Easy Fixes for the Big 3 Laundry Disasters

What do stinky, yellowed, and crayon-stained laundry items have in common? They’re the reason many people write to me. Fortunately, each of these problems has a unique remedy—a way to reverse the stains and get those items back to looking good as new.

Stinky towels

No matter how many times you wash those items, you just cannot get rid of the disgusting sour, mildewy odor. They’ve become stiff and scratchy and have begun to repel rather than absorb water. The problem is clear evidence of a build-up of bacteria that continue to live along with soap and softeners that have not been rinsed out—despite having been previously washed and dried.

This will be a two-step process. Vinegar contains acetic acid that breaks down mineral deposits and dissolves the build-up of detergent and fabric softeners. Baking soda is alkali and breaks down dirt and grease and neutralizes odors. Used together they create an initial punch, but then counteract one another. To fix this problem, you want them to do their work independently. This will strip the residue and leaves it fresh and able to absorb more water again.

• MORE: Solved: Laundry Problems, Mistakes, and Mysteries

Wash #1

Load towels into the washer loosely set it for a long wash cycle and fill with the hottest water you can manage. Turn the water heater up to 140F for this event. Or boil water on the stovetop then carefully transport it to the washer. The point is that the water must be very hot to kill the bacteria. Add two cups of white vinegar to the load. Allow it to run the entire cycle then leave the towels in the washer.

Wash #2:

Fill the machine once more with the hottest water possible. This time add 1 cup baking soda. Run the entire cycle.

Dry completely

Whether you hang the towels outdoors or put them in the dryer, make sure they are completely and thoroughly dry. Now smell them. If they do not smell fabulously clean, repeat Wash #1 and Wash #2 as necessary until the smell is completely gone. The investment you’ve made in these towels makes them worth the effort.

• MORE: Dingy Gray Laundry is the Problem—This is the Solution!

Yellow underarm stains

Armpit stains on white t-shirts are caused by the reaction between antiperspirant ingredients and or hard water and the salts in human sweat. Most antiperspirants contain aluminum compounds to reduce wetness. It is the aluminum in the deodorant or the minerals in hard water that cause the build-up and yellowing on fabrics. The stains don’t appear overnight, but without proper washing of shirts after each wearing, the stains will start to show and the show will be yellow on white shirts.

You will need these items:

• Blue Dawn liquid dishwashing detergent
• fresh* hydrogen peroxide
• baking soda
• bristle brush

In a small jar or bowl, make a mixture of 1 part Dawn and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. Protect your countertop or work area with a thick white towel, fully saturate the stains with the liquid. Now sprinkle baking soda over the stain and with an old toothbrush or bristle brush, scrub the areas well. Allow to sit for at least an hour, then launder as usual.

*hydrogen peroxide dissipates with age and exposure to light. It’s good for up to six months once opened, provided it has been stored in a dark place—completely out of the light. Make sure it’s fresh for this treatment.

• MORE: How to Get Yellow-Stained Bed Pillows White Again

 

Melted crayon

Clothes

For some reason, crayons seem to find their way into little pockets and wreak havoc when the heat of the clothes dryer causes them to melt.

Place a folded white paper towel under the stained area of fabric and then spray WD-40 lubricant on the stain until saturated (WD-40 is available in the automotive aisle in some discount department stores, home improvement centers, online, or likely on a shelf in your garage) directly on the crayon stain.

Turn the fabric over and spray the stain on the wrong side of the fabric. Let the WD-40 work for at least fifteen minutes to loosen the waxy part of the stain. Then use a dull knife or the edge of a credit card to gently lift any crayon solids from the surface.

Next, rub a bit of  Blue Dawn liquid dishwashing detergent, into the crayon mark. Work it into the stained area with your fingers or with a soft brush. Allow the WD-40 and detergent to work on the stain for at least 15 minutes and then launder as usual, following the fabric’s care label instructions.

Dryer

If the stains were caused by crayons that melted in the dryer, it is important to clean the dryer drum. If you don’t, any traces will continue to transfer to other fabrics when the dryer heats up again.

Spray each and every stain with WD-40. Allow it to work for a few minutes and then use a rubber scraper to remove the solids. Wipe down with an old cloth. Repeat until no more traces remain.

To make sure you can safely use the dryer again for clean clothes, toss in a couple of old towels and run on high heat for at least five minutes so they can absorb any traces of WD-40 that remain.

• MORE: How to Use Wool Dryer Balls and Why You Should!

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QUESTION: Have you experienced a laundry disaster? Were you able to solve it? We’d love to know in the comments area below.

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