Why do my clothes stink even after I wash them?

Question

Am I leaving them in the washer/dryer too long? Am I using too much or too little laundry detergent? Maybe the wrong brands? Do fabric softeners affect the smell? Cold or warm water? Not enough time in the dryer? Thanks

Answer 1

use tide
and use fab softeners
they help

Answer 2

We have hard water (high mineral content?), and I can't leave the clothes in the wash more than an hour before moving them to the dryer without them smelling musty. If this is the problem you're having, I'd recommend a good water softener. Currently, I use laundry "boosters" like Arm & Hammer or Borax, and that has been working well. If anything, just try to keep on top of the laundry and get it out of the wash as quickly as possible.

Answer 3

I've actually had that happen to me also. And it's because they are left in the washer too long, if the washer is old, it may need to be taken apart, and cleaned from all the old soap and lint. Mine was terrrible and that was a big part of the problem. As soon as the washer stops, get those clothes out and in the dryer, or hung up on the clothesline outside. I use a non scented fabric softener, due to a scent allergy. Hope all these wonderful suggestions help you with your laundry delimma.

Answer 4

Depends on the odor. If the smell is sour and or moldy, then you're leaving them in the washer too long after the machine has run full cycle. Or you've left them in the dryer and not turned it on or the clothes were still damp when the dryer shut off.
In the case of the washing machine, you need to rewash the clothes through a full cycle with laundry detergent and a 1/4 cup of baking soda.
In the case of your dryer you need to rewash the load of clothes through a full cycle in washing machine with laundry detergent and 1/4 cup of baking soda.
Your dryer will need to be cleaned to remove any bacteria that has grown while wet clothes sat in the dryer. Prepare a mixture of water and a few tablespoons of vinegar in a bowl or bucket. Dampen a clean rag in the water/vinegar, ring it out and wipe the inside of your dryer. Include wiping inside the door, the vent, screen and anything that comes in contact with your clothes inside the dryer.

Be sure to use vinegar to clean the dryer. Using bleach inside the dryer could ruin your next load of clothes you put into it.

If you didn't leave the laundry sit wet or damp in either machine then your clothes need to be washed with your normal laundry detergent and a 1/4 cup of baking soda. The baking soda takes out odors like body odors and dirt or the mixture of both.
Even though your clothes may not have been left in either machine while wet or damp you still should clean your dryer with the water and vinegar. It's a good idea to clean your dryer often if you use laundry softener and or dryer sheets. The waxy residue in the softeners can buildup in your dryer and create odors, too.
It's also a good idea to run your washer, without clothes, through a cycle with a cup or 2 of vinegar once a month or so. The reason for this is because laundry detergents can leave residue in your washer, too. It's kind of like the scum that builds in your shower or bathtub after a few uses, but it's not as readily noticed.

Answer 5

Maybe your washer needs cleaning. Take a bottle of white vinegar, and put it in your washing machine and let it run a full cycle without clothes, This will clean the residue that is left after you have done your wash . This should be done at least twice a year or definitely once a year, The vinegar will attack the odor, and the acid in the vinegar will clean not only your washing machine, but also the rubber hose and pipes.
When you do a wash, you must get it out and put it in the dryer immediately, or they will get an odor, from just staying there wet for a long time.

Answer 6

In warmer months, they have to go immediately into the dryer(never overnight). During the winter, it can really go no longer than 12-24 hours and you definitely have to sniff test.
I moved to a new house about 2 years ago and even a dishcloth hung here gets smellier. I think some of the natural flora might be a bit more fragrant than what I lived with before.
Never throw wet or damp items into the hamper unless you are carrying down now to wash. Hang the item to air-dry, then put it in.
Tide is by far the best detergent and I have noticed it helps my clothes last longer. Softeners add too much perfume for me.

Answer 7

It sounds like you have covered a lot of the bases. What type of odor is permeating from your clothes? Do they smell sour or of mildew? This is common when you leave your close in the washer too long after the final rinse. This is much more common during the summer months. You should just wash them again. You can use fabric softners to freshen up the smell of your clothing but it is not a good option for masking the smell. You should really just wash them again and immediately put them in the dryer after the final rinse cycle.

Answer 8

It could be the water, it could be the washer. I had an older washer I got from a thrift store, and it smelled like mold. I put clorox in it and let it cycle through. It would help for a while but it came back. I thought my clothed smelled funny then. Or the water could be to blame. Just measure the soap to the load, per instructions on the soap. Use liquid fabric softener on your permanent press clothes or a sheet softener. Look in the store for calgon water softener, try that maybe.

Answer 9

Taking out damp clothes from dyer or leaving them too long in the washer causes mildew smelling clothing.

Make sure to wash in hot water with a good detergent with a clean pleasant smell.

You don't need fabric softener only if you want to.

It could be that you have a strong body oder that your clothing has absorbed. In that case you need to address that situation as well.

Answer 10

Yes, it's possible you're leaving them in too long after you wash. Do they have a sour smell to them?? If so, rewash them and pull them out of the wash immediately. That should solve the problem. Don't put too much detergent in them, it can cause excess bubbles ( The Brady Bunch episode where the washer explodes with bubbles) and it will leave your clothes with a lot of residue.
Good luck.

Answer 11

Umm..if you let them sit in the washing machine for a while before moving them into the dryer they might start to smell funky...

or maybe it is the brand of detergent or something