Laundry question

[yankeeinlouisiana]

My house in New Orleans took some water on the lower level. However, our clothes in the upper level smell musty.

I tried washing them, but they still smell sorta musty.

Does anyone know anything I can add to the wash water to get rid of the smell?

:shrug:

Thanks!

:-)

[NV Whino]

1. Try baking soda

Or get the Arm and Hammer laundry detergent. No guarantees, but I've had goo louck with it eliminating odors.

[pitohui]

2. you can try air-drying outside while weather is nice

i'd wash them again w. maybe a tiny bit of white vinegar & try hanging them outside

if that doesn't work, keep in mind that any clothes ruined are supposed to be covered by yr homeowner's insurance -- assuming you have it

i might keep them until the adjuster comes by and can smell for himself what the issue is, since "musty" does not photograph well

i hope you get an adjuster sooner than i will, i am not in line to get one for another three weeks!

[skygazer]

3. I've used a small amount of Lysol

Not the spray but the liquid cleaner. Seems to work well - I had some water damage one time and washed several loads of stuff that way.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. An oxygen powered additive.

good luck. :hi:

[khashka]

5. Odo-Ban

available at the local grocery store. (Originally for cat pee - but if it can get that out it can conquer anything!)

Also don't stop with one wash, with this sort of damage, you may need to repeat the process a couple times.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Khash.

[wovenpaint]

6. Try some white vinegar

add it where you'd add the fabric softener (I use approx. 1/2 cup per regular load). Then air dry them outside. Be careful of the darkest colors though-wash those separately and use 1/3 cup. I use this to keep the animal odors (2 smelly dogs, lol) out of my clothes/linens instead of the "chemical" fabric softeners/dryer sheets and it's working well.
Good luck!:hi:

[freeplessinseattle]

14. yep, it works great! I use it all the time. n/t

[Madrone]

7. I've been through this - with laundry and carpeting.

BORAX.

It's cheap, and it works.

[hickman1937]

11. I agree. Borax.

Not in the washer though. If they are clothes you want to save, put them in a bucket with borax and boiling water, and soak. Then wash in a washer.

[Redstone]

8. Baking soda and /or Borax.

Redstone

[obxhead]

9. Frebreeze makes a laundry detergent now

That may work.

[youthere]

10. Strong vinegar water should do it.....

I'd put about 4 or 5 cups in a load. (White vinegar)

[caty]

12. If you can,

hang them outside to air out after you wash them in baking soda and borax.

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. From Joey Green

http://www.wackyuses.com/uses.html

Make baby clothes smell even fresher. Add one-half cup Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to baby's laundry.
(Am sure it can work for your clothes as well :) )

(As an added cleaning helpers, in case you need it...)
Remove stubborn stains from furniture upholstery and clothes. Apply Heinz White Vinegar directly to the stain, then wash as directed by the manufacturer's instructions.

Kill germs on bathroom fixtures. Use one part Heinz Vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the bathroom fixtures and floor, then wipe clean.

Kill cockroaches. Mix equal parts Kingsford's Corn Starch and plaster of Paris. Sprinkle the mixture in cracks and crevices. Cockroaches will eat the mixture and "petrify."

While browsing the Net for helpful ideas for you, most state that musty smell in clothing can indicate mold/mildew in small amounts.
So, thiught this MS state article might be interesting read for you:
http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/43,323,223.html

And even found tons of sites re: cleaning up after a flood:
http://tinyurl.com/a7kru

Good luck!

[wackadoo wabbit]

15. Only one thing works: Aller Rx Laundry Detergent

We lived in a house with a mold problem, and all of our clothes and linens would get musty. We literally couldn't keep a spare set of sheets on the shelf for more than a week before they'd start smelling again. I tried everything - including chlorine bleach, vinegar, borax, baking soda, lavender oil, grapefruit seed extract, you name it - and nothing would get rid of the smell for any length of time; even a full cup of borax in every wash (this in a front-loading machine!) didn't make a marked difference.

Aller Rx Laundry Detergent apparently denatures the proteins in certain allergens (including, for what it's worth, those in dust mites and animal dander) to render them harmless. There's a spray, too, for items that can't be thrown into a washing machine.

Of course, if I were you, given my past history with molds and must, I'd just toss everything that didn't have sentimental value, especially if I were insured. Aller Rx is definitely not cheap, and I believe that it needs to be periodically reused (at least as long as your clothes are near a mold source) or the musty smell will come back.

I hope this helps. Good luck!