Hi all you fabulous moms out there.
My husband kayaks and skis and does a lot of water stuff. He won't wash his clothes or life vests and he won't let me wash them either thinking I'll ruin them. He keeps them in the bathroom even though they shouldn't be in there. This is the bathroom our guests use if they come over. Well, the clothes and stuff stinks. Its beyond a mildew smell and now that its summer, sometimes I walk in there and gag from the stench.
Does anyone know how to get rid of the stink? I have thought about throwing them out the window. I used a ton of febreeze and that doesn't work at all.
I put them in the Wash with Vinegar. Next time he wore them, he smelled like vinegar and extreme B.O. OH, I layed down the law 2 weeks ago so he did put his stuff outside. He is a grown man but doesn't think he should lift afinger. A threat of not cooking dinner for 2 weeks usually works.
Leave stinky, wet items in the garage or on the back porch until ready to wash - wet towels, swimsuits, and all his other gear. If that's not good enough for him, then I guess he can wash them upon arriving home from his outings.
Okay, ick. That's gross. If they are that smelly, it's likely that they are getting moldy. Mold can make people sick. You need to get them out of there and get them clean. Sportswear and outdoor gear like this is made to wick away moisture or be waterproof, but if it doesn't get properly dried fungus and mold can grow. That can cause skin rashes and respiratory problems.
Cleaning this stuff is not difficult. In the same way that he bought a specialty item to enjoy his sport, he needs a specialty soap to clean it and protect it. Allowing it to mold is going to decrease the life of his gear. I'll be he's invested some serious money in his sports. He should be just as willing to protect (or allow you to help protect) his investments.
There are plenty of great detergents out there for sportswear and outdoor gear. Here are a few. You can do a Google Seach:
http://www.betterfitnessproducts.com/00001-win-detergent....
http://www.mieleboutique.ca/index.cfm?app=cart&a=list...
I would not wash his gear in a top-loading washer with a center agitator. I suggest that, if you have a top-loading washer, you take his gear to the local laundromat and use the big front-loader washers. If you have a front loader, put it on a lower spin setting. Use warm water and the detergent for outdoor gear. The front loading washers will not hurt his gear as they do not have a center agitator. They'll also get them cleaner. You might have to run them through a few times to get all the stink out. On the waterproof gear, you might have to wash them once, turn them inside out, and wash again.
After they are washed with the special detergent, hang them carefully so they maintain the proper shape and put them outside to dry on a nice day. Be sure to use a sturdy hanger. Don't just toss it over a rail or it won't get fully dry. Again, on the waterproof stuff, you'll have to flip it inside out once the outside is dry so you can get the inside dry too. If you put them back in that enclosed room you'll end up with smelly stuff again.
If hubby is hellbent on doing it himself, buy the detergent, give him this information and give him an ultimatum: Either he washes them and dries them properly or you do. No more disgusting stinky stuff in the bathroom or it ends up at Goodwill (not that they'd want it!).
Best of luck.
hmmm... so he doesn't mind getting them wet with lake water but somehow clean water is going to ruin them?
i would wash them with vinegar in the bathtub and put them out in the warm sun. good luck.
lol. maybe u can at least hang them outside to air out. invest in gold canyon candles, their strong once they get melted
I think I'd throw the husband out the window first! ; )
Put your foot down and tell him those things are not to come into the house until he has taken care of them and cleaned them/dried them properly. They definitely have to be cleaned, but why should YOU have to clean them?! Lay down the law, sister! He's an adult (isn't he?) and should take responsibility for his own equipment.
Good luck - J.
Why would he not wash clothes if they are dirty? Also things like life vests etc should be completely dried in the sun before being stowed away.
Try putting them out in the sun for a few days. Take them in at night so they don't keep getting wet.
Put the stuff in a huge garbage bag and put it outside. Tell you hubby to take his stuff and get it cleaned somewhere somehow by someone, or put it in a storage locker far far away where no one has to smell his stuff. If he gets upset let him, at least he will get upset in a house that does not stink.
Personally, I would find a detergent that won't ruin the stuff and wash them without my husband's knowledge.
No way would I allow a bunch of stinky clothes in the house.
He needs to understand that he is bringing mold into your house and in the bathroom it will thrive. You need to agree on an alternative spot for his stuff and how he is going to keep this stuff clean. Mold can become toxic if left to grow. There are some great green products wiith thyme in it at your local grocery stores.
