# My laundry is excessively stinky **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 17, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195 "2024-01-17T00:35:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/1 "2024-01-17T00:35:43Z")
**NOTE : I cannot used perfumed laundry detergent. It gives my a runny nose & hives.** But I need a good way to reduce the smell in my clothes. I’ve tried several detergents. And bleach is no-go for colored clothing. Advice? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/2 "2024-01-17T00:37:21Z")
Are you sure it’s not your washer? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/3 "2024-01-17T00:38:45Z")
This is something I don’t understand that I’ve seen in commercials. What is causing laundry, that has gone through a wash and rinse cycle in a washing machine, to smell bad? Is there a problem with the washing machine? Maybe you need to run a few cycles with no laundry and just baking soda instead of detergent. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/4 "2024-01-17T00:38:52Z")
I use a coin-op. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/5 "2024-01-17T00:41:02Z")
You might try Lysol, the old-fashioned concentrated stuff, just a capful. It’s got a scent, but an extra rinse should take care of that. Or, vinegar. No extra rinse should be needed with that, even if it comes out smelling a bit vinegary – that goes away in the dryer. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/6 "2024-01-17T00:41:56Z")
[Defunkify.](https://defunkify.com/) No perfumes, and it truly works. We use the powder. -Troutman, parent of a hockey player ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/7 "2024-01-17T00:43:46Z")
There’s an unscented laundry additive. Downey rinse and refresh. It kinda works. Pooph works good. Expensive tho’. Change laundry-mats. They may not be cleaning their machines. Some newer fabrics hold odor fiercely. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/8 "2024-01-17T00:55:27Z")
Is it a mildew smell btw? That’s hard to get out. You’ll want something truly anti-microbial for mildew. Otherwise, you’re using enough soap, and hot water, right? Sorry about the wishy-washy; those suck so much but at least you can get some reading done if the crowd’s not too rowdy. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/9 "2024-01-17T00:57:40Z")
I’ve used vinager and it works. Don’t do it regularly. Link [How to Use Vinegar in Laundry (and When It's Best to Avoid It)](https://www.bhg.com/how-to-use-vinegar-in-laundry-6833543) My dirty gardening clothes get pre-washed in a laundry tub sink. I wring them out by hand and put in the washing machine. That removes the grime from my clothes and keeps it from making my other laundry dirtier. My regular laundry goes straight into the washer. I have noticed the new water saving washers don’t clean as throughly. I developed allergies to Downy and the dryer sheets in my 30’s. I don’t use any fabric softerner any more except vinegar for bath towels. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/10 "2024-01-17T01:12:55Z")
My clothes do not smell mildewed. And I do the laundry in the Condo Association machines (cheapest in town.) Vinegar sounds promising. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/11 "2024-01-17T01:20:37Z")
I use laundry sanitizer; works really well, doesn’t affect my colored clothes. However, I have no allergies or sensitivities to… well, anything, so I can’t make any claims about that end of things. Worked great when I noticed some funk after falling asleep with clothes in the washer and then completely forgetting about them until sometime the next day… [https://www.amazon.com/Lysol-Sanitizer-technology-bacteria-causing-eliminator/dp/B081KLKVV5](https://www.amazon.com/Lysol-Sanitizer-technology-bacteria-causing-eliminator/dp/B081KLKVV5) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/12 "2024-01-17T02:13:57Z")
The only thing I’ve noticed funk on here is towels; a run or two using hot water to wash and high-heat dry solved that. Obviously some clothes can’t tolerate that, but any that can, try that for a cycle or two and see if it helps. Also - when the weather gets warmer try sun-drying clothes if you have a place to do it. It really does a great job of naturally making laundry smell better. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/13 "2024-01-17T02:58:53Z")
There is a unscented version of that product; we’ve used it in the past. That said, we’ve had issues with smelly towels in warmer months, and using a couple of tablespoons of citric acid as a sort of pre-wash seems to do really well. So does the laundry sanitizer. I’d probably try the vinegar approach, as it’s something most people have on hand anyway. If your clothes are predominantly synthetics, they’re notorious for not letting go of bad smelling stuff. You may have to use one of the specific workout/activewear detergents that purport to eliminate that particular problem. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/14 "2024-01-17T03:22:02Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > And I do the laundry in the Condo Association machines (cheapest in town.) The filters probably haven’t been cleaned in an age (if ever). ---
**Author:** ![SeaSun](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seasun/32/14820_2.png) [@SeaSun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaSun)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/15 "2024-01-17T05:01:21Z")
I use natural free and clear laundry soap, but it doesn’t always tackle the tough smells (i.e. pets or body odor and such) as much as is needed, so I’ll add some **BioKleen Bac-Out** to the load. Sometimes I’ll spray it directly on the arm pits, or the bad smells, and let it sit for a bit before washing. [https://biokleenhome.com/bac-out](https://biokleenhome.com/bac-out) As others have suggested, I also put baking soda into my wash as well (Costco sells the large bags of it). And if you can tolerate pure 100% essential oils, you can add 8-10 drops to your laundry too (I use lavender or tea tree oil). You can also get lavender sachets to put in the dryer (make sure it’s just pure dried lavender herbs and not adulterated with fragrance). I’ve also used a product called **EnviroKlenz Laundry Enhancer** with some success too. [https://enviroklenz.com/product/enviroklenz-laundry-liquid/](https://enviroklenz.com/product/enviroklenz-laundry-liquid/) ETA - The Bac-Out I use is the one for Carpets or the one for just Stains and Odors (can be found on Amazon too)…it’s all the same stuff really, but that one just has the natural lime and no other scents. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/16 "2024-01-17T05:06:20Z")
My towels and whites always get bleach. All those that use towels more than once between washing might not smell the funk, but it’s there. Told you so. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/17 "2024-01-17T05:12:30Z")
Is it a front-load washer? They are notorious for getting stinky. Such things can be easily fixed but I am guessing the coin-op washer is not receiving the maintenance it needs. I’d either ask whoever owns those machines to see to their care or, you can do it yourself. Not really your job and a little hassle but it may help your problems (if the machine is contaminated the wash will be contaminated and you may smell that). There are many webpages that describe how to manage this problem. Here is one: > **[Front Load Washer Smells Bad? Here’s How to Clean It | Solar Appliance](https://www.solarappliance.net/news/front-load-washer-smells-bad/)** > > If your front load washer smells bad, follow our guide to learn what causes the odor, how to remove it, and how to prevent it from returning. ETA: Also, if the machine is a front loader it may use HE (high efficiency) detergent. Check to see if the machine you are using needs that and if you are using that. Easy to find at almost any market that sells detergent. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/18 "2024-01-17T06:03:56Z")
Borax hand soap finally got the funk out of a smelly batch of laundry. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/19 "2024-01-17T06:07:39Z")
20 Muleteam(borax) is good stuff. It will eat jeans up if used too often. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195/20 "2024-01-17T06:35:17Z")
Let the condo association know, and I too would recommend vinegar, just a glug in a load of laundry. You don’t have to let the machine fill first; even something like soaking a sock or a washcloth in vinegar, and tossing it in, will do the job. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-laundry-is-excessively-stinky/996195.md?page=2)