Have you ever pulled clothes out of the washing machine or dryer and been hit with an unpleasant sour milk odor? This strange smell can be perplexing and frustrating to deal with. But don’t worry – with a few simple tips, you can get your laundry fresh and odor-free again.
Examining Potential Causes
There are a few common culprits that could be behind that sour scent in your laundry:
Buildup of residue in the washing machine – Over time, residue from laundry detergent, fabric softener, sweat, and other particles can build up in the drum, pipes, or gaskets of your washer. This residue mixes with water and gets stinky, emitting a curdled milk type of smell.
Forgetting wet loads in the washer – If you leave wet clothes sitting for too long in the washing machine before drying them, microbial growth can occur. This leads to a funky, sour milk odor.
Using too much detergent – Excess detergent can leave behind residue that sticks to your laundry. The particles get moldy and smelly over time, causing that sourness you might notice.
Washing troublesome fabrics – Certain fabrics like sports gear, towels, and blankets tend to hold more body oil, sweat, and odor. Washing these smelly items can sometimes leave a lingering curdled milk type of scent behind in your machine or other laundry.
Helpful Solutions
To get rid of that annoying sour milk smell in your laundry once and for all:
Clean the washing machine – Run a sanitizing cycle in your washer using either bleach or vinegar to kill bacteria and dissolve stuck-on gunk. This should clear out any residues that have built up.
Leave the washing machine door open – Allow it to fully dry out between cycles to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Use less detergent – Stick to the recommended amount, don’t go overboard. Too much can leave sticky residue behind.
Don’t overload the machines – Make sure you leave room for laundry to move around easily to properly wash and rinse.
Dry loads promptly – As soon as a wash cycle finishes, put clothes directly into the dryer. Leaving them wet allows odor-causing bacteria to multiply.
Add borax or baking soda – These can help boost odor-fighting power in your wash along with your regular detergent. They help remove stubborn smells left behind in fabrics.
The Takeaway
That sour milk stench in freshly washed clothes can be perplexing. But with a few minor troubleshooting and maintenance steps for your laundry machines, along with some adjustments to your washing habits, you can kick that funky smell for good. Just be vigilant about cleaning buildup, leaving the washer door open to dry out fully, using less detergent, not overloading the drum, drying promptly, and adding borax or baking soda to your wash. With this sour milk odor banished, you’ll have fresh, clean-smelling laundry every time.
References
American Cleaning Institute. “How to Clean a Washing Machine.” ACI Laundry Tips, American Cleaning Institute, 8 Nov. 2022, https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/how-clean-washing-machine
Rains, CG. “How to Freshen Up a Smelly Washing Machine.” Reviewed Laundry & Cleaning, Reviewed, 17 June 2022, https://www.reviewed.com/laundry/features/how-to-clean-a-smelly-washing-machine
White, Melinda. “7 Common Washing Machine Smells and How to Get Rid of Them.” Good Housekeeping, Hearst Magazine Media, Inc., 15 Sept. 2022, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a35085251/washing-machine-smells/
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.