Laundry Smell - Manning,IA

its the washer. more then likely it has not been cleaned regularly and now has mildew down in the drum. You can try cleaning it, but with my old top loader I ended up having to replace it. I now know a lot more about washer care and I run a cleaning load (just bleach, no cloths) every 30 washes. My new front loader as a "clean" setting you use for it to self clean, and it reminds you after every 30 washes to do it. If the washer is old and the smell has been an issue for a while (as was the case with my old top loader) you may not be able to get the smell out no matter how much bleach you use, and liquid fabric softener can actually increase the problem. I know it is not what you want to hear, but it sounds like it may be time for a new washer.

Vinegar. Use some vinegar in the wash. If you don't use it with a load, run a cycle of just hot water and vinegar. Make sure you don't let the laundry sit too long and leave the door open to air it out. We had an ancient Maytag with no smell.

Vinegar can also take the place of fabric softeners.

Sounds like you need to sanitize your washer. Fill it with super hot water then add a cup of bleach. Let it run through like normal and see if it works. Then do it every weekend or every other weekend if it needs it that much.

I would suggest using Borax (along with your detergent) in your washing machine (the Borax helps soften the water, which will allow your detergent to work better). Also, using some Clorox 2 (or other color-safe bleach) will help. The laundry smells because there's bacteria that is not being killed, and that is staying on the laundry.

You can also buy washing machine cleaner, and run a cycle using just that (no clothes). There may be some residual mold growing behind the washer drum, and that could be contributing to the smell.

If/when you're able to upgrade your washer, consider a steam washer. That way you can sanitize the laundry just using steam, rather than having to use color-safe bleach. That has made a huge difference for me - the laundry always comes out very clean and smelling nice.

It is your washer.

Run bleach or vinegar in an empty cycle. Pour it in the detergent cup, the softener cup and the bleach cup.

Run vinegar through. Should help.

I suggest it's possible that you have a build up of detergent in your clothes. I suggest that you try washing them without using detergent. Perhaps put vinegar in your wash water. You may have to wash them more than once this way. One way to know if they still have detergent residue is to look at the wash water when you wash them without detergent. If the water is even a little bit sudsy or has a gray skim on it, it's using too much detergent that has caused the smell.

I have a front loader that does the same thing. I have to sanitize it once a month with bleach. I use vinegar as a rinse agent everyday but for a full sanitize, to really get rid of the odor you need bleach.

Try the suggestions about the bleach, vinegar, etc others have mentioned. If you still have an issue, before you buy a new machine, take a load to the laundry mat. If your clothes come out clean, it's probably your machine that's the problem. Only other advise I can think of is to call the manufacturer. They may have an idea of how/where to clean it that you've missed.

smell the bottle of detergent....

I've notice that some of the newer scents of detergent have that funky smell. Just shake before using.

If not, use borax, baking soda, or washing soda with vinegar to get that smell out.

I agree with others ...it is your washer. I had the same thing but used the washing machine special cleaner to clean the machine itself. I can't remember the brand but it is a large tablet that you run in the machine by itself. I know target sells it and I have also seen it at home depot.