Tohru Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 When I do laundry, the girls laundry comes out of the dryer smelling fresh and clean and will stay that way untll they wear the clothes, however the guys...ugh! I have a conventinal top loader because I really disliked the front loader and sold it. I use to be all natural, then went to Tide Sport and A&H Fresh Scent (I alternate out of habit.) I have hardwater. I don't use dryer sheets. I do all laundry the same (depending on fabric and color.) Why does the male's laundry come out of the dryer smelling like dirty laundry and the bed linens will loose all the freshness smell if they are stored for a bit? Everything looks clean, it's just the icky smell! Ideas? Please tell me what detergent to use to make the boys stuff and linens smell like I actually do take care of them too or if there is a magic trick to make the guy's clothes smell clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 The guys clothes stink more! I use liquid Tide unscented for dd and my laundry, and powder Ultra Tide HE in my conventional washer for the guys. It rinses better than non HE and gets yard, sport, etc. clothes clean and they smell good. If the clothes are really nasty, I prewash, then add a little more soap and then run through a regular load (so wash, empty washer no rinse, wash, rinse). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I'm finding baking soda and vinegar are my friend with ds. I add a cup of vinegar to his laundry and it really helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Throw in a scoop of Oxi-Clean with the boys' laundry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I'd vote vinegar and maybe a cloth with a couple drops of some essential oil on them. Also, I know DH has had special shampoo for washing hunting clothing, because it has no scent, so you might try that (probably in the sporting goods section), but it's likely going to be expensive to use fulltime, so I would try vinegar, baking soda, and EO first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 If you have hard water, that can prevent things from getting as clean. I'd look into adding a water conditioner. Calgon makes one, but there are probably other brands. My grocery store has them in the laundry aisle. I'd also suggest cleaning your washing machine by running a hot water cycle, fullest water setting possible and then either vinegar/baking soda added to it or the largest bottle of hydrogen peroixde you can buy added to the water. No detergent, no clothes, just an empty load. When my towels did what you describe, this helped tremendously. Then if that doesn't help, then I'd look into adding a color safe bleach/oxy clean type additive in with each load. My mother used to add 1c of ammonia to each load, but I wouldn't do that if you have used or might use chlorine bleach in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I'll add a vote for vinegar. Great deodorizer - and cheap too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I use baking soda (I buy the big bag at Costco) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 My friend suggested putting a capful of Pinesol in each stinky load, which actually helped a lot. It kills the stinky bacteria, I guess, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 We do 1/8 cup pinesol in our active wear. Only thing that worked for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWillSoar Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I use Borax for smelly clothes. Love that stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 If you wash and dry and the clothes smell, I've found throwing them in the dryer with a washcloth soaked in Febreeze to be a very effective solution. I'm very sensitive to smells and dislike scented candles, air fresheners, at the like, but unscented Febreeze is my best friend. There's no smell! Just the magic odor-encapsulating chemicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Also when you are storing stuff you could put some drawer sachets or lemon myrtle in to keep it fresher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 DH's workout clothes get a double wash with extra Borax or baking soda (whichever hasn't run out in the laundry room) every other month, or as needed. That tends to keep them in check. Some of his technical gear would benefit from a hot water wash, but the tag tells me it's forbidden :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I am going to try it all, lol. I am the only girl in the house and the laundry STINKS! It doesn't help that the boys are both ballet dancers so I have loads of sweaty dance clothes...gross! But one question, some of you mention baking soda and vinegar. Do you use them together? Because don't they neutralize each other? Or do you use them at different times in the washing cycle? I have heard of using vinegar in the rinse water, so do you add the baking soda in the wash cycle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 If you have a HE washer, you probably do not have enough water in the tub to actually get the clothes thoroughly cleaned. Over-ride the water limit by choosing "bulky" and get the clothes good and wet. Then run them through again on regular wash to attempt to get the dirt out. When I do laundry, the girls laundry comes out of the dryer smelling fresh and clean and will stay that way untll they wear the clothes, however the guys...ugh! I have a conventinal top loader because I really disliked the front loader and sold it. I use to be all natural, then went to Tide Sport and A&H Fresh Scent (I alternate out of habit.) I have hardwater. I don't use dryer sheets. I do all laundry the same (depending on fabric and color.) Why does the male's laundry come out of the dryer smelling like dirty laundry and the bed linens will loose all the freshness smell if they are stored for a bit? Everything looks clean, it's just the icky smell! Ideas? Please tell me what detergent to use to make the boys stuff and linens smell like I actually do take care of them too or if there is a magic trick to make the guy's clothes smell clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamonlyone Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I wash stinky ballet (and soccer) clothes too. I hang-dry many items (tights, synthetic jerseys, etc.) and have found a great solution for us. I keep a spray bottle with vinegar/water and several drops of tea tree oil on my dryer. I spray the underarms (or feet) when I hang the items and it totally neutralizes the smell when the clothing is dry. I was so glad this worked because I was tired of pretreating underarms of garments (and they still didn't smell that great when they were dry). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertBlossom Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I use cloth diapers and I put a few drops of tea tree oil in the wash and they always come out smelling so much better. I use it for towels and washcloths too. I imagine it would work for boys' clothes too. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Borax has been my go-to for smelly work out clothes and greasy, dirty work clothes. Before I discovered Borax, vinegar (slosh a 1/2 cup in the washing machine) worked great, but didn't do quite as good of a job cleaning greasy clothes as Borax does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Another vote for PineSol. I've tried vinegar, baking soda and borax. They all work fairly well for normal run-of-the-mill funk. I've found Oxiclean to be totally useless around here. For anything. PineSol is for the big leagues of funk. And as Mamaraby posted, even top load washing machines need cleaning occasionally. That seems to surprise a lot of people, but it's true. That's probably not your problem since some of your clothes are coming out fine. But it sure won't hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Line dry in the sun. No chemical cleaner works better. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Line dry in the sun. No chemical cleaner works better. :) Sorry, but I tried that with DS's stinky running clothes and it didn't work. (Although to be completely honest I didn't line dry them because we don't have a line. But I did wash them and lay them on the patio table to dry in the sun.) PineSol worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I use a cup of Borax or a scoop of Oxiclean, hot water, and Tide to wash the boys' clothes. I put all the products in and don't add clothes until the machine starts swishing the water around, to give the powders a chance to dissolve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Throw in a scoop of Oxi-Clean with the boys' laundry. I think boys/men's clothes are usually thicker than girls/women's so it takes more to clean them. Have you cleaned your washer in awhile? That might help. Oxi-Clean as well here. All of our clothes are washed together so every load gets a scoop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Aren't you all concerned about putting Pine Sol on clothes that will be worn next to the skin? That stuff seems strong and toxic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Aren't you all concerned about putting Pine Sol on clothes that will be worn next to the skin? That stuff seems strong and toxic! No. It goes in the wash cycle. It gets rinsed out in the rinse cycle. If I were concerned about it I'd do a double rinse. And IME you don't have to use it every load. I put it in DS's running clothes once every couple of months or so. It kills the smell for a good while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I think boys have toxic sweat. Try soaking their clothes in ammonia for about an hour before you wash them. It's cheap and does the job. I consider the clothes clean if they come out with no smell. That 'fresh' smell you want is lingering perfume. For that you might try putting smelly dryer sheets in your drawers and linen closet OR use the scented crystals in the wash. Just know for every person who catches a whiff of your kid going by and thinks 'April fresh' there's another whose nose is stinging from the heavy perfume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Presoak and then use white vinegar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I have never had cleaning success with Oxy Clean. But I have had male laundry success with Odoban. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawana Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 <snip> Just know for every person who catches a whiff of your kid going by and thinks 'April fresh' there's another whose nose is stinging from the heavy perfume. I liked this, but am quoting for emphasis. Some of us are really, really sensitive to perfumes in an instant headache, instant nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing sort of way. I acknowledge your pleasure in what is to you and many others a life enhancing experience, but please do be aware it is *not* universal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Presoaking helps. What would dissolve the deodorant/antiperspirant that gets stuck on the guys' t-shirts? It seems to hold in the smells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Vinegar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I read this article by Mary Hunt, Everyday Cheapskate about a simple solution for gross smelly towels; used it on my towels and worked great. Used it on my whites, worked great. I have a high efficiency washer. Put laundry in washer loosely, set for long wash cycle with hot water (turn up your water heater to 140F for this). The smell is coming from bacteria of course and you want to kill it. Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the load. When load is done leave laundry in washer. Now fill it with hot water again and add 1 cup of baking soda. Run entire cycle again. Dry completely whether in dryer or out on line, but do not use dryer sheets or fabric softener, especially with towels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I use Gain, in fairly generous amounts, and our clothes always smell fresh. Ds has the smelliest socks ever (the odor will literally fill the room) and they always come out smelling clean after being washed. Our towels/wash rags are another story, but I use vinegar to remedy that. I also use tide wash machine cleaner about once every month or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 We used scented detergent and fabric softener for years. What got me to change was severe skin allergy reactions over night. So I can't use heavily perfumed detergents any more. However, what I found when switching was that our perfumed detergent didn't necessarily clean supberbly but just masked the odors. If I went for a run pr walked around outside in GA humidity I could smell its funkiness. It took forever to get those clothes clean smelling. Now, I use Sears detergent, vinegar as fabric softener, bleach for whites and 1/8 cup pinesol in very dirty clothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Line dry in the sun. No chemical cleaner works better. :) Of course I tried that first. Tried it for years. I now think it is not true. I just don't find that line drying in the sun works for some odors. Sometimes the fresh air minimizes the odor, but it returns once the item is back inside. We also have environmental allergies in this house and I was told to stop hanging clothes, especially sheets etc, outside because they come in covered in pollen. I might like how sheets dried in the sun smell, but can do without the midnight wheezing. I liked this, but am quoting for emphasis. Some of us are really, really sensitive to perfumes in an instant headache, instant nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing sort of way. I acknowledge your pleasure in what is to you and many others a life enhancing experience, but please do be aware it is *not* universal. I think the fact that I only use unscented products is part of my problem, lol. I figure everyone's clothes stink, but it gets covered up with perfume. And that scented detergent is super strong! My mom only uses Tide and I swear I smell her in my house for days after she has visited. And sometimes I visit her and she will wash my clothes, to do me a favour of course, because she is sweet, and it takes weeks and weeks to get the smell from her detergent out of our clothes. It spreads to anything else washed with the perfumed clothes and everything smells from one load of laundry. I know she doesn't use too much because she taught me how to do laundry, lol. She is quite frugal, but that perfumed stuff is like olfactory velcro! I am going to try a spray bottle with vinegar water and tea tree oil and see how that works. And maybe add in some borax. What about bleach? I have a fairly severe mold and mildew allergy that I have to take seriously. We live in an area with a very humid local climate and mildew towels etc are a fact of life in the summer. If anything sits wet for any time it will start to mildew or mold. I had an apartment that had mushrooms growing in the closets. So, in the summer I will wash towels any anything else musty with some bleach. It seems to help keep it under control. I don't use much, but I have been hesitant to use it on our clothes, especially delicate dance clothing or underarmour etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I have athletes and sometimes their laundry just really smells. I soak performance fabrics with oxyclean. I find oxyclean very helpful and am surprised other people have had such different experiences. I use vinegar in the rinse and that also helps. I am editing to add that you might want to make sure your boys are washing their clothes as frequently and as quickly when they need to be washed. The longer clothes sit unwashed after being worn, the longer the bacteria that produce odor have to cultivate. My boys are bad about letting clothes sit in the hamper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 Thanks! Great ideas. I'm going to try the Pine-sol. I seriously was super all natural before: Charlie's Soap, borax, vinegar, baking soda, sunshine...the guys got older, the problem got worse so I switched to chemical laden stuff, which helped for a bit, but even that's not working out anymore. So going for the strong stuff, Pine-sol. Thank you Danestress! I didn't realize part of the problem might be because the laundry sits in the hamper (or on the bedroom floor) longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisbeth Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Fascinating and taking notes for the future. My dh has a perpetual clean smell that I love but also find a bit unfair. He doesn't use deoderant, and never has...even after working in a hot sun in the yard or a mulch fundraiser all day. He only smells a bit dewy and still clean. Wish I could say the same! But my sons...time will tell.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoast Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 The suggestions mentioned up thread, are they safe for all those "moisture" wicking type fabrics that say on the tag "don't use fabric softner"? My son is a runner and those moisture wicking fabrics really seem to hold the stinky smell. Not that he cares about the smell, LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I'm using vinegar lately but am hesitant to use it on the regular as I read somewhere online that a washer/dryer maintenance worker commented that vinegar is not good for hoses and such on the machines. It eats them up over time I guess. Normally my Arm & Hammer with Oxi Clean detergent is enough (like mildew smell in towels). But I'm using the vinegar as an extra boost to help remove toxins (smokey items). Here are my questions... do you put vinegar in wash with detergent? Or alone? Do you put vinegar in beginning of wash or wait til rinse cycle? I have read various recommendations. Just curious what others lean toward. When I'm using vinegar for odor I put it in the wash cycle along with detergent. If I'm using it for softening I put it in the rinse cycle. The suggestions mentioned up thread, are they safe for all those "moisture" wicking type fabrics that say on the tag "don't use fabric softner"? My son is a runner and those moisture wicking fabrics really seem to hold the stinky smell. Not that he cares about the smell, LOL! The clothes I use PineSol on are DS's moisture wicking running clothes. I know exactly what you mean about them holding smells! Remember, though, that you just need to use a very small amount of the PineSol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 We had terrible stinky laundry issues until we installed a water softener. I could.not get my clothes smelling clean. We bought a softener at Sears and DH installed it. Around the same time, our front loader washer died and we replaced it with a top loader HE. The combo has been life changing. Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I think Borax acts as a water softener? I thought that was part of why it works so well. Does PineSol leave a smell on the clothes? I generally use unscented laundry products because scented stuff makes dh sneeze, and I don't like how strongly they smell. How little do you use? Is a couple tablespoons enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I think Borax acts as a water softener? I thought that was part of why it works so well. Does PineSol leave a smell on the clothes? I generally use unscented laundry products because scented stuff makes dh sneeze, and I don't like how strongly they smell. How little do you use? Is a couple tablespoons enough? I'm fairly sensitive to smells (can't stand to be around anyone with perfume, scented candles, etc.). And I can't smell the Pine-Sol at all after the clothes are dried. I have a front loader and use about a couple of tablespoons. That's a guess, I've never really measured. Pine-Sol's website recommends a half cup per load, but I'm guessing that's for a traditional top load machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I presoak with vinegar and add oxiclean to my regular laundry detergent for every wash of my son's sports clothes. It works with my hard water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I live in a hard water area. I always buy liquid detergent, never powder. Powder detergent + hard water = concrete strength build up in my house. I use vinegar in the fabric softener section of my machine on every load. It is a light acid, and t keeps mineral deposits from forming on clothes.It will lightly remove old deposits over time, but keeping them from forming in the first place is much easier. You can also just add a cup to the wash water if you want, but I think it works better for me if it is introduced after the soap is gone. That way it is removing the soap residue while it is still fresh. To remove bacteria based odors, use pinesol. It helps to kill trapped bacteria that are in the weave of the fabric and stuck in any mineral deposits. Baking soda neutralizes the smell but doesn't kill the cause. Borax helps detergents work better, helps with mineral deposits and can neutralize odors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleinMN Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 If you wash and dry and the clothes smell, I've found throwing them in the dryer with a washcloth soaked in Febreeze to be a very effective solution. I'm very sensitive to smells and dislike scented candles, air fresheners, at the like, but unscented Febreeze is my best friend. There's no smell! Just the magic odor-encapsulating chemicals. Does this really work?! I hate the smell of Febreeze, so is the unscented version REALLY unscented? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoast Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Thanks to this thread, I tried vinegar on some moisture wicking clothes. It worked!!! We do have a water softener for our well water. I used 1/2 c of vinegar in the bleach dispenser of a top load with Arm & Hammer Liquid Detergent for a small load of clothes. No dryer sheet was used in the dryer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrymama70 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I think I've tried everything listed above over the last 15-20 years. About a year ago I tried Arm & Hammer's WASHING SODA, and couldn't believe I hadn't tried it sooner. Not even a 1/4 cup in a load, and IMO it works better than anything listed above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Just dropping by to see why a stinky laundry thread went to two pages....I thought something controversial might be going on! But no...you guys can just really go on about stinky laundry.. ;) (Very enlightening though!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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