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Hi, please can anyone tell me how to get urine odour out of my washer? It makes all of my other laundry smell horrible . I have tried kitchen cupboard remedies etc.
many thanks.

Tell us what you've already tried so we don't give you the same advice.

My go-to would be a Clorox clean cycle with hot water. Maybe more than once.
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Reply to Geaton777
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I am always concerned about the loads being to large for everything to rinse properly and to much detergent.

These 2 things will cause odor in our cloths.

I would run a load of hot water and 2 big towels with lysol sanitizer in the wash and let it soak for a while, then add more for the rinse, then put those towels in the air only cycle in the dryer to cleanse the interior.

I am kinda obsessive with odor, so I would do this a couple of times. Then I would use the sanitizer in every load that has waste on it and only use warm water to wash with an extra rinse. That should alleviate the urine smell.

Just a reminder for us all, detergents will hold odor if not completely rinsed, more IS NOT better and lighten those loads if you still have odor after washing. At the end of the wash your items should not smell, if they do, wash them again.

Just my opinion.
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Reply to Isthisrealyreal
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Whole Foods Has a Enzyme Cleaner Called Bio Kleen Bac - Out Stain and Odor Remover 16 Fluid Ounces $10.99 . Can Order from Their Website Also .
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Reply to KNance72
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there are 2 products that may help
Clorox makes a product called Urine Remover that works well.
Another one I use a lot even still is Odor Ban. It can be used in any number of ways depending on how you dilute it. From an air freshener to a sanitizer. Great in laundry and on bathroom floors. It actually removes odors not cover them.
I have used it on the Clean Washer setting.

Counter intuitive but try using less laundry detergent. Any residual detergent can help odors cling. And the newer washers tend to use less water so a second rinse sometimes helps.
When I was doing my Husbands clothes and bedding sometimes I would even do a second rinse.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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There are special washing machine cleaners. You may also try washing through some rags with a cup of bleach? Grandma1954 has some ideas for you below. Tumble dryer I worry, with baked in odors on the gaskets and etc, may pose more of a problem and I would call the manufacturers hotline.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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I’ve tried bicarbonate soda, citric acid, soda crystals, white vinegar, bleach, washing up liquid, zo flora, dettol, dettol laundry sanitizer, 90 degree washes, I always run a 30min quick wash cycle first then a 60min wash cycle with anything I can get my hands on in the cupboard. It drives me crazy because our own clothes smell off.
thanks everyone for replying X
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Reply to Outofdate
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I used cloth diapers for my babies.

I would do a plain rinse cycle first, before running a wash cycle. That helped.

Good luck!
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Reply to cxmoody
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The surfactants in soaps will leave a sticky residue that dirt and odors will stick to if they are not rinsed out thoroughly. This is why I clean my carpets with only very hot water.

You may want to consider detergents like Sport Wash, since sports clothing and equipment is notoriously stinky (and the bacteria in it makes them never lose the smell over time). It is formulated so that more of it washes out more easily than standard detergent. Clorox kills bacteria germs, which is why I prefer it.

Also, it will be important to run a cleaning cycle once or twice because residual contaminated water in the washer will eventually smell (it leaves a sour-ish smell).
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Reply to Geaton777
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I found that polyesters hold urine smells. I got to the point that I soaked Moms slacks in my laundry tub in vinegar water before I washed them. I found Tide cut odors best. I tried Arm and hammer and it just did not work. Even though I have an older washer I like the HD low suds. I also recommend rinsing two times.

Years ago vinegar was recommended to help clean out washer smell and soap build up in rubber pipes. I think it was 1/2 gallon to a large load of hot water. Do you leave up your lid on the washer? If not, you should. It helps keep it odor free by drying it out. If you have a front loader, I would recommend the same thing and clean the gasket thoroughly. I have a 37 year old Maytag top loader. Just had it overhauled. Just some parts that were ready to go. The washer itsself, no problems. I have always left my lid up after washing, as did my Mom who also had her washers for years.

I found this article that may pertain more to the newer washers.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a23727/how-to-clean-a-washing-machine/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=arb_ga_ghk_m_bm_prog_org_us_a23727&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwjqWzBhAqEiwAQmtgT13U3E5H2c1MFHQFQhO8vyJyGAT0m8Eb7sGvwFxUyjJpPwYY5uFiNBoCcIQQAvD_BwE

Note: I found dryers to bring out urine smells in Moms clothes even after washing. I started hanging her clothes up.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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I have elderly pets. I wonder if cleaners designed for pet messes would be effective on human smells. Enzyme cleaners.
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Reply to Anabanana
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My husband dragged the washing machine out to the garage and literally took it apart. I cannot tell you the sludge that was in there, behind the washing barrel with the holes in it, and all over the parts. I was flabbergasted, bc I've used "washing machine cleaners" fastidiously and ran empty washes of plain bleach with hot water or vinegar. But one day, all the clothes were smelling like dirty dish rags. So off poor DH went to take it apart bc I cannot tolerate bad odors.

It took us 2 DAYS to properly clean the damn thing, the bits and parts which I did in the sink with a brush, Palmolive and Clorox, and put it all back together again. That was 8 months ago and the clothes are smelling fresh and clean now.

I use a pack of OxiClean washing machine cleaner in the machine once a month now to keep it as fresh as possible.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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