Smelly Towel Cleaner

Stinky, musty towels, especially when wet. I HATE that and have to admit, I've thrown away my fair share of wash cloths, towels, and rags through the years because of it.  I REALLY can't handle the stink.  Probably because I know that it's mildew and bacteria on the fabric and that grosses me out.

So, I had to make a trip to the local hardware store (not a national chain) to pick up some "Smelly Washer" today and they were OUT!  OMG what was a girl to do?  Thankfully there was a bottle of "Smelly Towel" on the shelf (the last bottle might I add).  I figured, eh, what the heck, I'll give it a shot.  The washer stuff worked great on the machine and my towels, and since I'm using it for towels, the smelly towel should work fine.

So why do I have smelly towels since I have a nice new washing machine?  Well, I'm an idiot.  Okay not really, but I am kind of forgetful at times.  We went to the pool for some family swim time and like a busy mom I left the towels in the back of the SUV. I remembered to get the kids out of the car, that's good, right? Well when I found the towels I grabbed them, threw them in the washer then ran around the house and grabbed all the other towels I could find.  Well, oops. The pool towels were stinky and got the rest of my towels that way.

So, on to the review (I purchased this product myself and was not compensated in any way for this review):

Picture from Smellywasher.com

I am NOT impressed with the packaging.  It looks very 80's. Which is weird since it was developed a few years ago here in Minnesota. "You can't judge a book by it's cover", right? In this case, CORRECT! I followed the directions and left out the soap I would normally add and soaked my towels for 2 hours with 1 tablespoon of cleaner, that's right only 1 Tbls.  After the soak I ran a normal cycle to make sure they were all rinsed out. There was 10 minutes left on the machine and I asked the husband to put the towels in the drier before he fell asleep.  I just couldn't stay awake any longer.  He was up reading and agreed.

WELL ... you can't trust a husband to do the laundry sometimes.  I went down to check my towels this morning and they were still in the washer. UGH!!!!! So I put them in the drier anyway. Guess what.  No stink. Whew. This stuff doesn't just cover up the stink, it truly gets rid of it.

I LOVE it and highly recommend it. You can purchase it in many hardware stores here in MN, and of course online: http://www.smellywasher.com/product




Here is another must read that I took from their blog (http://smellywasher.com/blog/how-to-repair-your-appliances/what-causes-washing-machine-odor-and-towel-mildew-smell/):

What Causes Washing Machine Odor and Towel Mildew Smell?

There are a number of causes of mold odor in clothes washers. 

1. The main cause of front load or top load stink is overuse of detergents because the user is following directions for amount used.  If detergent has nothing to react against it will leave a residue on the inside of the washer that is a food source for mold and bacteria to grow.  A dark, moist clothes washer is the perfect environment for them to flourish so we need to control their food source.  Generally speaking, we’re washing only perfume and sweat from our clothing so we don’t need so much detergent.  Unless washing soiled clothing, no more than 1 tbsp of any detergent should be used.  This is especially important if using liquid detergent, if there is a water softener in the home or if using a municipal water supply.  For high efficiency washers it’s abosolutely necessary to use HE detergent (low sudsing).  Suds affect both the operation and longevity of high efficiency washing machines.
2. Running a close second is fabric softener use.  Softener is dispensed in the rinse cycle and is also a food source for mold and bacteria to grow.  We recommend switching to dryer sheets or dryer balls.  Keep in mind that dryer sheets can also be overused and cause towels to be less absorbent and retain odor.  The sheets can be cut into halves or thirds and can even be reused.  Dryer balls are another option.  Click here to read more advice on the subject.                                                        
3. The third not-so-common reason for clothes washer smells is using mainly cold water for washing.  Using mainly cold water for washing is fine… but it makes preventive maintenance very important.  Do your hottest wash or soak cycle as your last cycle on wash day or as preventive maintenance to dissolve residue.  Don’t be afraid to run an extra rinse cycle. Ensure the water supply hoses to your washer are properly connected so you’re getting hot washes and cold rinses when you want.  This problem is more common than you may think!
4. Another cause of washing machine odor is non-use of the appliance.  If you are not going to use the washer for an extended period it’s a good idea to do a cleaning with a washing machine cleaner.  If leaving for a vacation shut the supply hoses off in case of a hose break.  Bleach or vinegar spilled on rubber water hoses will cause deterioration and eventually a ruptured hose to flood the laundry area.
5. Obstructions in drain pumps can cause mold odor by reducing the flow of water when draining.  Almost all front load washers have a filter “trap” that is accessible to the owner.  Rather than immediately calling for appliance repair service consult your owners manual for instructions on accessing this trap.  (ALWAYS UNPLUG YOUR MACHINE OR SHUT OFF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER BEFORE REPAIR also have several towels nearby when working on a drain pump because there is always 1-2 gallons of water left in all washers even after draining.  It’s surprising what can make it through the washer and into the trap.  Bra wires, toys, coins and screws are common items that can cause the pump to jam or catch lint to cause draining problems to make your washer smell.  Go to http://www.ehow.com/search.html?q=clean+front+load+filter&skin=home&t=all for good instructions on how to clean the filter.                  Even though they don’t have filter traps objects can also jam pumps in top loading washers.  These   objects can very often be removed and the pump can be saved rather than buying a new pump.