It can be used as a block or as shavings in a bag. It needs to be changed periodically. You can make fragrant sachets yourself by drying pleasantly smelling herbs (mint, lemon balm, lavender) or citrus peels.
Vodka or alcohol
Cotton underwear, such as linen or cotton, can be very well refreshed with alcohol products. You can rinse your laundry in a diluted alcohol solution. Or you can make a spray with half a glass of distilled water and half a glass of inexpensive vodka. You can also add various oils, such as lavender. The admixture with oils gives a delicious aroma and promotes good sleep when treating bed linen.
Sodium borate
A good way to get rid of damp smell is to use sodium borate. With it, the solution is diluted in a basin, clothes are soaked there and left for four hours. Next, you need to rinse and put it in the washing machine again so that not a trace of the product remains on the clothes.
Ammonia
When using ammonia, bad-smelling laundry is washed twice. Once with ammonia and then again as usual. Ammonia is a very strong agent that can kill any amber. The only drawback of ammonia is that it is necessary to carry out the entire procedure in a room with a good draft. Excess ammonia vapor can have a bad effect on the human body.
Hydrogen peroxide
To use this method, 100 milliliters of peroxide are diluted per liter of water. I soak the laundry in this solution, but not more than 10 minutes. If the fabrics are natural, it is possible to use an undiluted solution. Hydrogen peroxide perfectly fights against strong and old odors, and also gets rid of amber of organic origin (sweat, fungus, dampness).
Salt
Two to three tablespoons should be thoroughly dissolved in a liter of water. Next, soak for half an hour and rinse well, ventilate and dry. Or wet clothes are generously rubbed with salt. Leave it in this position for a while, then wash and dry again.
Don't overload the drum
Don't try to get the job done faster by overloading the machine drum. Correct loading is very important for the quality of the wash. Fill the tank with laundry no more than three-quarters full. In this case, the clothes should not be tightly packed.
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Some features
Let's look at popular types of towels and their “relationship” with unpleasant odors.
Linen, cotton fabrics
As you know, any natural base (naturally, one that does not produce antiseptic substances) is an excellent base for the proliferation of microorganisms. Therefore, let’s destroy the myth that linen towels do not smell.
Both cotton and linen need proper care, regular washing and proper drying, so that products made from these materials do not begin to emit an unpleasant odor.
Bamboo towels
Manufacturers of this textile report that bamboo fiber produces a fairly strong antiseptic, which prevents the proliferation of microorganisms (in particular, mold), and, as a result, the formation of an unpleasant odor. Because of this, bamboo towels, the price of which stands out compared to the cost of their “brothers,” are considered the most hygienic.
An unpleasant odor can also haunt bamboo.
But is it? Many housewives note that over time, even such products begin to smell unpleasantly. What's the matter? We can imagine two options:
- There are very few pure bamboo products on the market. Basically it is a combination with cotton (5/5, 6/4). Perhaps a non-100% concentration weakens the antiseptic effect.
- As we know, medicinal herbs do not retain their healing properties forever. The maximum period is 5 years. The same can be observed with respect to the plant component - bamboo. It is possible that over time the concentration of released antiseptic substances decreases.
Dry items immediately
With any washing method, do not allow the laundry to remain wet for a long time. Immediately transfer items to the dryer or hang them flat on a line.
When drying, do not pack things too tightly. There should be enough space between them to allow air to circulate. This will help ventilate clothes and eliminate unpleasant odors.
If you dry your clothes naturally, it is better to do it outdoors rather than indoors. Sunlight will destroy any remaining bacteria and mold spores.
Where does the rotten and sour smell come from?
Things smell rotten and sour after washing if they have been in the water for too long. This may involve prolonged soaking during the hand washing process. And also if it was soaked in for too long during the washing cycle. This may occur during an unplanned power outage. Also, the smell of dampness can occur if small elements of things remain in the unit. Such as threads, small pieces of matter.
The process of rotting occurs, the growth of bacteria accelerates, and things get an unpleasant sour smell. The same effect can be caused by excess insoluble powder, which forms a muddy consistency favorable to microbes.
We follow the rules
High-quality laundry means compliance with all rules for operating equipment and careful handling of your family’s wardrobe items. Careless attitude towards household appliances, negligence when handling beautiful fashionable things indicates the unreasonableness of the housewife.
Constantly ignoring generally accepted housekeeping standards will quickly render expensive equipment and good clothes unusable. The smell of black mold ingrains itself into clothing, and often owners even stop noticing it.
This kind of amber can often be found on public transport. Just imagine how unpleasant this will be for others, and how embarrassing it will be for you if someone else points it out... Don’t allow these troubles to happen.
Competent advice from specialists and their strict adherence will bring purity, freshness, fabulous aromas and a great mood into your life.
