I washed a load of laundry and afterward smelled this nasty smell from my just washed (and dried) laundry. Upon further inspection I realized that there must have been something in the pocket of my jeans of the food related variety (I think it was a piece of fruit, but who knows with a 12 month old) since there was a stain and the smell is coming from the pocket. It smells like death and makes me gag. It is NOT a mildew smell. I washed them 6 times 4 times through heavy duty cycle with soap and fabric softener and the last two with soap, fabric softener, and oxyclean for laundry. They still have a smell, not as strong as before, but enough to make me question wearing them. Normally I would give up and throw them away, but these jeans are my FAVORITE, most comfortable jeans. Please ANY tips or ideas would be greatly appreciated!! BTW, I have an HE topload washer so please be aware that there are only certain soaps I use in my washer and the washer is only a year old. Thanks so much for ANY help!
Thanks ladies for all your input, I tried a little bit of everything from you all. I washed the jeans twice with vinegar and the last time I washed them with vinegar I dried them in the sun. The sun drying worked until I brought them inside and they started smelling again! I also washed them with baking soda once. I finally, as a last resort, took the jeans to the dry cleaner. This seemed to work with just a very slight smell directly on the pocket of the jeans. I'm going to try wearing them and using them as normal to see if this changes, if not, I'll be searching for another "favorite" pair of jeans. Thanks again!!
Add a cup of baking soda to the wash load (works on stinking diapers all teh time!) and sun dry if possible.
H. try a cup of white vinegar in the load. Don't put any detergent just run it with the vinegar. A friend told me about this when I once left clothes in the washer over a long weekend getaway and i couldn't find anything to get the moldy smell out- it actually worked! good luck!
H.:
My suggestion is to use baking soda in the BEFORE you wash any more laundry. See if the smell is in the washing machine as well. If your washer is still under warranty - call them and ask them to come out.
Next wash the clothes with baking soda - if that doesn't work take 'em to the dry cleaner - if that doesn't work, I think the laundry is toast! SORRY!
I hope this helps! Good luck!
Cheryl
Put baking soda in with the wash. I have a front loading washer and my daughter forgets to leave the door open all the time and I end up with a mildew smell in the washer. We add baking soda to every load of laundry we do and it removes all odors. You can buy large bags of it a the warehouse stores, like BJs.
I read a dear heloise column once and she suggested vinegar. you may need to google her to get the right amount.
Add a bunch of white vinegar to the load after you put in your regular detergent, that usually will take out smells, and wash them on hot if possible. Good luck. This always works for me if I forget and leave a load in for too long and it gets that mildew smell.
You can add a cup of vinegar to your wash before you start the wash. It works on just about any smell, including mildew. Another thing to try is baking soda in the wash.
Not sure if this will work but wash them one more time and let them dry inside out in the sun. Make sure to turn the pockets out too in case there was anything in there. Also, if there was something really stinky in the clothes with the first wash maybe there are still some remnants of it left in the washer - check to see exactly what the instructions are for the washer to be cleaned...
I hope something works I know how hard it is to find the most comfortable and favorite jeans. : )
Good luck!
When was the last time you cleaned out the drain trap underneath it? also sounds to me like you have detergent/fabric softener build up on your clothes. try using a detergent like charlie's soap or even try running those jeans through on a HOT wash with just baking soda as the detergent and plain white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser after the pants are good and wet and bouncing around look in the window see suds? thats build up and not good for your clothes your washer or your health :)
Hi, H. -
Do you have any friends who shop with Melaleuca? If so, ask them for some Sol-U-Mel; it gets rid of ANY smell, any stain, all without harmful chemicals, safe for HE, home, family, and environment. Good luck!
See if you can put them in a sanitary wash at a friend's house - lot's of the new front loaders have this - although you are risking shrinkage.
Alternatively, lay them outside in the hot sun for a day, maybe insideout so the seams and pockets get a good supply of hot sun.
fill up the washer as usual and add a half gallon (or more) of white vinegar. let it sit a few hours then wash.
Try getting Lysol cleaner. I use a little in my wash sometimes if my son soils his clothes badly or on towels to get rid of any mildew. Another trick may be some pet spray (Stain & odor) I know this sounds strange but if my son has a BM in his pants and I can't wash them right away it takes the smell and the stain right out! Hope this helps. I know it works for a 3 yr old boy's messes. :o)
Jen
just keep washing your jeans. Don't dry them until the smell is all the way out. Try using "Shout" (it's better then spray & wash).
don't worry too much about falling short with the "domestic goddess" thing - a 12 month old son can keep you busy enough.
Enjoy!!!!
Hi H.,
Maybe taking them to a drycleaner could get the smell out of your jeans. Good Luck!
I would get a box of Dreft. It's designed for diaper odors and does take them out. If it's not suitable for your machine, go to a laundrymat and use theirs.
