Is it my washing machine?

[ADMIRALSTOCKDALE]

Towels and clothes not smelling very fresh. The dryer is new and the articles are fully dried when I take them out but they seem to take on a hint of a mildew odor after little use.
I'm using the right amount of detergent and an old, trusted brand that i've used forever.
Somebody mentioned something about cycling some vinegar but i wanted opinions from you jerks first...
whatcha think?

 

[bevosayshi]

How old are the towels/clothes? My in-laws have towels that are probably pre-WWII era which forces us to pack our own towels when we go to visit. Might not hurt to just buy some new towels? We can't convince them of this though. I know this probably doesn't help....good luck.

 

[accuratehorn]

Was your nickname as a kid "Stinky?"
If not, you could try some of those anticling papers you toss into the dryer with the towels, they also impart a fresher aroma.

 

[TexasEd]

Do you have a front loader washer?
They can develop mildew in them because they are air tight with the door closed. Leave the door ajar between washes.

You can run a load of whites with bleach to kill off any mildew that is in the washer.

Check you dryer vent hose to make sure you don't have a build-up of lint trapping moisture.

 

[UTEE]

When the t-stat limit on my dryer was about to go out, the the dryer was taking forever to dry clothes because the heating element wasn't coming on full-time. The clothes got dry, but it took a REALLY long time, because they were basically just air drying while tumbling. The towels also developed mildew smell very quickly. When I fixed that issue and the dryer was heating properly, the mildew-smell problem disappeared.

I know you said your dryer is new, but perhaps something in the above information can help you diagnose your problem.

 

[BigWill]

vinegar will help, as will baking soda. Anything to throw off the ph that's allowing the mildew to thrive.

It's best to alternate between acid and base with the laundry. Hospital laundry MUST be treated with either acid or base.

 

[uisge beatha]

In reply to:

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[Clarence Iba]

Front loaders have a mildew problem.

If it's a top loader, run a couple of full tanks of bleach through it. Also a good time to change your supply lines from the wall. If those break you've got major problems.

Using real liquid fabric softener helps too - instead of dryer sheets. Just add a capful to the water as it is filling for the final rinse. If you aren't nearby it when it's refilling and hear it, set a timer. Its usually about 16-20 minutes after the load starts.