Speed Queen top-loader towels smell bad

[gusherb]

I’ve been using my 2015 AWNE82 the same way for the last 8 years. Hot water for towels and sheets, warm for everything else. I only use Tide or Persil, but I mix it up between powder and liquid. I use OxyClean on the white towels. Very seldom do I use LCB on anything. I let it do the one rinse, hardly ever felt the need for a second rinse.

The only time anything has ever come out stinky is if I let it sit in the washer for half a day or more.

 

[mtn1584]

Funky towels….

Sounds to me like the problem is with your clothes dryer and not the washer. How many cycles or how long does it take to dry your towels? Most dryers that have a clogged vent will cause this issue when it comes to drying towels.
Also wash towels in HOT water with Tide, don’t use cold water or a cheap detergent, think about where those towels have been. Hang them up to dry before washing to avoid mold.
Check your dryer vent and drying times
Mike

 

[mark_wpduet]

I never thought about a clogged dryer vent causing this....

Wow - that can really make towels smell bad?

 

[combo52]

Clogged dryer vent, making clothing smell bad

I’ve never seen that happen it certainly not likely, a completely completely or severely clogged dryer vent might make the smell, more noticeable, if hot things tumble in a dryer for two hours, and don’t dry, but a clogged vent will not create the smell in the clothing. The clothing would already have to be very contaminated.

I suggested for years that people try the is it really clean test by taking a clean washcloth out of their linen closet, making it damp, putting it in a Ziploc bag and putting it back in the linen closet for a week, and if it smells bad after a week or two, it wasn’t clean to begin with, if it’s still just damp and smells fresh you’re doing a good job with your laundry.

John

 

[dustin92]

I had a similar issue with my 2006 Speed Queen- What I gathered happened was the tub brake was no longer engaging properly, which caused the tub to index/rotate with each agitation stroke, and the clothes were barely being turned over.. More like rotated in soapy water. Towels and wash cloths especially smelled awful, and almost had a sticky feel when they got wet. I sidelined the Speed Queen and I'm currently using a Whirlpool front loader I picked up free- 2-3 runs through the 3+ hour sanitary cycle and the towels were smelling better and no longer sticky when wet.. I'd like to repair the Speed Queen eventually for a spare, it's been reliable but not cleaning well currently.

 

[qsd-dan]

The whole indexing tub on a brand new washer always put me off on Speed Queen top loading washers. Some have to wait 6 months to year, if not more, for the tub to stop indexing to obtain maximum cleaning performance. Total bullshit design/setup in my opinion, but that's the way it's....and one the many reasons I'll never buy one. It's really sad how top loading washers have gone to hell in a hand basket.

 

[angus]

Re: Reply #23. John, you bring up a point on something that has confused me (maybe I am just a slow learner, but...). The instructions on most detergents (in my case, Tide With Bleach Powder and Persil Stain Fighter Liquid) tell you how much to use for each size load. However, are these instructions only for a front loading machine? Is the recommended amount dependent on the load size only or does the larger amount of water play a role here? Would the dosing be different doing a full load in say, for example, a regular Speed Queen top loader? I am always concerned about overdosing, but now am concerned about underdosing. I have never noticed any "off" odors but I only use bath towels and face cloths once before laundering. Also, I am tired of guessing with each load. Maybe I am making this more complicated than it needs to be, but it wouldn't be the first time for me.

 

[askolover]

I've had a few colored towels fade with Clorox but my solution was to wash them in a load with the white out stuff and just made them all white. I now only buy white towels because I always use hot water and Clorox every time.

 

[petek]

Persil liquid is marketed and the measurements are for HE top load and front load machines, not regular toploaders.

 

[DADoES]

 
I used today 4 tbsp (2 oz) of Persil liquid + 3 tbsp STPP for a medium load (queen flat & fitted sheet, six pillow cases, three shirts) in my Intuitive agitator machine.

 

[speedqueen]

This low detergent fad has to end..

The amount of people online, not usually here, that suggest using a tiny amount of detergent(**cough renduh on tiktok) is causing lots of problems.

The manufacturers suggestions are typically good guidelines, despite people insisting that they're only to sell detergent. A lot of factors play into detergent usage requirements, dilution ratio is certainly one, you'll need more detergent for the same load in a standard top load vs a front load as I've observed comparing my AWN432 SQ to a 1960s Westinghouse front load. Another important factor is soil load or how dirty the clothes are, both particulate dirt like dust, mud and oily dirt such as, body oil, petroleum, and kitchen grease. If the washer starts and within a minute all the suds collapse,you need more detergent, all of the surfactants have bonded to the dirt and no more cleaning can or will occur. Even low sudsing detergents will have a little suds to use as a guide. If one is still unsure, feel the water, it should feel slippery not just like plain water.

Water hardness is another issue, where I'm staying with friends in West Virginia they have even softer water than I had in Detroit, as such we use about 1/2 to 2/3 the amount of detergent for similar loads. This has an effect on FL vs TL too, as there are more minerals to bond to if there is more water.

 

[combo52]

Post number 30, hi, Richard

I’ve heard the same crap for 30 years. The repairman told me only to use a tiny bit of detergent, but that’s what ruins, the machines etc. etc..

It’s too bad that so few people have had chemistry physics etc. anymore in this country there is just no common sense, it’s always better to air on the side of using too much detergent rather than too little too little will not get the job done and will damage the machine too much is not gonna hurt anything even a few suds in the cycle or in the sink when the washer is done is not a bad sign detergent does not hurt the machine or people, detergent manufactures, would not get away with using things that people are generally allergic to. It’s mostly in their head if they think they are.

Of all the machines washing machines and dishwashers have used I have never had any buildup in any of them. I have never cleaned any of them. It’s ridiculous to think that a machine that’s cleaning your dishes is going to need cleaning itself, this was one of the promises made when automatic washers and dishwashers came out that they not only cleaned the items that went in them, but they kept themselves spotlessly, clean if used properly and they still to do this.

John

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Low detergent fad

I agree with Richard. Besides, how will anything get cleaned that is smelly or just plain stained and dirty? Somebody tell me.

 

[blockeight88]

Bad smells...

When I had my SQ TC5, I never experienced this. Then again, I only wash towels in hot (140F) water and usually use tide powered detergent. Rinsing in vinegar seems to be a good idea and really makes everything smell great. Good luck.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

I agree with speedqueen

I completely agree with speedqueen. This low detergent fad is so stupid! You can't clean anything with only an ounce!

 

[maytag85]

“The amount of people online, not usually here, that suggest using a tiny amount of detergent(**cough renduh on TikTok) is causing lots of problems.

Yeah, this is why I don’t even bother with TikTok, sometimes people will give out the most dubious advice along with spreading lots of misinformation. Instagram reels and YouTube shorts is like that, has been like that for some time now.

The same people who don’t use enough detergent are the same exact people who fall for 10,000 mile oil changes, I guarantee it. Then, they start whining and kvetching that their engine is burning lots of oil along with transmission slipping, brakes spongy from not changing the fluids etc etc.

Of course, people will claim it’s a waste of money to do certain things regardless of mileage, time etc, but it all boils down to preventative maintenance and measures. Better to change the oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles than to let it go which will cause major problems down the road. Not taking this off the tracks, just using it as an example.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

maytag85

I completely agree with you. The amount of youtubers who do this are really just making things worse. For example, I use softener, but not overuse of it. I make sure to use warm or hot water especially during the winter unless the cold water is warm enough like in the summer. I've used it for years and had no mechanical issues from it. Besides, there are other factors like not cleaning the machine at all or not enough hot water. Using fabric softener is no different than using rinse aid in a dishwasher. No harm done when used properly. The lengths some people use is misleading. And I agree with jaykay18 about softener use. Never did me harm when used properly. It also needs to be distributed evenly too. If I were to program a washer, I'd program it to where the fabric softener option was turned on during the normal and heavy duty cycles by default. Period. I'm sick and tired of spray rinses. They don't do the job properly. Just my observations.