I left a full load of wash in the machine too long. How do I eliminate the bad odor left from the wet clothes

Question

I have rewashed with detergent and baking soda but to no avail. some of the clothing is cotton and some is polyester and it is a dark load so cannot use bleach.

Answer 1

I symphathize. If they were left there a LONG time, you may want to do all of the below, but if not to bad, try #3 only.
1. remove the clothes to run a cleaning cycle for the washing machine first if your machine is adding to the smell problem (careful about cleaning with bleach though, run an extra rinse cycle before putting the dark stuff back in)
2. Throw the laundry in a shallow tub of water with a good concentration of laundry soap/vinegar while the washer is cleaned.
3. Start another wash cycle, but add white vinegar in addition to your normal laundry soap (before or when its filled, your preference, a cup or so) and interrupt the wash cycle while it is agitating with the soap. Let the wash soak in the soapy water for 30-45 minutes before resuming the cycle. The usual amount of wash time isnt enough to eradicate the moldy smell and this should help.

Answer 2

I put a small amount of bleach in the rinse even if it is a dark load, just make sure you dilute it a lot before you pour it in.....like 3Tbs of bleach and 4 cups of water.... I've never had a problem with the bleach lightening my darks this way and the smell goes away. I've also sprinkled some baking soda in the dryer when I throw the load in.....the soda disappears through the lint trap and takes care of the smell also, I figured it works in the fridge, why not in the dryer too

Answer 3

Between vinegar or baking soda take your choice. I would wash all my clothes over again (don`t even remove them) with Baking soda and maybe a little detergent. Smell your clothes before the rinse cycle starts and if the smell is still there then go ahead and add white vinegar and your laundry should be okay.

Answer 4

Thanks for the additional info. Your clothes possibly have had mildew grow in them, looks like dark pin-point spots on the fabric. Mildew stains are very difficult to remove, because mildew is a living organism. But since your clothes are dark, this may not be a problem, just the odour. I suggest you take a deep breath, load up your washer again, using a full load of water, add in your regular detergent, get the washer working into the first cycle, and THEN add 2 cups of chlorine bleach, and let it get completely mixed with your water and soap. Before the rinse cycle, stop the wash cycle and let the wash just sit for 10 minutes, then start up again, and let the washer finish the cycle. The mildew odour will be gone, your clothes washed and freah, ready for the dryer. Lots of work, but should do the trick!

Answer 5

Depending on where you live and how cold it is this time of year..You could just hang them out on the line and let the sun dry them n then re wash them with soap and water. If this is not an option for you, you could try soaking them in baking soda over night in your washer. In the morning you can add soap and rewash- add some vinegar if all else fails that helps too. And dry them with extra dryer sheets..

Answer 6

Washing them again may help, but I have found that the best odor ellimator is baking soda. I hade a cat that urinated an a nylon jacket and could not get rid of the smell. I filled the washer added half box of baking soda and let it soak overnight then washed normally. It completly got rid of the smell.

Answer 7

Rewash them with detergent and ammonia (1-2 cups). Ammonia gets the stink out of anything and does not bleach clothing. Everything will smell sweet after!!

Answer 8

Rewash your clothes first to see if you can save them. Throw a cup of vinegar in with them. If the washer still smells fill it with hot water and throw a cup of bleach in and run it through the cycle.

Answer 9

You didn't say if they had a sour smell or if they possibly molded. If you have a place that you can hang them in fresh air after you wash them with some color safe bleach or 20 mule team borax it might help. Bleach will kill mold and the borax kills orders. You might try re-washing them in smaller loads. Fabreez is fantastic for odors but it is expensive. Good luck.

Answer 10

Try washing the clothes with a cup or two of vinegar. If that doesn't work but some odoban and use 1 cup with your reg. laundry detergent.