After washing, laundry smells unpleasant: why does this happen and how to deal with it?

The fact that laundry should be clean after washing and exude a pleasant aroma is undeniable.

But what if it doesn’t smell fresh after washing? It’s time to think about what the reason is, find it and eliminate it.

You can completely cope with this on your own. Getting rid of the musty smell coming from laundry is also possible at home.

In this article we will tell you why clothes smell unpleasant after washing in a washing machine, and what to do to return a pleasant aroma to washed items.

Reasons why washed items smell sour or rotten

The most common source of stench is moisture that remains in the drum and folds of the sealing gum of the hatch after washing. This creates increased humidity inside the machine.

Then the laundry feels sour after washing. Laundry smells similar if it is not removed from the drum for a long time after spinning.

There are a number of other reasons why freshly washed laundry smells bad:

1. Wrong choice of washing powder. Sometimes, even a high-quality, expensive detergent leads to an unpleasant odor from the laundry if it is not used according to the instructions.

   Thus, dry compounds do not fully dissolve during low-temperature washing (below 60°C) and remain on the walls of the tray, drum and drain hose. After a while, this sticky mass begins to emit a stench.

2. Excess washing powder. The result will be the same as in the previous case. The remaining powder is not completely washed out of things and settles on the internal elements of the machine, eventually forming a foul-smelling mucus.
3. Lack of proper care for your washing machine. It is important to systematically inspect accessible elements and clean them. Particular attention should be paid to filters, sealing rubber of the hatch and the detergent tray. Mold usually forms there over time.
4. Long-term storage of contaminated items in a closed machine drum. Since this is not a very suitable place for storage of this kind, as a result of the combination of dirt and high humidity, a persistent rotten smell arises. It is advisable to purchase a separate basket for such purposes.

Sometimes things go down the drain after washing. This is a common occurrence if the drain hose of the machine is not connected correctly. Violation of water drainage technology leads to the penetration of the smell of sewage into fabrics.

A sharp chemical or rubbery smell emanating from washed clothes is possible when using new equipment. There is no need to panic, as this is a completely normal phenomenon and will go away on its own after two or three washes. It is better to run the first 2-3 cycles empty.

How to prevent the formation of “aroma”?

So as not to subsequently look for ways to get rid of an unpleasant odor and not wonder why this happens, certain preventive measures should be followed:

• After each start of the washing machine, wipe the tray and rubber cuff with a dry cloth to remove any remaining liquid;
• always keep the hatch door slightly open for ventilation, especially if the machine is installed in the bathroom;
• If possible, clean the filter once a month and drain accumulated water from the tank;
• put dirty laundry in a specially designed basket, and not in the machine drum;
• Wash at high temperature at least once a week so that hot water washes away the remaining detergent from the inside;
• strictly adhere to the instructions regarding the amount of detergent used and use only high-quality powders;
• Do not keep washed items in the tub, but immediately take them out and dry them well.

How to eliminate ointment in an automatic washing machine?

Step-by-step instructions for eliminating the stench in the washing machine:

1. Use a highly absorbent cloth to remove any remaining moisture from inside the washing machine immediately after washing.
2. Carefully wipe the rubber seal, spreading the folds with your fingers. Then wash it with dishwashing detergent and rinse with clean water.
3. Additionally, the accessible internal elements of the machine are treated with the following solution: 30 g of soda per 200-220 ml of water. After this, wipe with a napkin soaked in 9% vinegar.
4. Start an empty wash cycle at a temperature of 90-95? C. Citric acid is poured into the powder cuvette, which will effectively eliminate foreign odors and scale.
5. When half the allotted time has passed according to the mode, press pause and disconnect the device from the power supply.Then press the button again and complete the cycle.
6. At the end, start rinsing, which will help wash away the remaining citric acid.

Instead of lemon powder, you can use any chlorine-containing product or baking soda.

If the water drains slowly from the sink, it needs cleaning. To clear the blockage, use industrial products or use a special cable with a nozzle.

In the case where the cause of bad-smelling laundry is the washing machine itself, it is recommended to use cleaning agents:

1. Tiret – a liquid product that effectively removes soap and limescale accumulations in individual parts of the washing machine.

   You need to run an empty wash cycle with it. It is advisable to carry out this procedure twice a year.

2. Smelloff – a synthetic odor neutralizer in the form of a spray that will help cope with the problem. You will need to spray it from the inside of the surface of the drum, cuvette and drain.
3. Beckmann – an effective means for removing dirt inside the unit, while simultaneously providing a disinfectant effect.
4. MagicPower – copes well with scale.

A number of progressive cleaners can be added to the presented list: Miele, BorkK8P, Antiscale, Calgon, Topperr 3004.

Such chemicals do an excellent job of removing any contaminants.. Only when working with them is it necessary to adhere to safety precautions:

• put on protective gloves,
• Avoid contact of the active composition with the skin and mucous membranes.

It is also necessary to ventilate the machine and the room after cleaning, and be sure to take into account all the manufacturer’s recommendations.

For this purpose it will be necessary to disconnect it, disassemble it and remove the heating element and filters. It is better not to do this yourself in the absence of relevant experience, but to seek help from specialists.

What to do if your clothes start to smell bad?

When a faint, unpleasant odor emanates from washed items, it will be enough to hang the laundry in the fresh air.

It’s good if the day turns out to be windy and sunny. In this case, the laundry will quickly acquire the aroma of freshness. And here You can’t dry it indoors - it won’t help get rid of the stench., but on the contrary, will strengthen it.

In case of a strong and persistent smell of rottenness (mold) from things, it is necessary to resort to rinsing in water with the addition of a scented rinse aid. After which prolonged drying in the fresh air is necessary.

Folk recipes

Sometimes rinsing and airing washed clothes is not enough to restore their freshness. Then it is recommended to use some effective folk remedies, which are presented in the table:

Chemicals

You can rehabilitate items after unsuccessful washing using special chemicals that effectively cope with unpleasant odors.

So, Dr. Beckmann company produces various products for the care of clothes and fabrics, as well as for household appliances. Their range of products includes some pretty effective odor eliminators.

Thanks to their unique formula, it is possible to destroy pathogenic bacteria from deep in the fibers. These products are used according to the instructions: added to washing powder or poured in instead of rinse aid.

Another option is Denkmit Hygienespuler. The product is suitable for all types of fabric. It is hypoallergenic, so it is recommended for use when washing even children's underwear.As a result, it helps to destroy fungi and bacteria in tissues by almost 100%, giving products freshness.

If 1 specific product stinks

Often, after washing, not all laundry smells, but individual items (for example, terry towel or robe). The washing machine is clearly not to blame here.

This phenomenon is usually observed due to an incorrectly selected detergent. or washing mode. Therefore, you must first study the manufacturer’s recommendations on the product label.

Therefore, it is better to dry terry products on a ventilated balcony or outside in the summer, and in winter - on a radiator or electric heated towel rail.

You can restore the wonderful aroma of such a thing by rinsing it in a vinegar solution. and re-drying in the fresh air.

Video on the topic

This video will show you how to get rid of the unpleasant smell of laundry after washing:

Conclusion

Systematic cleaning of the washing machine, compliance with preventive measures and proper washing of clothes will help avoid the occurrence of foreign odors. A the methods discussed will help to cope with such a problem when it arises.

If, having tried all the options for eliminating the unpleasant odor from washed laundry, there is no result, there is a high probability of a serious malfunction of the device. Then you should contact a household appliance repair service.