I use Gain Apple Mango Tango - yummy! I also use the matching dryer sheets. However, when I take my clothes out of the washer, they don't smell like the detergent at all. In fact, they smell sort of wet/mildewy. I throw them in the dryer with one to two dryer sheets, and when I pull them out, the damp smell is gone, but I don't smell the dryer sheet either. If I want the clothes to smell nice, should I be using a liquid fabric softener as well? Or maybe switch detergents? I have used others before, but it has been awhile and I can't recall if I had this problem. Also, if I forget the clothes in the washer for several hours, when I pop the washer lid, they smell just awful! Friends say theirs won't smell after only a few hours. Could it be the water? I have normal water through the city, not a well. Any ideas?
2007-08-30 16:56:38 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
I went to wipe it down before running a cycle of hot water and vinegar, and there is standing water below which is probably part of the odor problem. Does fabric softener really make the clothes smell nice, though?
2007-08-30 17:11:09 · update #1
These are things that will work: Do NOT do them all at the same time!
1. Vinegar (1 CUP) with hot water run through your machine withOUT clothes in it works great.
You can also use vinegar with every wash load, it softens water and neutralizes the smell.
OR
2. Ammonia(1 CUP) WITH the clothes when you wash them works as well. It won't fade colors and keeps the wash smelling clean.
OR
This also works:
Empty your washing machine.Add 1 cup of white vinegar into your washing machine as it fills using hot water.
Let machine go through an entire wash and rinse cycle.Add 1 cup of Borax into your washer as it fills with water. Wait for the agitator to start turning so the borax dissolves, then add the soured laundry.
Put in your laundry and let it soak for about 20-30 minutes after agitating thoroughly,to remove any previous remaining odors.
Add detergent that has a fragrance so that your clothes come out smelling nice and clean.
Add a dryer sheet in the dryer or hang clothes outside to dry in the sun for the freshest smell.
Some detergents do cause the souring more I've found. I don't know if it's because they don't dissolve as well or rinse out or what but you can also try switching around detergents.
I use a HE(high efficiency) detergent now and don't have the problem I used to with the regular powdered detergents.
Hope this helps :)
2007-08-30 17:22:00 · answer #1 · answered by angelzfyre 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the best smelling laundry are the ones you hang outside...
As for your problem.. standing water in your machine might be it.. it might not be emptying completely and the standing water would get a smell after awhile..especially city water I find..
Try to get that fixed, if that is the problem.. then run the machine using baking soda..
You can try changing brands and see if this helps..
The dryer.. Well you can remove the lint filter and clean it out with a brush.. this helps on the cost of electricity as well as the machine does not have to run as long to dry the clothes... sometimes fabric softener sheets will block the filter...and make a fire hazard.
Wipe down the inside of the dryer drum as well with some antibacterial soap...and rinse..
You might try liquid fabric softener in the washer this might make the clothes smell nice .. Downy is good... but their are many nice smelling ones out there.. pick the one you prefer..
2007-08-31 02:04:41 · answer #2 · answered by Rebel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use Gain Liquid Detergent but I use the matching Gain Liquid Fabric Softener and everything smells awesome. For some reason, the dryer sheets just don't work as well as the liquid kind.
2007-08-31 00:38:43 · answer #3 · answered by purpledeucegirl06 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clean your washer well with bi-carbnate soda or vinger (just run it through the cycle with water and bi-carb this gets rid of all the soap scum.
there is little need to use fabric softener, sometimes if not added properly it can even stain your clothes, why not hang them on the clothes line in the fresh air on a good breezy day.
If you forget about the load in the washer only to discover that they have gone smelly, just put them through a cycle again and get them outside to dry on the line. If you don't have an outside clothes line buy a clothes horse and air them for a while outside that way.
2007-08-31 02:08:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me the best smell in the world for dark clothes is Woolite Dark. It has a berry smell and when my clothes come out they smell just like the detergent. All my clothes are dark colored so not sure how normal Woolite smells. I'm still looking for some awesome fabric softener for while they dry with no luck yet, but with my dark clothes woolite is awesome. To be honest I've even used it on my husbands lighter colored work clothes before and they turned out great as well.
2007-08-31 00:18:58 · answer #5 · answered by boo kitty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found recently that fabric softener really works to make the clothes smell nice. I always thought that fabric softener was for old people.... little did I know. Personally our family uses Downy.
2007-08-31 00:05:17 · answer #6 · answered by Gary S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try running a rinse only with about half gallon of white vinegar. No clothes that load.
Then add about half cup white vinegar to each wash as a fabric softener.
2007-08-31 00:11:54 · answer #7 · answered by don v 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
try surf and snuggles dryer sheets. maybe let your washer run through a cycle with bleach to make sure there isnt mold or something growing in your washer.
2007-08-31 00:07:46 · answer #8 · answered by debbiesue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think U R using too many products. Try using a solar dryer. In other words hang them outside!
2007-08-31 00:06:39 · answer #9 · answered by bhappy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember...."fresh" has no smell. Hanging on the clothes line is best.
2007-08-31 01:54:41 · answer #10 · answered by kingsley 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋