Musty laundry smell

Musty laundry smell

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Add vinegar to 1/4 cup vinegar
  #16  
Old 09-03-2025, 06:43 AM
BettyInFL BettyInFL is offline
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Default Add vinegar to 1/4 cup vinegar

Quote:
Originally Posted by kschumacher View Post
Has anyone else here struggled with laundry coming out smelling funky?

I mean, it would happen to us in Illinois if I accidentally left the clothes in the washer for a couple of days in the summer. But here in TV, this is starting to hit too often for comfort (and utility bills.) I mean, three pods and deep water wash, and our clothes still come out smelling like swamp water.

Just ordered up Unstoppables until we find the culprit. But the ultimate goal is a solution, not a coverup.

We suspect it might be the water. Or could it be an issue with our washer or dryer. Would love to hear other folks’ experiences, even if to tell us we’re crazy. 🤪

- K & J, newbies here.
I add quarter cup of vinegar to hubbies sweaty clothes. Always come out nice.

Check your filters as the tinker mentioned.
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  #17  
Old 09-03-2025, 07:10 AM
jimmy o jimmy o is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kschumacher View Post
Has anyone else here struggled with laundry coming out smelling funky?

I mean, it would happen to us in Illinois if I accidentally left the clothes in the washer for a couple of days in the summer. But here in TV, this is starting to hit too often for comfort (and utility bills.) I mean, three pods and deep water wash, and our clothes still come out smelling like swamp water.

Just ordered up Unstoppables until we find the culprit. But the ultimate goal is a solution, not a coverup.

We suspect it might be the water. Or could it be an issue with our washer or dryer. Would love to hear other folks’ experiences, even if to tell us we’re crazy. 🤪

- K & J, newbies here.
As the Village Tinker noted there is a filter that should be cleaned periodically, but there is also a drain go be emptied when filter is cleaned
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  #18  
Old 09-03-2025, 07:29 AM
dshoberg dshoberg is offline
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Try a cup of bleach in the brine tank of softener
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  #19  
Old 09-03-2025, 07:57 AM
Lisanp@aol.com Lisanp@aol.com is offline
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If you have a front load machine, its the washer. The door must be left ajar between cycles, you should wipe the gasket with a towel every time you do a towel load before throwing them into the machine. You should also use a monthly cleaning regimen like Tide Washing machine cleaner and don't forget to check the basket filter thingy that is in the front bottom of the machine somewhere (google your specific model).
If you are wearing more synthetic active wear, it could be the clothes too. Look in the detergent aisle for a laundry boost for "active wear" as those fabrics tend to hold odors and sometimes it just does not come out in the wash.
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  #20  
Old 09-03-2025, 07:59 AM
sowilts sowilts is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kschumacher View Post
Has anyone else here struggled with laundry coming out smelling funky?

I mean, it would happen to us in Illinois if I accidentally left the clothes in the washer for a couple of days in the summer. But here in TV, this is starting to hit too often for comfort (and utility bills.) I mean, three pods and deep water wash, and our clothes still come out smelling like swamp water.

Just ordered up Unstoppables until we find the culprit. But the ultimate goal is a solution, not a coverup.

We suspect it might be the water. Or could it be an issue with our washer or dryer. Would love to hear other folks’ experiences, even if to tell us we’re crazy. 🤪

- K & J, newbies here.
Do you have front loaders? We have Commercial Speed Queen top loaders and levels of water is adjustable. This helps with all of the cycles to remove all soap. All the advertisements on tv suggest extra scents to compensate for the lack of adequate water level.
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  #21  
Old 09-03-2025, 08:01 AM
MollyJo MollyJo is offline
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Lysol Sanitizer is no bleach, goes in the fabric softener tube.
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  #22  
Old 09-03-2025, 08:02 AM
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KShowalter KShowalter is offline
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I never use pods. I always use liquid laundry detergent and it seems to work better and not clog the washing machine. I also have a top loading machine which I leave the top open to completely dry after use.
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  #23  
Old 09-03-2025, 08:02 AM
sowilts sowilts is offline
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Do you have front loaders? We have Commercial Speed Queen top loaders and levels of water is adjustable. This helps with all of the cycles to remove all soap. All the advertisements on tv suggest extra scents to compensate for the lack of adequate water level.
And we live south of 44 and do not hame a home water softener. My hair still remains White.
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Washing Machine Door Prop
  #24  
Old 09-03-2025, 08:26 AM
Lancer Lancer is offline
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Default Washing Machine Door Prop

We use this to keep the door on our front loading machine propped open. Keeps the funky smell at bay.
https://a.co/d/dqGxahj
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  #25  
Old 09-03-2025, 09:09 AM
Switter Switter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kschumacher View Post
Has anyone else here struggled with laundry coming out smelling funky?

I mean, it would happen to us in Illinois if I accidentally left the clothes in the washer for a couple of days in the summer.
I had this issue with towels and I used a little ammonia in the wash. It worked great but you obviously have to be careful not to mix it with bleach
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  #26  
Old 09-03-2025, 09:19 AM
CarlR33 CarlR33 is offline
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I did not see it mentioned but most washers have a self cleaning function that some machines will let you know when it’s due after so many cycles or you can just start it off without waiting for it to tell you, etc.
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  #27  
Old 09-03-2025, 09:42 AM
Steban Steban is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kschumacher View Post
Has anyone else here struggled with laundry coming out smelling funky?

I mean, it would happen to us in Illinois if I accidentally left the clothes in the washer for a couple of days in the summer. But here in TV, this is starting to hit too often for comfort (and utility bills.) I mean, three pods and deep water wash, and our clothes still come out smelling like swamp water.

Just ordered up Unstoppables until we find the culprit. But the ultimate goal is a solution, not a coverup.

We suspect it might be the water. Or could it be an issue with our washer or dryer. Would love to hear other folks’ experiences, even if to tell us we’re crazy. 🤪

- K & J, newbies here.
We had the same problem when we replaced our washing machine years ago. It was a High Efficiency with a locking lid. We did the deepest of cleaning to get our house ready for the market. We had a sink next to the washer, we hooked up a garden house and pumped the washer full of hot water - all the way to the top and started the agitator. The amount of built up detergent and dirty funk from years of the HE not filling properly was the culprit.

When we moved to Florida, we purchased a top load Speed Queen which is not HE and the lid doesn’t lock. Think 1970 Kenmore. It does fill the tank for large loads. It never stinks. It runs like a champ.
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  #28  
Old 09-03-2025, 09:51 AM
jimkerr jimkerr is online now
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This used that happened to us when we had a front loader washer. It was really bad with towels. We ended up buying a new washer that you load from the top and all our problems went away.
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  #29  
Old 09-03-2025, 10:03 AM
nhtexasrn nhtexasrn is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kschumacher View Post
Has anyone else here struggled with laundry coming out smelling funky?

I mean, it would happen to us in Illinois if I accidentally left the clothes in the washer for a couple of days in the summer. But here in TV, this is starting to hit too often for comfort (and utility bills.) I mean, three pods and deep water wash, and our clothes still come out smelling like swamp water.

Just ordered up Unstoppables until we find the culprit. But the ultimate goal is a solution, not a coverup.

We suspect it might be the water. Or could it be an issue with our washer or dryer. Would love to hear other folks’ experiences, even if to tell us we’re crazy. 🤪

- K & J, newbies here.
About a year ago I decided to start using powder Tide again because my niece had mentioned how much cleaner her laundry has been since she switched back to powder detergent. It has made an amazing difference in our laundry, especially my husband's white sox that he wears to work in the yard and our white towels. I use bleach, and little oxiclean and Tide powder and they come out like new. Everything smells so fresh!

Also, if you have a cleaning cycle on your washer, running that every so often really helps. I also leave my lid up on the washer at all times with the detergent tray open.

Hope you find a solution! But seriously, try powder Tide!
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  #30  
Old 09-03-2025, 10:03 AM
DonnaNi4os DonnaNi4os is offline
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Always keep the lid of the washer open when not in use, take clothes out as quickly as possible and never leave them over night. Once a month run the clean cycle and use something like Tide washing machine cleaner. If all else fails keep running cycles without clothes and use the hot water and lots of bleach. Do it several times if possible. Good luck
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water, clothes, laundry, washer, smelling


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