Why does laundry smell bad after washing?

Many housewives cannot understand why the laundry smells bad after washing in the washing machine. At the same time, no matter how many conditioners for rinsing clothes and rinsing are added, the unpleasant smell is not interrupted. From experience, we can say that if all the washed things smell bad, then the problem is definitely in the washing machine. In the case when the smell comes from a particular textile product, then you need to deal with it. Even if the problem lies in the washer, you should not immediately call the repairman, you can try to deal with the problem yourself. To do this, you need to carry out elementary manipulations that every hostess can do.

Reasons for the bad smell of laundry after washing

To understand why, after washing in a washing machine, the laundry really stinks, it is necessary to objectively assess how correctly the automatic machine is operated. The main reasons for the bad smell of laundry after washing can be identified as follows:

  • Poor ventilation of the washing machine drum. After each wash, a small amount of water remains in any washing machine. In the event that the door is constantly closed, fungus begins to multiply inside the drum, which ultimately leads to a musty smell.Experts recommend keeping the washer door ajar at all times between washes.
  • Using the wrong detergent. The appearance of an unpleasant odor cannot always be associated with an inexpensive detergent. If even expensive brands are used incorrectly, this will also lead to an unpleasant odor.So, when washing at low temperatures, it is better to use a gel, since the powder does not completely dissolve, it settles on machine parts, which leads to the growth of bacteria.
  • Too much laundry detergent. Here the effect will be the same as in the previous case, the powder particles will not wash out well and leave slippery mucus on the parts of the unit and clothing.
  • Lack of maintenance of household appliances. All accessible parts should be washed periodically, including the powder tray, drain hose, rubber cuff and drain filter.
  • Incorrect connection of the hose to the sewer drain. If the connection is not made correctly, then the entire drain mechanism will be broken, and the laundry will smell like sewage.
  • Storing dirty laundry in the washer drum will also lead to a persistent stench. You need to understand that the washing machine is not designed for storing dirty clothes; for this purpose, it is better to get a special plastic basket.
Washer installation

If there are no skills in installing an automatic machine, then it is better to entrust this procedure to specialists. Otherwise, both household appliances and the clothes that are washed in it may be damaged.

After the exact reason why things stink strongly after washing has been established, certain manipulations must be carried out to get rid of this problem.

Methods for dealing with musty odors

If the clothes smell unpleasant after washing, you should first thoroughly clean the washing machine. If the unit is not cleaned, then getting rid of the bad smell will be problematic. To get rid of this unpleasant problem, it is worth acting according to the following algorithm:

  • The rubber cuff at the entrance to the drum is carefully wiped with a solution of copper sulfate. To prepare it, take 200 grams of copper sulfate and the same amount of water. The rubber is thoroughly moistened and then left for about a day, and after this time it is washed with soapy water.From such a solution with the rubber part, nothing bad will happen. This procedure should be carried out regularly.
  • After the rubber is cleaned, set the highest washing temperature and cotton mode. We do not put clothes in the drum. Washing will be idle. Instead of powder or concentrate, several sachets of citric acid are poured into the compartment. After the end of the wash, another cycle of the same is launched, but with baking soda. At the end, be sure to set an additional rinse.
  • A mixture of food vinegar and liquid bleach gives no less effect. These substances are mixed in equal proportions and poured into a washing machine. Set the longest cycle and the highest temperature.

After all the manipulations are completed, the powder tray is washed well. If the laundry emits an unpleasant smell, and does not smell like powder and freshness, then you should consider changing the drain hose. It is this part that is often covered with mold inside and contributes to the spread of a bad smell.

Sometimes in the rubber cuff, the drain holes are clogged with limescale.In this case, you can pour a solution of vinegar into it, and after softening, carefully remove the lime plugs.

Preventive measures

So that after washing things do not smell like a rotten smell, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

  • After each wash, all accessible parts of the washing machine are wiped with a soft cloth. The door is kept slightly ajar until the next wash. Such manipulations avoid the putrefactive odor inside the unit.
  • Dirty clothes should not be stored in the washing machine, even if there are only a few days left before washing. Laundry is loaded immediately before turning on household appliances.
  • Detergents are used strictly for their intended purpose, maintaining the dosage and washing regimen. You should not pour many different conditioners, this will not solve the problem, but only mask it.
  • The machine is periodically cleaned using vinegar or citric acid powder.
  • Once every few months, we run a single wash without laundry at a high temperature.
  • Washed clothes are immediately taken out of the washing machine. It's not worth keeping them there for long.

In addition, it is not recommended to install a washing machine in a bathroom that does not have good ventilation. In this case, it is better to put a washer in the kitchen.

Washer drain filter

The drain filter should be cleaned once a month. This device is located at the bottom of the machine, behind the plastic panel.

What to do if a particular thing has a musty smell

Sometimes thick terry clothes such as towels and bathrobes are the cause of musty smells. Such a problem is a consequence of improper washing or previous drying of the product.

After washing, the down jacket may also stink - this phenomenon can be explained by improper drying of the thing.Feather and down can become caked and moldy inside the lining, which can cause yellowish or gray spots.

A bad smell can also be found in woolen items that were previously poorly rinsed and dried. If you put them to wash with other clothes, then an unpleasant smell appears in all the laundry that is in the washing machine.

To get rid of the unpleasant smell of a certain thing, you can resort to the following methods:

  • A thing with an unpleasant odor is poured with water with the addition of vinegar and left for several hours. After that, the thing is rinsed and dried in a well-ventilated area.
  • Things with a musty smell are washed in the machine separately from other laundry and rinsed several times.
  • Terry clothes are washed separately from other linen. Instead of a softening conditioner, vinegar is poured into the tray.
In the event that it was not possible to get rid of the problem on your own, you need to contact a repair specialist. They will be able to identify the cause and eliminate it.

An unpleasant smell can periodically appear in any, even the newest typewriter. This should be a signal that household appliances need care.