Yes, this is about my godforsaken washing machine again, but this time it's a more subtle problem: It stinks. And I don't just mean the fact that the entire agitator comes out of the machine when I remove the clothes (and if you think I'm going to call the Maytag repairman, you haven't been reading this blog very long). I mean it really stinks. It smells. It's putrid. Ewww. I notice it only when it's open, and luckily the smell doesn't seem to get on the laundry. But it smells awful, and it's (not surprisingly) worse in the warm weather.
The amazing thing about the Internet Tubes is that you can search for "smelly washer," and the next thing you know, you get an email from a guy offering to send you a free bottle of an all-natural product called Smelly Washer to try.
All you do is put a capful of the magical powder in the machine and fill it with hot water, let it agitate for 2 minutes, and then leave it to sit overnight. In the morning, just finish the cycle. I did it on the smallest possible load size, because the stagnant stinky water seems to be hanging out at the bottom of the tub, not all the way up the sides.
Fast-forward to the voilà moment: No more stink! Really! Nothing! I was amazed.
But here's the kicker: It said that you could use the product for all your smelly towels that got ruined by your smelly washer. As I said, I am lucky enough that I never had this problem; however, I did have a pair of beyond-smelly chinos. (Not the fault of the Maytag: I think they were somehow a casualty of last summer's seashell incident. They smelled fishy enough that Andy didn't want to wear them, but they were brand new—he'd worn them exactly once—so I couldn't bear to throw them out. I guess I was sort of hoping the odor would fade after a decade or two.) So, with nothing to lose (except for the stench of rotten fish), I gave them the Smelly Washer treatment. Reader, they have absolutely no odor to them anymore. None. At. All.
I hope none of you have a smelly washer, but if you do, you've got to try this stuff. If you order a bottle from the website, you can get 10% off by using the promotional code "verbatim" (clever, eh?). Or, if you're feeling lucky in addition to stinky, you can leave a comment below to be entered to win a free bottle of Smelly Washer right here. I'll take entries until this Friday night, November 13, at midnight Eastern time. Please make sure you leave your email address so I can reach you if you win.
[Update 11/14/09: And the winner, courtesy of the Random Number Generator, is Commenter #11: Marcie!]
In case anyone from the FTC is reading this: I did not receive any money for posting this review. I received a free bottle of Smelly Washer and was told that I could offer one of my readers a free bottle as well. FTC employees are welcome to enter the giveaway if they have smelly washers too.
Ok, I haven't smelled my washer recently which means it probably doesn't smell. Or that our whole basement smells and I have no odor-discrimination. But, BUT! You know how you wear a shirt to the gym some eighty thousand times because it's really the only gym shirt that fits you right, and then it starts to smell like the gym even fresh from the dryer? I would like to smelly-washer THAT SHIRT and see what happens.
Posted by: raych | November 08, 2009 at 03:56 PM
I so want this! I use dish rags instead of paper towels and they can get really stinky!
Posted by: Sara | November 08, 2009 at 04:00 PM
I am SO entering this contest...my washer also stinks, more after i wash my sons' clothing. I thought it odd because it's only a year old washer, but glad to read it's not just me. Hope I win!
Posted by: amy | November 08, 2009 at 04:39 PM
If our washer smells a little we have used regular old vinegar which has worked fine.
Posted by: Lisa | November 08, 2009 at 04:39 PM
I wonder if it would work on my smelly tennis shoes.
Posted by: Susan | November 08, 2009 at 04:53 PM
I want to de-stink a number of things around the house, most of them belonging to my children. Or, hmmm. Can I use it on the children themselves? That would rock. ;)
Posted by: Mir | November 08, 2009 at 05:12 PM
I recently read on a consumer site that this is a very common problem with front-loading washers (which I have). I always try to keep the door open to air it out after using it, but when I've forgotten (which I have...)YUK! The article said it was due to bacteria built up on rubber gaskets from small amounts of water sitting there for a while.
Posted by: Tonya | November 08, 2009 at 07:17 PM
What's in this product? Baking soda?
Posted by: Elena | November 09, 2009 at 07:43 AM
Very interesting and thanks, Karen for posting. Although I've had a front-load machine for two years, I am still discovering new things about it. Recently, I was clearing the usual cat hair from inside the rubber gasket and noticed a yucky film collecting deep in the ridge where the gasket connects to the machine. I've always dried the gasket after the last load but never noticed this before. I can see how this could get smelly. Again, thank you very much for the information.
Posted by: Jeananne | November 09, 2009 at 01:26 PM
I've had same experience as Tonya, noticing the need to keep door open to the front loader whenever it's not in use. But if I forget....peeuw....I'd love to try the new product on some towels that were left wet, behind the the closed door, too long.
Posted by: Sandy | November 09, 2009 at 01:52 PM
I bought a house three years ago and they left their old washing machine. I've noticed that it smells when I take the clothes out, but like you, thankfully the clothes don't smell. I didn't know there was a product to take away the smell. I would LOVE to try it. Fingers crossed...
Posted by: Marcie | November 09, 2009 at 03:13 PM
I too would love a bottle of this. My Maytag Neptune is also stinky - not that I have researched how to get rid of the smell. How often do you have to use it?
Thanks I will be ordering a bottle
Posted by: Dana | November 10, 2009 at 05:21 AM
My front-loading washer also smells some times. I thought it was just me....
Posted by: Steve | November 10, 2009 at 08:05 AM
Hmmm...glad to know that it is not just me however I'm not sure any of us will be invited to join the "cool club" after admitting to it!
Posted by: suzanne | November 13, 2009 at 10:59 AM
And the winner, courtesy of random.org, is commenter #11: Marcie!
Posted by: Karen | November 14, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Hi Karen,
I just wanted to let you know that I got the product last Saturday and I used it Sunday night. It totally worked. I would've been skeptical to purchase a bottle, so I'm so glad I won it. I've been telling all my friends and family about it. Thanks again for picking me!
Posted by: Marcie | December 16, 2009 at 02:39 PM