I have two teenaged boys, one active husband, and 3 cats (inside). Sometimes the laundry is a little smelly. I had seen multiple methods to get rid of laundry smells, but most of them require lots of chlorine bleach or products I just don't keep around the house. I finally figured out how to take care of this using products most people have on hand and relatively inexpensive. My method takes one or two cycles through the wash depending on the source of the odor and how dirty the item is.
If the item is smelly, but not knock you out smelly, I use this method.
Put 1/3 cup BAKING soda in the tub with the laundry. Add detergent like you normally would and
pour white vinegar in the fabric softener receptacle to the the max fill line. Set your washer for
sanitary with a soak cycle*.
If the item is REALLY stinky. "Bury it far, far away" stinky, use this method.
Put clothes in washer tub along with 1 cup white vinegar. Add detergent like you normally would, and
fill the fabric softener to the max fill line with white vinegar. Set your washer for sanitary with a soak
cycle*.
After this cycle is complete, but before drying, follow the instructions for the BAKING soda method.
Check to make sure the odor is gone. This usually works, but some odors can be really stubborn.
If the smell is gone, dry as usual.
* If you do not have a sanitary cycle, use the heavy duty cycle. I have a front load washer. If you are using
a basic top loader, put the BAKING soda in with the clothes and fill with the hottest water possible. Stop
the washer and let soak for about 15 minutes, then wash as normal on heavy cycle.
