Duet not Cleaning

[michaelman2]

Hey all...I have tried everything I can conjure to make my Duet clean better. I have tried every detergent and additive I can think of. HE detergents, everything!!! Towels in particular just do not smell fresh, almost sour. I usually only use a towel once or twice and then it is laundered. For the life of me I can not figure out what is going on with this..any suggestions?...I realize this is my second go round on this question, please forgive me, I am desperate. Thanks....

 

[foraloysius]

Washing is a chemical process as you probably know, there three variables that contribute to the cleaning of laundry: Chemical action, Mechanical action and Temperature. Together with time you have the factors involved in laundry cleaning. There are also a few other things important like the quality of your water and if your washer is functioning properly and kept clean. A few questions:

What detergents did you use and how much?

How hard is your water? Are you on city water or on a well?

What cycle and what temperature do you use to wash towels?

Is your washer smelling? Do you keep the door open after doing laundry?

Are you letting your towels dry after you used them or do you just throw them on a pile?

Is your washer working properly?

Just a few questions I can think of.

Louis

 

[toggleswitch]

I am assuming, of course you let the towel dry thoroughly before putting it in the hamper.

From my days of having to dry stowels on a rack (when I rented 8+/- yeasr ago) IMHO once they go "sour" you just cant get that smell completely out, EVER.

I've tried warmest water permissible and every chemical additive under the sun, inluding a super-hot super-long bake-to-kill-all germs dry. NADA

The best additive I have found BTW (IMHO) was the Febreeze LIQUID that was made to go in the washer. The slight secnt was very light and agreeable, and it did what it said,.. eliminated laundry odors. I can no longer find it in this market, however.

Try a new set of towels and see if it is the towels themselves or the machine.

 

[toggleswitch]

PS- have you tried raising the water-level?

 

[jmirawm]

Febreeze.......

Last time I was out shopping, I noticed that they have TIDE with Febreeze.

 

[foraloysius]

Febreeze...

Febreeze isn't the solution if the laundry comes out smelly. That means the laundry isn't clean and that is what should be solved. Not covering up the smelliness.

A higher water level isn't particularly necessary as long as the washer works properly. Modern frontloaders are designed to clean with low water levels and it works as long as the laundry is thoroughly saturated. I can understand when you would want to raise the water level in the rinse part of the cycle, but an extra rinse can compensate for that.

 

[re563]

Another thing to consider is how many towels are you washing in one load?--Overloading may also be part of the cause.

 

[spiraclean]

Liquid Chlorine Bleach

Hi Michael,
The sour smell you refer to is caused by bacteria on the laundry. Have you tried adding liquid Chlorine Bleach to the wash?
Do you use Fabric Softeners? These can cause a greasy slime like build up to form inside the washer this provides a perfect environment for bacteria and mould to grow. I would also recommend you run a hot whites cycle with no laundry and add a cup of Chlorine Bleach to the wash cycle, this will help to remove the slime build up and also kill any mould and bacteria that may have built up in the machine.
I hope this helps.

All the best.
Hugh

 

[partscounterman]

Sour Towels

Where I live we must be careful about the towls going sour since it is so humid and warm here. I try to dry them out before they go into the hamper. I wash them with very hot water (I use the sanitary cycle if I wash in the morning or late evening, when our solar heater isn't kicking out the heat) and add a couple tablespoons of Pine-Sol to disinfect (must be the real Pine type-the other flavors don't disinfect) since I think bleach is too hard on things. Of course, they must be bone dry before putting away.

I hope this helps
David

 

[rayjay]

Chlorine Bleach WILL solve this. IF the towels are dark colors, juat add a 1/4 of a cup. If they are lighter in color add a liile more.

 

[foraloysius]

Let's first hear what Michael has to say, we might be speculating about things he already has looked at. Since he has asked this before the obvious things might already have been addressed.

 

[westyslantfront]

Clorox

Every so often, I run my washer and also my dishwasher empty...no clothes or dishes....with Clorox and it seems to elimate odors. I also leave lid/door open so that machine can air out.

 

[maytagbear]

I like to use Baking Soda

as a laundry additve. I use the cheap store stuff for cleaning, and Arm and Hammer for baking. Of course, it's probably from the same plant, but I feel better about using the store brand for cleaning.

1/2 a cup, hottest fabric/dye safe water.

Lawwrence/Maytagbear

 

[knitwits1975]

ATTN, Michael. I would do exactly what westyslantfront has suggested and try the dry run with bleach. This will kill the bacteria that is notorious for causing these odors, as well as rinse away detergent buildup. This is what I do every so often with my Kirkland Signature by Whirlpool, and it really works. And do keep the door open as Westy suggests whenever possible. This will help it dry out, bacteria thrive on moisture. Also see that your dispensers get really clean. If they are removable, clean under and around them too. One more thing, Make sure that the bleach gets well rinsed to avoid unwanted bleaching of your laundry. Good Luck.

 

[toggleswitch]

Pine oil in laundry- benefits

Some benefits of the previously suggested pine oil treatment:

1) Disinfects.
2) Leaves a nice mild smell even after dryer. (when used in SMALL doses).
3) Cuts the suds level greatly. Too much detergent and suds prevents a F/L from doing its job, as we all know.
4) Said to clean also on the spiritual level. Great for when major illnesses, depression, negativity etc. are in the house.

Great for those times when you have to use a public machine.

 

[toggleswitch]

BTW is the drain hose a short and direct run?

If the machine has to pump up or horizontally for a long distance, a check-valve in the drain hose (as close to the machine as possible) will prevent contaminated water from seeping back into the tub. This may be cross-contaminating the water from one of the cycle phases to the other.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Michael, is this still the previous situation with the skin lotions and oils not washing out of the business towels? You really need something more powerful to tackle that grease. If you do not have any STPP, add a half cup of non-lemon DW detergent along with your usual dose of laundry detergent to give you some strong bulders and some phosphate to deal with the oils and run it on the Sanitary cycle (apologies to our British contingent).

 

[michaelman2]

Hey, thanks to all that were kind enough to help me try and "diagnose" this problem. Believe me I read and will try (if not already tried) all of the suggestions. My hunch is that this machine does not get enough water. I tried useing the "Bulky" cycle and this seems to work much better, allowing more water in the wash cycle, but does not have a high speed rinse. I think I am going to bite the bullet and have the washer checked by a service person.

 

[toggleswitch]

Before you call service. Did you clean out the mesh screens on the inlet hoses?

Quote "and some phosphate to deal with the oils and run it on the SANITARY cycle(apologies to our British contingent)."

Would someone kindly tell me offline in a pvt email what other meaning this word has? Tks.