Mildew Smell Question

16 years ago

Ok, I'm a bachelor - who works from home - with a big front load washer. Because of this I only wash 1 load of laundry a week. I don't use a hamper, but wad up my towels and such, leaving the washer door open until laundry day.

Here's the smell question. Sometimes when I'm folding laundry I smell mildew (or some stink). This is after the the laundry is washed & dried.

The obvious answer is to hang wet towels before I put in washer to sit for a week, but shouldn't this smell come out in the wash?? Am I not using enough soap? Does it need hot water?

Why is that smell to difficult to remove? Other than changing my habits, would adding more soap, longer wash time or hot water make it go away in the first wash?

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Comments (11)

gardenspice
16 years ago
Midew is a pretty powerful odor. I would avoid growing it in the first place. Try running the load again, with white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser.
ruthieg__tx
16 years ago
If you keep doing it, you are probably find that eventually the smell just doesn't go away. One of our fellow posters mentioned that she was so sick of the smell that she trashed all her towels and bought all new ones.
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pris
16 years ago
You know the old saying about repeating the same action and getting the same result? You know what the problem is and what is causing it. All I can say is, change what you're doing. Hang the towels over the shower rod to dry before putting in the washer. If you shower in the AM, they're dry by the time you get ready for bed and, if you shower at night, they're dry when you get up.
sheilajoyce_gw
16 years ago
Don't use your washing machine as a hamper. Leave its door open between uses so that it can air out well and avoid a mold buildup. Moreover, it is not meant for use as a storage hamper. Keep it open and empty between uses. Use a hot water wash every now and then.

Be sure that anything you put in the hamper is dry before you put it in there. Learn to hang up your towels until they are dry. Then replace them with fresh towels.
carla35
16 years ago
Ok... I'm going to say it... GROSS... You know your towel would probably be cleaner if you just hung it up to dry after each shower and didn't even wash it! You're contaminating your washer too. Why even bother washing them? Don't mean to scold you, but, you've got to know better... we've all probably accidentally waded up a wet towel and had it mold, but to purposely create this problem?
Hang it after you use it, drape it over a hamper...heck, keeping on the floor would probably be better... try something else...

Do the vinegar rinse for what you already have.

Another tip... if you refuse to change... buy only white towels and bleach (liquid Clorox) the heck out of them...
sjerin
16 years ago
Did you really expect not to be chastised by all these ladies??? :)
Marilyn Sue
16 years ago
Try washing with 2o Mule Team Borax and if that doesn't work try baking soda. Both help with odors. Also do not use your washer for a clothes hamper.

Sue
Pawprint
Original Author
16 years ago
I bet (among other things) that's why I keep smelling it. The smell doesn't want to go away. Usually it's my kitchen towels & cloths.

I honestly didn't know I couldn't use the washer as a hamper. I was saving a trip since everything was already in the washer ready to go.

Guess it's time to make some changes..

sjerin, story of my life :-)
joyfulguy
16 years ago
Hi there same-old,

are you sure that it wasn't the print of your paws all over them?

I agree - air 'em - don't let them soak in their own (rather, your) juice.

ole joyful ... meant to be a light-hearted comment - not condemnatory
Jasdip
16 years ago
As Sue said, try soaking in Borax. Borax also removes mildew smells from inside washers.

Do a quick google on removing mildew from clothes.

Good for you for leaving the door open on your washer. That is a common complaint with front-load washer owners...mildew building up on the weatherstripping.
hayjud_mn
16 years ago
You know that is a bad habit so BREAK IT! Even if you plan on being a bachelor for the rest of your life, you need to made a change.

Did you notice the smell in the towels or the washer? Chance it is both. A front loading washer needs to be dried out in the bottom of the gasket, even the small lip toward the back. Clean all that area with white vinegar to kill the mold, then leave the door opened for at least a day, after each load, to be sure it is dry.

May I sugest using a plastic clothes basket for a hamper. It doesn't close and gives things a chance to dry. I still recommend hanging that towel to dry first. The basket gives you something for carrying those clothes to the washer and also for bring them back to the bedroom / bathroom.

Yes, I was scolding you! (for your own good, of course!)
8o)

Mildew Smell Question

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