Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

The Smelly Smell that Smells Smelly. Never Again.

By

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

We’ve all done it. Some, more than others. Some… all the time. And make no mistake; it always catches up to us. C’mon… you know you’ve done it.

You’ve forgotten to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer.

After the first hour, it’s cool. No harm done! In fact, one could argue that allowing clothes to “cure” in the washing machine drum is a good thing. The clothes are promptly (albeit tardily) transferred from washer to dryer and you don’t look back. Moving on.

Sometimes, two hours go by. And after the second hour, while you’re not yet in Panicville, you’re definitely on the outskirts. But it’s alright! You can deal. You give your clothes a quick whiff, confirm that no offensive odour exists, and silently reprimand yourself for being so forgetful. You vow it will never happen again… But it does.

This time, you forget for a longer period of time. Maybe even overnight (gah!). And as you pull open the drum, you notice it. Frankly, you are confronted by it. That smell….


The musty odour of clothes; the pungent mildewy smell of dampness wafting from the drum. A veritable reminder that you suck, and your suckage has led to a stinky washing machine and even stinkier clothes that will now require a re-wash. You carefully measure out the detergent, silently cursing your forgetful ways. To add insult to injury, the energy savings period has passed, which means you’ll pay through the nose to wash the same damn towels through the same damn hot wash cycle yet again.

Yeah, we’ve all done it.

Of course, I do have a few suggestions to try and help you remember. First, tie a string to your finger until you’re just about cutting off the circulation. By the time it turns purple and starts throbbing, your wash *should* be done. Or, you can always leave your 3-year old to stand guard at the washing machine, because we all know 3-year olds never wander off, right? Failing that, you could strap a megaphone next to the “end of cycle” signal and pray that you don’t blow out your eardrums when it inevitably beeps. (Disclaimer: Do not try these suggestions at home. Unless you want to. In which case, stinky laundry isn’t your biggest problem.)

Or, you could look for a washing machine – such as the Maytag Maxima XL Front Load Steam Washer – which boasts “Fresh Hold”.

Says Maytag: The Fresh Hold option with Dynamic Venting Technology starts after the wash cycle is complete. It combines intermittent tumbling action with air circulation from a quiet – yet powerful – fan in the rear of the washer to reduce moisture in the load. With this technology, consumers can delay drying for up to 12 hours as the Fresh Hold fan keeps clean washed clothes smelling fresh until they can get them into the dryer.

Says Lena: Maybe y’all should try this first. Then the finger thing.

Translation: Fresh Hold is one of those options that really, really makes a lot of sense. Because life is hectic; laundry is boring, and it’s very easy to forget about the washed clothes – especially when you’re doing laundry at night to take advantage of the energy savings period. I can’t tell you the amount of times that we’ve washed a load at 8:00pm with the best intentions. Then, I’ll poke my husband in the wee hours of morning and whisper, “Did you put the clothes to dry?” (Can you guess the answer? It normally begins with “Oh” and ends with “Sh*t”.)

The Fresh Hold option gives you a hall pass; it allows you to be human, and make a mistake… and it still protects you from that smelly smell the next morning, when your expectations are at an all-time low. And all you have to do is select one little button on the washing machine. The result? Barely damp, fresh-smelling clothes that have survived the night in a non-neglectful way. I’ve taken to adding the Fresh Hold option to all my cycles. It’s just become a habit now, and why not? It’s like buying insurance with every load – but this time, you’re buying yourself 12 extra hours of stink-free clothing, and avoiding the dreaded re-wash.

Without a word of lie, this has to be my very favourite feature of the Maytag Maxima XL Front Load Steam Washer. If/when you’re shopping for a new washer, please remember you read it here first – the Fresh Hold option with Dynamic Venting Technology should never be an “option” – it should be a “must have”.

Of course, this wouldn’t be much of a #MaytagBloggerChallenge if I didn’t have to jump through a few hoops to test out the features and benefits. So here’s the scoop: we were given an assortment of fabrics and textures (linen, cotton and spandex), and were asked to wash them separately – using the Fresh Hold option for each load. Now the instructions specifically stated:

Linen: I wash best in a Delicate cycle. Set your mind at ease by also selecting the Maytag 12 hour Fresh Hold option. Use the Wrinkle Guard on the Maytag dryer to get out all my little creases.

Cotton: Wash me using a Cold Water cycle. Add the Maytag 12 hour fresh hold option and I won’t be smelly if you get busy and forget about me. Take a sniff before drying me on a low-heat setting.

Spandex: Wash me while you sleep. Use the Overnight Wash and Dry cycle plus Maytag 12 hour Fresh Hold Option with Dynamic Venting Technology.

I’ll be honest: I’m a realist. Other than separating the kids’ laundry from our own, I’d never take the time to do separate loads for linen, cotton and spandex. I mean really, who does? Most days, I’m lucky to remember to do the laundry PERIOD, much less remembering to separate the textiles. And does anyone really own that much spandex? Step away from the yoga pants, mommy blogger – there’s a whole world of fashion for you to discover!

Hence, I just threw them all in the same load. I know, I’m a rebel. But the truth is, I always wash in Cold Water, cotton can also benefit from Wrinkle Guard drying, and since I’d be using the Fresh Hold option, everything could be held overnight for 12 hours. So I simply didn’t see the need for three separate cycles, when I’d be utilizing the same features each time. In you go, clothing!

The results? Okay, for a limited time only, I’ve embedded “Scratch and Sniff” technology on every computer screen that reads this blog post. I’m serious. Go ahead – gently scratch the picture to the right on your computer screen. Now smell.

That’s right – you don’t smell anything! No musty odour; no damp, wet-dog scent. With Maytag’s 12 hour Fresh Hold Option with Dynamic Venting Technology, all of the clothes came out smelling like clothing, hold the funk. See those smiles on my boys’ faces? Yup. They’re happy because their cotton t-shirts are perfectly soft and smooth, and they don’t smell like a sewer – even though they were hanging out in the washer drum ALL NIGHT LONG.

(Side note: Ryder’s tank top is kind of winging up on the sides, giving it a feminine, frilly feel. Unfortunately, after I fixed it, Reid refused to take another picture. With him, you get one shot, and then he’s gone. So I’ve placed this disclaimer in case Ryder stumbles on this post in 5 years and wonders why I clothed him in a girly top. I didn’t, dude – it’s just the angle and your brother’s a nerd who won’t sit still.)

Anyhoo, there you have it. The single best feature your money can buy. I suggest that you find a Maytag Washer with Fresh Hold… and buy it. Really, it’s that simple. You’re welcome.

As always, my good friends at Maytag realize that you’ve just taken time and attention to read through my smell story, and want to thank you for learning about Maytag’s 12 hour Fresh Hold Option with Dynamic Venting Technology . So, they’d love to offer you the chance to win a KitchenAid Personal Coffee Maker (value $99)!

Singles and couples are often bound by coffee makers that are larger than needed, especially in space-conscious homes. KitchenAid Personal Coffee Maker KCM-0402 is a coffee maker that’s designed for you. It drips coffee into a thermal mug for the assurance of warmth and freshness. Furthermore, you can take the mug with you on your commute. Using the proven proficiency that KitchenAid delivers, this compact countertop device extracts the most flavor from ground coffee beans and this means you appreciate excellent flavor. Your coffee is a personal choice. Take this one personally.

To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck everyone!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yes I have done the “forget the clothes in the washer” routine several times. I always end up having to rewash the clothes because I can not stand the musty smell. I think the Maytag Maxima XL Front Load Steam Washer and I would have a great relationship :)

  2. I have forgotten clothes in the wash for sure! The only way to remove the smell was to rewash and hope for the best!

    Cheers, Lisa

  3. I rarely forget to transfer clothes to the dryer unless someone else like my babysitter has done laundry and forgot to tell me. That has happened a few times – gross, is all I can say about the odour! I’ll just rewash with extra detergent and a scent booster. I would love this set of Maytag appliances, though. All the features you have been describing would suit me really well!

  4. I have had to rewash because i also have “forgot a load in the washer”… YUCK! I HATE that smell..

  5. Amazing Fresh Hold feature! I could really use this, I forget to transfer clothes all the time!!!!

  8. Yes I have. If it’s too bad, I have to rewash the clothes, otherwise I hope the bounce sheet gets rid of the musty smell. What a great idea Maytag!

  10. I use the delay start option so I can set the wash cycle to end around the time I come home from my errands or when I wake up so they can go straight into the dryer or hang dry.

  11. Not sure why the clothes start to smell if they’ve been left! Aren’t they clean?
    :)

  13. I have forgotten about the clothes as my washer and dryer are in the basement.

  18. No i haven’t forgot to put the cloths in the dryer. i have a timer that goes off when the cloths are done.

  20. Definitely a rewash….I get so mad when this happens because I end up washing water, electricity and time. *sigh*

  21. I totally try hard not to do it but when u work days and nights and days and nights, there sometimes isn’t much choice ! … Sad face … When I buy a new house I’ll be sure to check out the maytags!

  22. When my kids were little I would often forget the laundry in the washer. I was raising 4 girls and working full time; it was a hectic time. I would usually tackle the smelly smell with re washing the clothes!

    thanks

  23. I have forgotten clothes in the washer and to get the smell out of them I have put baking soda in the water with detergent and rewashed them.

  24. I’ve tried those new washing machine cleaners and they do the trick for eliminating sewer smells. But obviously avoiding them in the first place would be key!

  25. I try not to forget often, but sometimes it just happens, and then I have to do the rewash.

  28. I dont often forget but my teenagers who i am trying to get used to doing their own laundry forget all the time lol

  30. Your scratch and sniff technology embedded on the screen is AMAZING LENA! I didn’t smell a damned thing, I’m totally shocked!!

    Side note: I’m all over this hall pass – this is genius.

    Another side note: How do you politely tell someone you’re visiting that the guest towels they’ve given you smell like sweaty socks? MY GOD don’t people smell their own laundry? I need some Maytag pamphlets to leave on my pillow when I leave their house. Is that rude?

  31. i often forget the clothes in the washer, well i dont rewash them lol they are already washed i steam dry them

  33. I haven’t forgotten to transfer my clothes to the dryer (yet) so there is no smell! lol

  34. Yes, sometimes I do forget to get the clothes out of the washer but then I get mad at myself because its a real pain to have to rewash them.

  35. I always forget (okay not ALWAYS but enough times!)… enough that the smell gets stuck in some of my towels… to the point I’ve thrown them out because I can’t stand it! Yup mom of 2 = no memory! *sigh*

  36. I rarely forget – I use a personal timer to let me know when the clothes should be dry. thanks

  37. I forget quite often because the laundry room is all the way in the basement. I just end up rewashing :S

  38. Bleach, re-wash, re-rinse…I love the photo of the boys…biggest smiles ever!

  44. hmmm more often than I should. Since I don’t have a fancy washing machine, I use vinegar to get rid of the smell

  45. it’s not so much that i forget, but i’ll often have to take care of something else before flipping the load and then it is a while before it actually gets into the dryer. if it gets stinky from sitting, then it gets an extra rinse.

  47. Oh yes I do this quite often. My laundry room is downstairs so it is so easy to forget on busy days.

  49. I forget to pop the laundry in the dryer more times than I want to admit. I just rewash it. I’ve never had a problem with a smelly washer though, as I just rewash and that seems to make it okay.

  50. No i never leave them in the washer but I have transferred them to the dryer a few times and forgot to turn it on, gross!

  51. I never forget! My brother does all the time, the lid to his drum is always open so he can air it out! Sounds like Maytag has solved this problem!

  52. Haven’t done it in a while, usually we keep an eye on the washer and then hang the washing outside

  54. I am REALLY good about switching clothes from wash to dryer – if I’ve forgotten.. I rewash!

  55. Love the washing machine and am keen on all the features you’ve been showing us. Top of my list for when we need a new one.

  57. What an excellent idea. I usually do laundry at night when hydro is cheaper and often forget the last load and have to rewash. (Hmmm how much hydro am I saving then? Lol )

  60. I do laundry for the local hospital resents, if items are forgot in the washer it should be so smelly I souls gag.

  62. I always forget about laundry, I usually end up having to run them again with some extra Downy unstoppables lol

  64. Forgetting to transfer the clothes from washer to dryer happens way too often in our home. We always end up re-washing them.

  65. Been there done that!! Grosssss seriously who has the time for that kind of SMELL !!!!!! What a great Idea!!! Seriously Want,Need, Must have a set of those :)

  69. How ironic – awww have another load in the dryer to fold – hmmm guess need to iron. OOPs. What I find really works great on ODORIFOROUS items – especially socks – I like to presoak in baking soda – and then wash as usual. Resulting in white socks and people don’t run for cover in the process…..

  70. I am very fussy about my laundry and never forget to transfer the clothes. The only smelly thing that I had a real problem with used to be my son’s judo clothes that took two washings.

  71. Guilty as charged – albeit not very often – and when it does happen I run it through a short cycle (cold water) with a small amount of baking soda (pre-mixed with water)… takes the smell out and also softens the clothes a bit too. Would love one of these washer/dryer pairs, but not in the budget right now ;)

  72. I typically dont forget my clothes in the washer but when I do I rewash the clothes and use Scentsy Washer Whiffs which gets the smell out of the clothes, then I use Tide Washing Maching Cleaner in the washer.

  73. I forget quite a bit about the wash especially since we had the second child. I end up rewashing it!

  74. I don’t forget about the wash in the washer, but I have not managed to deal with the odours that can develop in items that are ofter wet like faceclothes and dishrags.

  75. I don’t now because I have to do my clothes at the laundromat. When I had a washer/dryer… I ALWAYS got sidetracked and forgot.

  76. Never forgot it in the washing machine but have left it on the line overnight occasionally.

  77. Actually I am pretty good about these things. The longest I have forgotten is maybe a couple of hours.

  78. Oh my gosh this happens often in our household.
    Our teenage daughter who has been taught to help with the laundry, often wants that one special shirt or pant to wear for school the next morning, that was somehow hiding in her room and hasn’t been washed yet.
    This usually being said at 8:30 at night.
    She starts the wash…and low and behold, she forgets to put them in the dryer before bed.
    Waking up at 7am and asking why her clothes aren’t in the dryer. Ugh!!!
    So straight into the dryer they go with a bounce sheet or two. LOL
    It even so happened that one time, it was left for a day and a half. O M G!!!
    We had to re-run the cycle again…but this time they were whites…so in went the bleach, to conquer that musky, pungent smell.
    You’d think by now we’ve learned our lesson…but OH NO!!!
    Someday, I’d love to own my very own “Maytag Maxima XL Front Load Steam Washer”!!!
    Until Then…

  79. I often forget my clothes in the washing machine and they end up smelling moldy. I wish I had a clothesline out back so I could get fresh linens!!

  80. our dryer is broken, so we hang dry our clothes. i often forget the clothes in the washer for several hours at a time

  81. I have left my clothes in the wash for maybe no more than a few hours but yes there has been that disgusting smell! i love front loaders but really wish they’d do something about this one major headache we have to deal with.

  82. While my wife was away I did the laundry and forgot it for 3 days. My mother told me to put in a cup of white vinegar in the water to get the smell out.

  85. Is this out in Canada? Too bad I just bought a new washer dryer (LG turbowash) two weeks ago! Im currently satisfied with it but this may have been better…and perhaps cheaper?

  87. I never, ever forget to transfer..(in fact I hang my clothes out). The washer and dryer I have now are more expensive than my car, so I will not risk and smelly smells emanating from inside of them…

  91. usually only a day but then its towels I forget and one day for towels is stinky

  92. I once forgot about a load of towels after being in bed for a few days with a nasty flu. The smell was nasty! Since then I have never forgotten about another load.

  93. I put a dryer sheet in with some tea tree oil on it.it makes it smell better and has some good anti-bactirial properties too.

  95. Yes, I forget ALL the time – to be honest there I a load in there right now from yesterday. I always do another rinse and then pop them into the dryer…

  96. I can”t count how many times I have forgotten to take the washing and put it into the dryer…only having to re-wash it cause it stinks….Would be fabulous never to have to worry about that one again. Great invention!

  98. I do forget… from time to time…. and then my towels hate me. Sounds like a great machine you have there.

  99. I must look into this washing machine! Fabulous features, and Maytag is a great name!

  100. That’s quite often that I forget … and I ended up having to re-wash them once again …

  103. I live in an condo with the communal washer/dryers. They smell BAD all the time!!!!

  105. A 12 hour hold?? Oh I need this!! I will admit to re-washing stuff up to three times to get rid of that “smelly smell” . Not good for your clothes or your bills! Such a fab feature!

  110. YES! I do forget…but lately it’s not that bad as I’ve been using Downy Unstoppables. I LOVE them.

  113. My treadmill is just outside my laundry room so I use it when I’m washing and this stops me from forgetting.

  120. lol this post made me laugh. I can definitely relate. I just usually rewash, as much as i hate to do that and waste the energy.

  123. Omg I forget at least 3x a week! And end up having to re wash to get rid of the smell!

  127. Mostly my husband forgets and sometimes I will do a quick rewash. But you are right if left overnight in the washer they will get a musty damp smell.

  134. Sometimes I forget to transfer it but not often. I hang my clothes outside this time of year,

  135. Sometimes I forget and leave the wet clothes in washer overnight. It smells a bit when I open the door next morning so I just give it another spin before putting in dryer.

  136. rewash or if hubbys in a rush for his pants i febreeze and stick them in the dryer and pray

  143. I do forget when I have a busy day with the little ones, then I have no choice but to rewash it

  145. I usually don’t forget my clothes in the washer. I think it’s happened once and then I just ran the load again with some vinegar.

  150. Ugh, that’s the worst!! If I forget, I find throwing the clothes (actually, it’s towels that I always forget) in the dryer and drying most of the way, then re-washing is the best way to get rid of the smell. Sometimes just re-washing seems that it doesn’t always get rid of the smell!

  151. nope i dont forget to transfer the clothes over to the dryer…
    hubby does the laundry and hes always quick to switch it because we live in a 3 unit apartment with only 1 washer and dryer. although i we (he) need to do laundry and someone else let it or over an hour he will put their laundry on top o the dryer (we are not paying to dry other peoples clothes)

  154. I have learned not to leave clothes in the washer overnight anymore. I would always have to re-wash them when I did and it’s such a waste of water and energy.

  156. I seem to forget it in the dryer lots but it the washer it happens once in a while. I take the clothes out and run the clean tub cycle with affresh. Then I rewash the clothes.

  157. The longest time that I have forgotten the laundry in the washing machine was for one day before I moved it to the dryer. If my clothes don’t have that fresh clean smell, I rewash the items again. Sometimes I resort to leaving the item out in the sun and then rewash.

  163. I’m usually pretty good….but it’s b/c I fold while watching tv, and I don’t watch tv very often, so I try to make sure I have something to do while it’s on. Folding laundry, or getting it on (or off) hangers for the hang dry clothes are pretty easy to do while watching. If I do rewash b/c I have forgotten, I sprinkle a little baking soda in for a fresh clean smell.

  165. Often enough. Usually, it will happen on a Friday and I come home to a stinky washing machine. They get washed again, sometimes twice depending how bad.

  169. Guilty…I always end up having to rewash things because I get busy doing something else and forget the clothes

  172. Sadly Yes with My Sctattered Mom Brain I do this at least 2 times a week. Ugggghhh And the smell is beyond disgusting. You think I would learn!

  173. I try not to leave them in the washer and longer than I have to!…..but sometimes they do get re-washed!!

  174. I’ve forgotten a couple of times and learned my lesson cause I had to rehash them all over again!

  177. I forget at least once a week- I try rewashing and adding some baking soda to the wash or extra beads of downy unstopables

  178. I “sometimes” forgot to transfer clothes from washer to dryer, and when I remembered it…well, let’s just say not pleasant at all! I end up re-doing the load again, what a waste.

  179. I am sad to say a couple times a month here! It is like I have a brain block! Forget what I was doing ;)

  181. I don’t forget to transfer our clothes very often but when I do, I wash them again.