cleaning the washer and dryer?

[suziek]

We had tenants renting our house and using what had been a new washer and dryer. We moved back a few months ago and since then our towels and face cloths just don't smell very clean, especially when they are then used and end up wet. for example, when I wet a washcloth to wash the kids' faces they complain that the smell is unpleasant, and it is. I use the right amount of soap in the machine, and I don't let wet clothes sit. I just can't figure out this problem. The only thing I can think of is that the tenants (who were students and had other things to think about) let wet things sit in the machines.

But that doesn't make that much sense, I suppose.

Does anyone have a suggestion about how to get things smelling a little fresher around here. Perhaps a way to really clean the machines?

TIA

[Denvergirlie]

It has somethign to do with the optical brightners used in many of today's laundry detergants. Something about how those brighters coat the fabric to give off more "light", when it gets wet again it "sours".

I know their was a MDC'er that gave the inside scoop on this in one of the recent "my stinky clothes" posts that pop up about monthly on this board.

Anyways, check first to ensure that your brand of detergant dosen't have these brightners in them, then you need to "strip" your washer.

Run a few cycles with vinegar and HOT water. For the dryer, go in an wipe the inside of the drum a few times. Run a load of rags, wash and dry and see if that doesn't fix the issue.

If you're smarter than I in doing searches in these forums you should be able to find some more details about solving this issue as it's really very common these days.

good luck

[Drummer's Wife]

I would do the hottest wash cycle with vinegar, too. probably several times.

[LisainCalifornia]

It could be your water--how is the condition of your hot water heater? If it is getting old, that can cause your clothes to smell as well. We use to have a problem similar to this, and it was related to a mildew type of slime that had built up in our old hot water heater.

If you think that the washer is making your clothes stink--the best thing to use to kill any kind of mold or mildew is good, old fashioned bleach. I know that is like using the "B" word around here, but there really is no substitute for it for santizing something.

Fill up your washer tub with very hot water, add a few big cups of bleach (maybe more if you like)--and stop the water cycle. Let it "rest" like that for a few hours. Then turn the washer back on and run it through with clear water. You can repeat this a few times if you would like. After that no more mold or mildew will be able to live in there--and your clothes should come out clean. If it doesn't help, then you may need to further investigate.

As far as the kind of detergent--that can make a difference, but if you are using the same kind you always have--then it is probably not that. I use Tide and have for years, and our clothes smell wonderful. There is no issue with brighteners or anything else--the clothes just seem clean to me.

Good luck,
Lisa

P.S. Vinegar is good for hard water build up (which can contribute to smell), but helpful at all on killing lots of mold and mildew. Bleach is much quicker and more effective.

[Drummer's Wife]

I agree that if vinegar doesn't help, pull out the bleach. Your washer may have some funk in it!

[suziek]

Well, there you go. I wish I asked this months ago. Thank you all very much. Off the the laundry to get to it. Thank you. Thank you.