I have tried all of the above and it hasn't worked as well as I thought it would. When I past or approach people in the street they bend their heads to smell themselves. What can I do-I bathe everyday and even use my bath towels 2x's before getting a new one. I noticed today when I leaned back in my office chair that my clothes don't smell fresh even though I went to the laundry on Sunday more around 2am- When I past by buses there is this horrible smell from the fumes mixed with the smell of my clothes-Any advice is appreciated I am tired of people sniffing at me when I'm in public
This is common in my house (unfortunately)! The sour smell is due to either bacteria growth when wet clothes sit around a while or the over use of detergent. The solution I have found that works for soured wet clothes is to add a little bleach. For the overuse of detergent it is obvious....don't use so much detergent! I haven't tried the vinegar yet, but will definitely try it the next time I have a problem to see if it works.
- Firstly, check your lint filter regularly to make sure its not blocked and the water is draining properly. - Dont overload your washing machine. - To get rid of 'sour-musty' smells, I sometimes do a pre-wash and soak with very hot water and 2 of cups of white vinegar and a big dash of bicarb-soda. Then I drain the water and wash as normal. - You could also try to keep clothes on a dryer rack in a well ventilated room, rather than in a wardrobe. Or keep the doors open during the day to get some airflow and make sure clothes are not packed too tightly in the wardrobe. - Use a liquid detergent as it goes to work straight away, whereas powders need time to break down.
Good luck and remember the smells never go away 100%.
Pls help me or I might just lose my job. My clothes smell real bad. I have tried washing them twice each time I visit the laundromat. I followed your instructions regarding vinegar and today when I on the train everyone started sniffing around me. When my fellow employees past my desk they smell themselves. I am desperate and need advice Asap. I sometimes ask people if I smell funny-they say no but it doesn't sound sincere. My sense of smell is poor so I can't even tell if the do smell funny.I used to wash my clothes 2-3 times a week. I cry sometimes because I don't know what to do. I know its not B.O my clothes just smell sour. I am afraid to wear perfume. I am becoming more depressed every day. Today I when straight to the nearest clothing store and purchased an whole outfit and then on my lunch break when out a purchased bras because I notice the smell its real bad.
For any foul smell in any cloth, I soak the piece in hottest water the item can take, and a cup of Dollar store "febreeze". I refuse to buy the regular Febreeze laundry smell remover thats over $5.00 a bottle. If my husband brings home gassy or oil smelling clothes, and this doesn't fully remove the "aroma" I have also soaked the item in the bath tub with about 1 cup of cheap laundry softener and a half cup of salt, with just enough water to cover the item, either method, then wash as usual.
Just another laundry tip from my grandma's days, you can whiten whites or remove smells by soaking in a little detergent and water, rinse, then lay items out on the grass until dry (works best if there is dew). Don't know how this works, but grandma always did it and she had beautiful laundry that smelled great.
I have alot of pets and large wet dogs...their blankets and quilts they lay on get stinky...i soak over night in 1/4 cup baking soda and a lil odo ban in hot water...then i drain washer and refill and wash in hot water & detergent then rinse twice, i put 1/4 cup vinegar in the first rinse then dry in the hot sun...it helps alot...hot water seems to set stains but helps stinky stuff,with baking soda it seems to loosen up anything caught in the fabric fibers...i love odo ban...i use alot of it...it is not that expensive,alot cheaper than frebreeze because it is consentrated,a gallon last me nearly a year.. a lil goes a long ways if it helps these doggy blankets maybe it will help your clothes...hope so...
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Request: Sour Smelling Clothing
Archived on 07/31/2008
My daughter washed her clothes for the first time. Unfortunately, after she removed them from the washing machine she must have put them all on top of each other - expecting they would dry. She called me frantic - her clothes have a terrible odor. What should she do now?
S Wilson from Palm Desert, CA
Answers:
RE: Sour Smelling Clothing
Regardless, if you want something that usually works, 1/4 C. bleach in a washer of hot water (if not a synthetic fabric) works. OR 1 capful of original Lysol works well, too, although hard to find. (10/21/2006)
By Lynda
RE: Sour Smelling Clothing
Part of the problem of sour smelling clothing is due in large part to soap or detergent residue left behind when washing in hard water. You cannot rinse out all of the soap or detergent in hard water therefore leaving it in the clothing. Detergents are high in pH and therefore part of the problem.
Solution: Install a water softener and use pure soap products. Brighter, softer laundry with a clean fresh smell. Solve the problem and forget about fixing the symptom.
(09/13/2007)
By Kelly Johnson
RE: Sour Smelling Clothing
We tend to not want to do laundry and so we also tend to over load the machine to save time and money. By having an over sized load the clothes do not get clean well enough and they do not rinse the soils complete, try a smaller load and smell the difference. (07/09/2008)
I have clothes that have a sour smell. I work for a pet groomer, so they get wet, then dry, then wet and dry and by the time I get home they smell sour. It won't come out when washed. I have tried baking soda, Fabreeze, Pine Sol, vinegar, I just can't get the smell out. What can I use?
Krys from Milton, Florida
Answers:
RE: Sour Smelling Clothing
Am wondering if there is anything you could use to pre-treat (wash, rinse) the clothing, so that it doesn't pick up the smell from work.
Another thought is for you to use separate clothing for work and make sure it can stand up to the vinegar, hot water and long soakings. These treatments can fade the design and weaken fabric quickly. Possibly nurse's or medical technician's outfits might last. Or contact a uniform supply company. and see what they have to offer. You need a sturdy, tough, boilable fabric or your wardrobe bill will be out of sight. (06/09/2006)
By Holly
RE: Sour Smelling Clothing
I had this problem, I left clothes in washer and forgot for a week. They smelled yucky so I soaked them in laundry soap, 1 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup borax and then let them sit for a day then drained water and washed with laundry soap and vinegar borax mix and problem solved. Good luck. Also maybe a few drops of lemon dish soap or ammonia for laundry helps. (06/09/2006)
I use household or foaming ammonia. It's the same product and it will be on the shelf with other laundry boosters. Use about half cup in a wash load, with your regular non-bleach detergent, dry outside if possible. DO NOT USE CHLORINE BLEACH OR ANY OTHER PRODUCT WITH AMMONIA. This will remove dried-in sweat from farmer's clothes; underarm stains from teen's uniforms, and sweeten any garments that have been lying around wet. Like vinegar, it smells awful, but dries with no smell. And it will not damage your clothes. (06/10/2006)
I have sour smelling t shirts. I have tried everything: laundry odor eliminator, color safe bleach, extra fabric softener, extra fabric sheets, and small loads, immediate placement into the dryer.
Please help me!
Rachel
Answers:
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10/18/2004
Add some pinesol or any pine cleaner to your laundry. Any brand!
It works wonder!
By Bobbie
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10/18/2004
Try straight vinegar in the wash. Like a cup.
By Lori
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10/18/2004
If its only these items and not the rest of your wash have you tried soaking them in Nappy soaker for 24-48 hours then washing in a hot wash. Drying in sunlight should also help.
Did not see where you have tried using white vinegar in the wash and rinse cycles to get rid of the sour smelling tees. It works every time for me and you don't have to use fabric softener in the dryer or rinse either. If they are really sour, load machine and put in vinegar, let soak for 15-30 and then turn machine on.
By Plh549
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10/19/2004
I use distilled vinegar in my laundry. It takes sour odors out and is also suppose to be a natural fabric softener. One would think the laundry would smell like a salad dressing but it doesn't.
By Green18Chick
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10/19/2004
When I bring stuff home that has soured, I first soak it in baking soda water, about a cup and a half in the washer, I let it soak overnight, then I wash the clothes in normal laundry soap, then for rinse I put a cup of vinegar with about 20 drops of essential oil in.
Good Luck
