Smelly Clothes

DO YOU HAVE SMELLY CLOTHES?

I Know How To Cure Your Smelly Clothes Problem!

Do your jeans smell musky after the first few hours of wearing them?
Do your bathroom towels stink too soon after washing them?
I know the problem and I know the cure!

Let me tell you short story and you tell me if this sounds similar to a problem you are having. I have never had a problem with smelly clothes in my entire life until about five years ago. I decided to buy a new washing machine and it worked great. It had all of those neat compartments where you can add liquid soap and liquid fabric softener so I ended up switching soaps etc. I could not be happier with my new machine --until my clothes started to stink about six months after buying the new machine.

I noticed after just a few hours of wearing my Levi's my Jeans started to smell musky. At first I thought it was mildew from leaving my clothes in the washer too long before drying them so I was vigilant to get them in the dryer as soon as possible. When that did not remedy the problem I thought switching to cold water might help. When that did not work I thought maybe it was the brand of soap I switched to so I switch brands again. And when that didn't work I stopped using liquid fabric softener. Nothing Seemed to get rid of the musky mildew smell in my clothes.

I ended up selling my house and with some of the money I decided to replace all of my Levi's. I ended up throwing all of my old Levi's away because I thought the smell was permanently baked into the fabric of my Jeans. The smell seemed to be concentrated where the material was more than one layer like around the pockets and waistband.

When I moved and I left my new washer at the old house as part of the deal. This was my excuse to buy a new front-loading washing machine. The front-loaders wash a whole lot better and I just wanted fresh clothes again. This washer came with all the bells and whistles. I could not be happier with my new washing machine --until about six months later when all of my clothes started to smell again!

During this time I had also noticed that my bathroom towels were also affected. Not to the extent that my Levi's were but they were starting to smell really musky premature. After just a few days they smelled like they had been sitting in the hamper for a week. Before my smelly clothes problem I could probably go a month and they would never stink. I knew there had to be something to the problem and I wanted to find out what it was and I did.

Does This Sound Like The Same Problem You Have?

I did a lot of searching and found out what the problem was. The problem is a mold that grows in your washing machine. The mold usually grows on your rubber or silicon seals that come on your new washing machine. The reason you never had this problem and then you did is probably because before you either left the lid open on your washing machine and it dried out or it just didn't seal very tight.

It actually makes sense after you think about it. It was only after I got the new machine that I started closing the lid when it wasn't in use and that is when it started. The problem is even worse with the front-loaders because you can't leave the lid up, if you leave it open you leave it straight out.

After I had read that it was a mildew or mold problem and where to find it I took a look at my rubber gaskets and sure enough there it was, lots of smelly black mildew or mold, whatever it was it stunk. The mildew or mold was between a few lips in a gasket that sealed between the machine and the door. After I cleaned it up the smelly clothes mysteriously went away.

Here Is My Advise To Solve Your Problem Forever!

You need to run to the store and get a few things before you get started.
You can find all of these items at your local Wal-Mart Super Center.
Yes ladies --- you are instructed to go shopping...

Odoban Sprayer - Odor Neutralizer (Laundry Isle)
Baking Soda or Super Washing Soda (Laundry Isle)
Distilled Vinegar - Gallon Jug (Bulk Items Isle)

Step One: Cleaning - You need to clean under and between all or your silicon rubber gaskets or seals. You will probably need a few old washcloths. Wipe all of the black mildew or mold out from between all of the lips in the gaskets or seals with the first washcloth. Next I recommend using rubbing alcohol on the second washcloth and wiping down all of the places that the mildew or mold was growing. Alcohol will quickly kill any odor causing bacteria without leaving an odor or residue behind. Do not use bleach because bleach will not dry quickly and it will leave an odor and residue behind.

Step Two: Acid Wash - After cleaning your washing machine you need to give your washing machine an acid wash. This step is much simpler than it sounds. Run your washer empty without any clothes and without any soap of any kind and run it on the hottest setting you have and with as much water as you can. Add at least three full cups of distilled white vinegar to your main wash cycle. The best way to do this is by adding the vinegar through the soap, the bleach, and the fabric softener cups if you have them and dump the remainder of the three cups directly into the tub. Vinegar is an acidic solute with a low Ph factor and also a natural deodorizer. The reason for the acid wash is anything growing in your washer likes a base solution (it does not mind bleach which is a base solution) and the acidic solution will shock it.

Step Three: Soda Wash - After running your washing machine though the acid wash you need to run it though a soda wash. This step is much simpler than it sounds. Run your washing machine once more without any clothes and without any soap of any kind and run it on the hottest setting with as much water as possible. Add three full cups of Baking Soda (half as much for super washing soda) to the main wash cycle. Baking Soda is a Ph neutralizer and is also a natural deodorizer.

Step Four: Neutralize - After cleaning your washing machine you need to neutralize any odors with Odoban. Make sure that the area that had the mildew or mold is clean, dry, and free of any residues of any kind (This is why we used alcohol). You may notice that there is some black residue again that the wash cycles have stirred up. Just wipe it off again with a clean washcloth. Now you need to generously spray Odoban all over the gaskets or seals making sure you get in all of those cracks and crevasses, soak everything. Leave the lid of your open and let your machine air-dry over-night.

Step Five: Air Dry - While you are waiting for your washing machine to air-dry over-night, you can go ahead and spray the Odoban on your Levi's around the waistbands and pockets, don't be stingy or you'll have to repeat this step again, go ahead and soak those jeans where they stink. Let your jeans air-dry over-night. In the morning you are ready to start washing your fresh smelling clothes. The smell of the Odoban will slowly dissipate over the next three washings.

Here Is My Advise To Keeping Fresh Clothes

Issue One: Detergent - If you have an HE washing machine, you must use HE Detergent. I highly recommend using a liquid detergent as well. I have an HE washing machine and believe it or not I think the Tide Original Scent HE Detergent works good and has a good mild scent.

Issue Two: Quantity - Do not use too much detergent, more is not always better in fact too much or using the wrong detergent causes too much suds which means the soap not only doesn't rinse from your clothes but it does not rinse from your machine. This can cause build up which can contribute to mildew or mold.

Issue Three: Boosters - I highly recommend using a booster such as Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda or the giant box of baking soda found in the laundry isle. Using a booster not only cuts down on the amount of soap you have to use but it is a natural deodorizer as well. I do not recommend using borax because it causes your clothes to fade.

Issue Four: Vinegar - I highly recommend using distilled white vinegar. Using one full cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle will not only act as a fabric softener but vinegar is also a natural deodorsizer. I have found that the easiest way for me is to add it to my bleach and fabric softener cups.

Issue Five: Fabric Softener -Stop using fabric softener sheets, they leave an oily residue on your clothes! If you must use fabric softener, I highly recommend using Downey Free Liquid fabric softener in the white bottle. It is Free of perfumes and dyes and it is hyper allergenic. You will notice right away that you are not just covering up odors, your clothes are truly fresh and they smell fresh and not like perfume.

If You Are Still Having Smelly Clothes

If you still have a problem with smelly clothes then more than likely you were not able to rid your washing mashine of all the mildew or mold. Maybe you just could not get to it or maybe you didn't see it or know where it was. Either way there is one last option.

There is a product called "PUREWASHER" that is made just for your problem. If you are still having problems this is the product for you. It cost around 19.95 and well worth every penny.