Funky Laundry Smell?

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I did several loads of laundry in our apartment laundry room tonight and one of my loads came out with a kind of funky smell. Kind of like something that has been in stagnant water. I transferred from washer to dryer immediately. All loads were washed in my normal detergent with clorox 2 and then I used a dryer sheet. I'm thinking it must be something with one of the washers or dryers because there was not difference from this one load to the others.

Any good suggestions to get rid of the smell? It's not horrible and I'm hoping after a few days it will be gone, but I really don't want to wash it again, especially since I don't know why it has that stagnant smell or which washer/dryer it was that contributed to it.

 

[disneymarie]

Borax 20 Mule Team. This will prevent it and take it out. I bet someone forgot clothes in the dryer and the mildew/musty smell started. Towels are the worst culpirt. Maybe the person took them out of the dryer, and the smell was still in there waiting for your load.

In the summer I sometimes can get this overnight with towels. I have used the Borax and not had a problem with any oders.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Do you have to wash them again to use it?

Man, I cannot wait to move in 2 weeks. My own washer/dryer, dishwasher, garage. Life is going to be great! (It's the little things that make you happy!)

 

[disneymarie]

Yep, rewash....if you have white vinegar at home that should do it too. or cup of baking soda.

If you do not rewash and try to wear them the odor will come out. Even with spray and wash. I had worked with a girl that her mom left the clothes in the washer, she threw her work shirt in the dryer with a dryer sheet and all day she smelled like a laundry hamper.

I was just thinking, at Disney it poured and rained for days. The dryers were running with lots of teen boys sneakers.....
Well that is what kept kicking the dryer doors open I had to reshut.
Smelly wet sneaks are rounchy.

I know you will be thrilled having your own. I have so much I wish I had two sets on days like today.
di

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I have just gotten so sick of apartment living. I lose more money in that stinkin laundry room (3 out of 10 dryers are broken and I lost 50 cents tonight because one was broken but had no sign). I'm also just sick of the crazy neighbors. Between the people who were throwing loud parties and smoking weed, the woman who hears voices (and occasionally screams obscenities in the stairwell) and the notoriously witchy professor, I'm ready to be done. Is it any wonder the apartment manager refers to my building as the loony bin?

 

[Boxley]

I agree with the white vingegar idea also oxyclean usually works in this situation.


My husband's sister used to leave her clothes in the washer while she was at work. After she used the washer everyone else's clothes would smell like rust. It would drive me nuts because we would be on a date and I would smell something bad and I figured it was my husband's clothes!

 

[Mermaid02]

Sorry- you will have to wash them again. I agree that probably someone forgot a load of laundry in there and you were the unfortunate next load. Give the washers a sniff before picking one- the smell is probably gone now but if it isn't, you'll know it!!

 

[shortbun]

I agree, wash them again or you'll be smelling like old water.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I have just gotten so sick of apartment living. I lose more money in that stinkin laundry room (3 out of 10 dryers are broken and I lost 50 cents tonight because one was broken but had no sign). I'm also just sick of the crazy neighbors. Between the people who were throwing loud parties and smoking weed, the woman who hears voices (and occasionally screams obscenities in the stairwell) and the notoriously witchy professor, I'm ready to be done. Is it any wonder the apartment manager refers to my building as the loony bin?

You have NO IDEA how sick I am of my current apartment building. I have all you mention and MORE in terms of stupid things I have to put up with, and the management belongs in the loony bin too.

I'm moving to another apartment, but it's FAR BETTER than what I'm in now. My next apartment even has FLAT FLOORS! SWEET!

Dunno what to tell you about the laundry. If all your machines are broken, you can take your laundry to a laundry mat and wash it there - but you may run into the same problems. The laundry mat in my neighborhood (it closed) had 61 dryers. At one point, NINE WORKED. Yes, 9 out of 61.