Sour clothing odor can occur for various reasons when washing clothes. The most common cause is the growth of microorganisms in the fabric. However, this does not pose a health risk, aside from the discomfort of the smell.

The odor does not always go away on its own, even when clothes are washed at the highest recommended temperature. The sour smell can also "spread" in the washing machine from one garment to another. So before you know it, you may have a whole load of clothes that smell.

The best solution is therefore to use a disinfecting rinse aid as soon as possible

We recommend Penitol rinse aid (disinfectant)

Note! There must be no soap residues on the clothes or in the detergent drawer of the machine, as this will negate the effect.

Why does a sour smell develop in the washing machine after laundry?

Bad and sour odors in the washing machine can be caused by:

• washing is often done at low temperatures
• overdosing laundry detergent
• the machine being water-saving and/or an eco-friendly detergent being used
• lime scale and undissolved zeolite

Zeolite, which most detergents contain today, is a substitute for the environmentally harmful phosphate. It softens the water during washing, but unfortunately zeolite is harder to dissolve than phosphate. After a while you may notice your washing machine starting to smell due to a mixture of lime scale and undissolved zeolite that sticks to the back of the drum.

How do you remove bad smells from your washing machine?

We recommend Cleanosan Rensetabs, which are placed in the machine before running a normal 60°C cycle without clothes. The product will then remove lime scale, soap residues and bad odors. For very strong odors, repeat the treatment.

Avoid bad smells in the washing machine

• Use the correct amount of detergent based on water hardness, load size and how soiled the clothes are
• Occasionally wash at high temperature to prevent bacterial buildup
• Wipe the rubber door seal dry
• Leave the detergent drawer and the door open when the machine is not in use
• Clean the detergent drawer regularly

Ventilation is important after every wash. The less the washing machine is aired out, the wetter the "environment" inside the machine becomes, and the more sour odor will occur.

We also recommend using Cleanosan Rensetabs about once a month for routine maintenance. If you follow these recommendations, you will most likely avoid your washing machine developing any odors.