When the temperature starts to warm up outside, almost immediately after my washing machine cycle has ended, I have to get the laundry out or it will start to smell like mildew. I only have about two - three hours before the process starts.
In the winter, I have accidentally forgotten laundry for a couple of days or more and found them smelling beautiful after all that time. I do put vinegar in my laundry, but it doesn't help. Again, if I get the clothes out within that short period of time, there isn't a problem. After the smell has begun, I have to run the same laundry through a soaking load of vinegar water to try to dilute the smell. It helps, but never totally eliminates the odor, not to mention this gets very expensive.
We do live in a rather humid area, however, I am not always able to get the laundry out in this short period of time. Is there anything else I can do to prevent this problem? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you in advance!
By Marla
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I set a timer so I don't forget and especially since I live in a large apartment complex and know there's almost always someone else waiting to do their laundry. Doesn't matter whether your choice would be an egg timer, microwave timer, an alarm clock or alarm on a cell phone. It truly does help. :-)
You could try using less laundry detergent. You could also add 1/2 c. to 3/4 c. baking soda to the wash water. You can buy large laundry size boxes of baking soda at most stores.
A repairer of washing machines once told me that I should periodically run a clothes free programme using a mixture of chlorine bleach [non-foaming] and water only.
I didn't bother because I do use bleach when washing dishcloths, but it does make sense. Chlorine is the best eliminator of mildew.
The best way to prevent that "mildewy sour" smell is to leave your washer door open for at least an hour after you're done. Let it air out well, and you will find what a big help that is.
I agree with Barb-Baking soda usually does the trick-& vinegar.White-distilled.Good luck. : )
I use washing soda to get rid of the mildew smell and it's been great!
Think about this; in all those clothes you washed,there were dead skin cells.They are sitting,mixed with small amounts of standing water,in the washer under the spinning drum,and in the bottom of the drain hose. Along with that dead skin is bacteria from underwear,meat juices on dishcloths,you name it.
The new front loading water saving machines are horribly notorious for this.
Bleach, bleach, bleach, any and everything you can!
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