Clothes Smell Sour

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RE: Clothes Smell Sour

I always wash my towels by themselves and always wash small loads by separating my clothes into 5 piles underwear, dark clothes, sweaters, bright clothes & towels
and the problem still persists-any advice

Post by debneedshelp

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Debbie,

Every once in a while, my daughter leaves wet towels in her bathroom and they take on a mildew (sour) smell. If I wash them without realizing it, everything in the loads takes on the smell. I've gotten in the habit of soaking every load, especially towels, before the wash cycle. I would imagine this might be a little more difficult in a public laundromat.

If the machines have a soak cycle as mine does, allow the load to soak with liquid detergent already added for a minimum of 30 minutes prior to washing. Then, without draining the water, assuming your machines allow you to, start the wash cycle and launder normally. This works for me and our towels are smelling fresh again. If the water drains before the wash cycle, I would add additional liquid detergent when you begin washing.

With clothing, you might want to soak them in the soapy water longer before the wash cycle. I know this is distressing for you. Just remember, nearly everyone has had this issue at some point and should understand. Best of luck.

Post by Ladyvols

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but about one a month I run a "mock" load of laundry to clean my washer. You put the setting of your washer on HOT wash/Cold rinse and add a cup of bleach to the washer. Let it soak for 30 minutes to an hour, and then let it cycle as necessary. The bleach will kill any odor causing bacteria in your washer.

Next, make sure as stated above that your drier vents are clear from lint. It has been said that mice and rats can climb into the vents and die. After a few days they begin to smell and the smell will come out on your clothes.

Then, when you wash your laundry for the next few times, add vinegar or 1/4 cup BORAX power (which can be found with the laundry detergent) to your next few loads of laundry.

Lastly, don't forget to dry your towels, wash cloths, and any clothing that might have gotten wet throughout the day COMPLETELY before throwing them in your dirty laundry hamper or basket. The wet clothing will cause mildew and make all your clothing in the hamper or basket smell bad.

Good Luck resolving your problem, and let us know if any of our suggestions works.

Post By Misty (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

1/2 to 1 cup of ammonia worked for my smelly clothes. I had left them in the dryer wet for a week, big OOPS. They stunk and vinegar did not work so I used ammonia and one wash did the job.

Post by meoowmom

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

I have had my dryer vent clog and it caused this musty odor on my clothes. Try cleaning that out real good, the part that goes outside.

Post By Dede (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Maybe you can try this. My husband works on a farm. His clothes smell terrible. No matter how many times, I have washed them, they were still smelling bad. I tried a cap full of ammonia. No more smelly clothes. Keep you head up.

Post By Georgetta Ruth. (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Debbie,
I have worked in laundromats and have come across a few people in my day with this same problem. I think you are probably filling the washer with too many clothes. This does not allow clothes to agitate enough and it also doesn't allow for proper water distribution. Which can crate a stale sour smell.

It will probably take more than one proper washing to alleviate this odor issue. OxyClean is great for any odors and can be used on colors and whites. I think a good fabric softener maybe something with freebreze in it would help also. But, not filling it too much will be your best and first line of defense. Also, you must dry clothes immediately either on a clothes line outside or in an electric dryer otherwise it allows for bacteria and mildew growth. I hope this helps you.

Post By Trisha Aa (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

I had the same problem with my towels and it was driving me crazy. I took some advise I read on Thrify Fun and it worked. First, I filled my washer with water and about 3 cups of white vinegar. I let my towels soak for about an hour and then added my laundry detergent and washed as usual. Then I made sure they were good and dry when they came out of the dryer. This took care of the problem. I repeat the vinegar soak about once or twice a month but I think one of the main causes was my towels were laying in the hamper along with something damp or wet and the next thing you know they smell terrible. After you wash and dry them they seemed fine and the smell isn't noticeable again until you get the towel wet. But the vinegar soak took all that away. I also do this to other items of clothing and it works great.
Brenda in Ohio

Post by BSW66

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Nine and ten, sour smelling clothes are because you leave them in the washer too long after the cycle is over before drying them. Even for just 15 minutes, they will sour especially if you are doing them in a hot local laundromat. GET THOSE CLOTHES OUT AS SOON AS THE CYCLE IS DONE!

The weird thing is, you can't tell it until you put the clothes on and they warm up from your body. I can't STAND that smell! I am highly allergic, it makes my head hurt. I had a kid in my class that had sour clothes and I had to talk to his mother. She was none to pleased but I just couldn't take it any more. I was sneezing my head off!

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Put a clothesline up outside and the fresh air and sunshine will do wonders. We also out our bed pillows out once a week. You will sleep like a baby. Good luck. We also spin our clothes twice in washer, then clothes dry faster. You would not believe how much extra water you can get out.

Post By Enter your ncarolyname. (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Clean the washing machine. Some dish soap and bleach should help.

Post By kathlyne (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Hi, First of all i do sympathize with you it must be very distressing. I would first eliminate any medical problems. Book an appointment with a doctor and the night before take a bath or on the morning have a shower , and of course brush teeth, fix hair etc and then go along for your appointment in clean clothes.

Tell them you notice an unpleasant smell and you cant decide if its body, clothes or imagination or whatever and ask for their opinion. There are some medical conditions that cause unpleasant smells so its worth having these eliminated or confirmed and getting treatments if necessary.

Then if there is no medical condition then all you can do is have a good wash/bathe or shower every day morning or evening . use antiperspirants and perfumes and talc if you want to and brush teeth and wash hair and keep very clean.

As for clothes, wash and dry as normal. If your feelings still persist as to you think you smell or you think your coworkers think you smell then I would take aside a very good friend or relative and ask them one to one for some guidance. If they say NO then it probaly is just anxiety and you will have to let it go somehow

If they say yes then I would say as long as you are washing everyday and cleaning clothes after use there isn't a lot else you can do. I think its probably anxiety myself. To be on the safe side check over your washing machine is working properly and your dryer, clean out any soap dishes or filters and use a good quality wash powder , wash your clothes after every single wearing if necessary and dry thoroughly.

I live in the United Kingdom so we don't have a problem with humidity maybe it's to do with clothes staying damp? God bless and I hope you get to the bottom of the mystery and try not to worry. My best advice would be get all your friends on board and tell them how miserable you feel trying to find a solution most people would bend over backwards to be of help and service and they are your friends they would love to help out I'm sure.

Post by cazpumpkin

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

We have had this problem in the past and along with the other ideas above, I have found that washing the garments (clothes or towels) in the hottest setting your washer has along with a good detergent I.E. Tide w/ Bleach or equivalent and approximately 3/4 cup of Simple Green cleaner/degreaser works wonders. I personally think the body oils cause most of the odors and the "degreasing" action of the Simple Green (which is also biodegradeable) and hot water remedy the problem.

Post By Uncle T'Dub (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

I had this problem with my son's clothes. A few of his tee shirts I had to throw out.It comes from your clothes being left wet. Either sitting in the hamper or washing machine wet. Our washing machine doesn't drain properly and it smells like stagnate water sometimes. I put it through a wash cycle without any clothes in it with bleach. I also found when I wash my clothes with Era especially the one I think is called spring mountain and rinse them with Downey fabric softener the smell had went away after awhile as long as they didn't get wet.

Post By Lindy (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

If you have been doing all you can, and it sounds like you have, you may have a mild case of obsessive compulsive disorder happening to you. You say your sense of smell is not that good. Maybe having a good thorough medical exam is in order, making sure to tell your doctor about your compulsion with your clothing. You could even ask them if THEY think you smell off.

Post By sue (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

My brother had the same problem and we finally found out that he was loading the washer with too many items (including heavy towels) and he was not drying them long enough. After he started washing normal loads (doing the towels and sheets separately) and drying his clothes until completely dry, his clothes don't have an odor. He was so happy to find out what was causing the problem!

Post By kelleydf04 (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Try wiping out the washing maching tub & dryer drum with a damp cloth which you have a little dishsoap or something on.Maybe people using the landromat before you do have clothes that smell bad & it has nothing to do with you or your clothes!

Post by melody_yesterday

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Wash your clothes and towels separately. Put a quarter cup or LESS of bleach in with the towels. That's probably where the odor is coming from. The bleach will kill any mildew spores that have started to grow. Hang up the towels to dry in the bathroom until your next shower. Then toss them into the laundry basket. This should prevent any mildew from starting. Borax works well, too, but it's kind of pricey. Stick with the less expensive products like the bleach or baking soda first. Arm and Hammer makes a laundry detergent with the baking soda already in it. Again, not very thrifty.

Post by pollylev

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

You could also try using about 1/2 cup of ammonia to the wash water to deodorize the load.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

maybe it's not the wash but the drying.
I had a problem a few years ago, my clothes weren't being fully dried in the dryer. They smelled sour- not so much when i put them away- but it seemed my body heat activated the smell when I wore them. I also noticed that when I hung clothes to dry in my laundry room, they didn't get enough airflow, and sometimes took a sour odor.
....or if you leave the clothes in the washer too long before putting in the dryer...

Post By janee0423 (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

I've had mine to do the same thing before. Unfortunatly, I had left mine in the washer too long and instead of rewashing I threw them into the dryer. BIG MISTAKE!! It took forever to get the sour smell out. I still have a thick towel that smells when it gets wet. I found out that if I left the clothes in the washer, with hot water fully covering them, and use 2 whole cups of detergent(laundrymats hate this because of excessive suds)then the smell come out on its own. But do not use cheap laundry detergent. It makes it worse. Also, try liquid fabric softener. You definetly get what you pay for and under these circumstance you ned the best. Let the clothes soak as long as you can. It's best to turn the knob to let the water run out and restart it as a regular load but if not finish it out and be sure to use the softener and dry as normal. For under garments they can be soaked in the sink the same way just less detergent. Good luck!!

Post By Dana tnkitty79@hotmail.com (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

I have had that problem sometimes. I have finally resorted to washing every load for about 15 minutes with about a tablespoon of baking soda. Then I just wash them as usual. I found that we were piling our clothes (including our wet towels) in the hamper and letting them stay for a day or two until I could get the laundry done. This was causing them to sour. We started to spread out our towels in the laundry room to dry between laundry days, too. All of this has helped dramatically.

Post By June (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Try oxyclean detergent. Worked for me.

Post By raveninca (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Could it be your car seats?? Have they gotten wet or mildewed and you are sitting in it? Or, maybe it is mildew in your dresser or closet??

Can you try opening up all the windows in the area where you store your clothing and air it out good? Is it carpeted? If so, how does the carpet smell? Do you maybe live in a damp basement?

And, when you dry your clothes, are you sure you are getting your clothing good and completly dry??

Post by mom-from-missouri

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

Try washing your clothing in baking soda and vinegar along with a detergent.

Post By Fifi (Guest Post)

RE: Clothes Smell Sour

One thing you might consider is where you are storing your clothes. Could that possibly be the source. Have you tried a different laundromat? If the water in your area is pretty hard try adding some Arm & Hammer Washing Soda to each load to help your soap work a little better. You could also try adding about a 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax to your wash load. And before you go crazy find a close friend to confide in who can help you tell if the smell is your "not so good sniffer" or a real odor.

Post by missme14

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