My Clothes Don't Smell Good

I have tried baking soda in the wash, vinegar in the rinse, Febreze, and purchasing new luggage. The clothes smell fresh and clean after washing and drying, but after hanging in the closet for a while, the smell returns. Leaving them folded in a basket for a few days I sometimes notice it, and certainly packing for a trip seems to magnify the problem.

I have a Maytag Neptune (the model after all the problems had been solved), and use Tide HE or Cheer HE. Maytag said I had a buildup of detergent in the clothes, and suggested running them through a cycle with just vinegar (which I have done many times).

While I like fresh smelling detergents and fabric softeners, I don't want to just cover up smells that are remaining in my clothes. I want to know they are really clean, and all the dirt, body oils, perfumes, deodorants, etc. are out of the clothes. I don't perspire a great deal, and work in an office, so my clothes don't get particularly grimy or smelly. Any suggestions?

Queen Bunny

The other option is that something in your closet is re-smelling your clean clothes. I would advise taking EVERYTHING out of your closet and cleaning the be-jeesus out it. (Vacuum, wash the walls, etc.) Next separate your clothes by content. Wash everything again with about half the detergent you usually use using warm water. Put _only the non-poly/acetate stuff back in. Wait a week or so and see if the smell comes back. If it doesn't, it's definitely the non-natural fibers.

I have a front-loader too, a Kenmore. And I don't have problems with detergent buildup as long as I use about half the detergent recommended.

I've also started using Borax with my detergent. I figure sweat is kind of like ammonia and the borax is alkaline and counteracts it. Then, my washer has a softener dispenser, so instead of softener, I put about a cup of vinegar to neutralize the detergent -borax mix after it's done its work. So far, so good.

This stinky laundry after washing seems like such a universal complaint, judging by the mail received on this site, that some company should be able to come up with a "stink-free" solution! Any chemists out there that can give us a clue about this?

The problem is really just with my shirts and bed sheets around my upper torso area. I know it's my body oils because on my shirts, the smell lingers around my neck and upper back areas where the body secretes more oils.

Vinegar, bleach, baking soda, hot wash, cold wash, borax, etc., etc. I don't believe you can really help it. Each person has a unique body smell. Some people (like me) tend to give off stronger or much stronger smells. I'm a 21 year old female, 110 pounds. that blows the "stinky male" theory out.

The best solution I've come up with is to wash often and soak sometimes. I use seventh generation orange-scented detergent. It's practically fragrance free. I don't like covering up smells with anything. I only put perfume on after i shower. I spray the back and front of my neck and i find that it transfers to my shirts leaving a pleasant smell even after washing that doesn't necessarily "cover up".

I was over-drying them. I have a Whirlpool Duet system, and I only use Tide detergent, but only need about half per load. Tide cleans a lot better than most detergents.

Another thing I use is Downy Ultra, the concentrated kind.

Now, when you put the clothes in the dryer, dry them on the like medium instead of high, and ONLY dry them until the clothes are dry and no longer... over-drying seems to make them lose that fresh laundry scent.

I really hope this helps for you. Good luck.