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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Help! Musty smell in clothes! UPDATED
Lately I've noticed a musty smell in my towels..and now I'm noticing it on my clothes...I switched detergents thinking that might be problem, but its not.
Any tips on how to get rid of the smell...I'm not sure what to even try.
I have a front loading washer and dryer....TIA!
***UPDATE***
Thank You for whoever recommended putting Borax in the washer...all of my laundry as been fresh smelling! No more must! Guess it was my hard water!
I appreciate it! i most def did not want my  clothes smelling!
Message edited 5/4/2008 10:59:07 AM.
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Posted 4/27/08 6:17 PM  |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22136 total posts
Name:
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Have you tried a load (no clothes just r;unning the machine) with bleach?
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| Posted 4/27/08 7:22 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Do you leave the door open in between loads?
You can't close the door after a load because all of the moisture will be sealed and mold and mildew will grow in the machine... mostly around the seal area by the door.
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| Posted 4/27/08 7:40 PM |
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jandt2006
LIF Adult
Member since 8/05 1338 total posts
Name:
Teresa
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
do u use color safe bleach or straight bleach on whites in every load? we used to have that problem until i started using the color safe bleach with everything.
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| Posted 4/27/08 9:43 PM |
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christys0925
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/07 512 total posts
Name:
Christy
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
I know it sounds gross, BUT wash them with about 1 cup of white vinegar only. Then run them through again with just detergent. We had the same problem you are having so DH did some research online. The vinegar helps the smell, color and also helps clean out your washer. HTH
PS: It does NOT leave a funny smell. At least it did not for me.
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| Posted 4/28/08 7:29 AM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
I do leave the door open after I wash...and I have tried to use bleach and just run the machine.
I will try to vinegar and see how that goes!
Thanks!
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| Posted 4/28/08 7:59 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
sometimes it can be a hard water issue. We have well water & it was a problem, adding a little Borax to each load will help.
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| Posted 4/28/08 8:01 AM |
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ILJ619
LIF Adult
Member since 6/06 1985 total posts
Name:
Irene
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
also if you leave too much time between the time they are done washing and the time you put them in the dryer that causes a musty smell too.
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| Posted 4/28/08 1:42 PM |
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Acerone
I hate ants and ugly people.
Member since 3/07 6437 total posts
Name:
Chris
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Did this problem start happening when you where washing with Tide or Tide with Downy?
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| Posted 4/28/08 2:09 PM |
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Laura1976
Member since 5/05 5754 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Are you sure your towels are completely dry at the end of the cycle?
If they are still slightly damp and being left in the dryer for a while that can happen.
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| Posted 4/28/08 2:15 PM |
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MrsFlatbread
Skinny jeans are in my future
Member since 6/06 10258 total posts
Name:
Baby Momma
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
try emptying the hose to the dryer...it's probably full. We had the same problem, then we replaced the dryer vent/hose and it was fine.
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| Posted 4/28/08 6:00 PM |
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DandN
Twins are here!
Member since 3/06 3597 total posts
Name:
Deirdre
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
DITTO the vinegar trick.
I think vinegar is up there with duct tape as one of the best things on the planet, ever.
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| Posted 4/28/08 6:19 PM |
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shapla79
Where Does The Time Go?
Member since 11/07 4619 total posts
Name:
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
I have a front loader as well and asked a repairman about the musty/moldy smell. He told me that front loaders are notorious for this and the best way to deal with it is to run an Affresh tablet in the washer. It's designed to get rid of odors in HE washers. The repairman swears by these tablets! Here's a link to their site:
http://www.affresh.com/home.jsp
Good Luck!
Message edited 4/28/2008 6:24:50 PM.
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| Posted 4/28/08 6:23 PM |
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Suzan
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/06 754 total posts
Name:
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
1 yr old front loader here w/same problem. As a matter of fact I just ran vingar through it empty this morning and I will do an empty bleach load tomorrow. I keep doing this approx 1x per month, or I smell it. SO annoying. ANd if I knew this I would've never bought this front loader!
BTW I did the cleaning of the dryer hose last month too. Did not help us on smell. Ours seems to be just the washer
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| Posted 4/28/08 7:37 PM |
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july06bride
I'm a mom!
Member since 5/05 3966 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Posted by KellyFG
sometimes it can be a hard water issue. We have well water & it was a problem, adding a little Borax to each load will help.
YUP- this is what we did too-We usually noticed that our toilet bowl water would be brownish even after cleaning- once we started putting that stuff in, it all went away!
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| Posted 4/30/08 7:09 AM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Posted by Acerone
Did this problem start happening when you where washing with Tide or Tide with Downy?
actually I noticed it more when I used gain detergant.
but I've been reading that after while detergant can build up in the washer and cause the smell. and I do have hard water, so I'm sure thats adding to the problem.
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| Posted 4/30/08 1:08 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Posted by Laura1976
Are you sure your towels are completely dry at the end of the cycle?
If they are still slightly damp and being left in the dryer for a while that can happen.
Yup they are completly dry coming out of the dryer...but upon opening the door to the dryer you can smell the must
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| Posted 4/30/08 1:10 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes!
Posted by july06bride
Posted by KellyFG
sometimes it can be a hard water issue. We have well water & it was a problem, adding a little Borax to each load will help.
YUP- this is what we did too-We usually noticed that our toilet bowl water would be brownish even after cleaning- once we started putting that stuff in, it all went away!
So do I just put borax in the empty washer and run it, hot water i assume? and how much are you putting in?
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| Posted 4/30/08 1:10 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes! UPDATED
bump for update
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| Posted 5/4/08 10:59 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes! UPDATED
Posted by Nicole728
Lately I've noticed a musty smell in my towels..and now I'm noticing it on my clothes...I switched detergents thinking that might be problem, but its not.
Any tips on how to get rid of the smell...I'm not sure what to even try.
I have a front loading washer and dryer....TIA!
***UPDATE***
Thank You for whoever recommended putting Borax in the washer...all of my laundry as been fresh smelling! No more must! Guess it was my hard water!
I appreciate it! i most def did not want my clothes smelling!
I'm glad it worked! Borax is all natural & is a great way to use less laundry soap, it makes it work better!
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| Posted 5/4/08 11:00 AM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes! UPDATED
Very interesting, Nicole!!!! I've been having the same problem, and wondered if it could be due to our crappy water here! I'll have to try the Borax, too. 
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| Posted 5/4/08 7:26 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes! UPDATED
Posted by MrsRivera
Very interesting, Nicole!!!! I've been having the same problem, and wondered if it could be due to our crappy water here! I'll have to try the Borax, too.
Its most definately our crappy water here! Def get the Borax!
Thank you Kelly!!!
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| Posted 5/5/08 12:07 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Help! Musty smell in clothes! UPDATED
glad it worked out!!
I was doing laundry this weekend and was smelling everthing to make sure it didnt smell musty!! 
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| Posted 5/5/08 12:27 PM |
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