I have to say this is a very odd post!! Not being haste to make conclusions, but there is NO excuse to allow freshly washed clothes to remain in the machine to rot! I mean, that's just vile. Then to dry those rotted clothes in the dryer...do you honestly question why the smell is upsetting and leaves you in a foul mood?

Honestly, I don't know if you are serious with this post, or are just trying to be snarky.

Tide he Powder does have a (at times to me) wonderful smell. It does smell like nothing else on the market. I do not find it fresh and clean, yet soft and perfumated. If you do not like Tropical Breezez, Mountain Springs, Exhilirating meadows, and other marketing nonsense...then Tide he Powder is a good choice.

deutsch100. I didn't want to list our challenges we are faced with here at home.
Four small children, sick and dying parents who need constant care and very little help from family and friends except when absolutely required since we don't want to make our problems their problems. While I'll humbly admit as you have put it " absolutely no excuse," That's something that has to be a priority. Forgive me if I sounded "snarky." I'm not sure what exactly you mean by that, but whatever, that wasn't my intention. I thank you for your response.

I have very few allergies, but I am allergic to Tide because of something in the fragrance. When I use the scent free Tide, I am fine. This happened with one other detergent, but I can't think of the name - it was on sale of course. Purex maybe? I only buy unscented now (Charlie's) out of respect for people with much more severe allergies then I have.

mangotoo: I know how you feel although I didn't have the small children. I lost my Mom this summer after caring for her for the last few years. It is a 24/7 job and as for help,there is no such thing. Everyone else has an excuse, BUT that's OK because in the end you will be so glad you had the chance to do it, even though it can be tough at times.

As for the clothes, just rewash them before drying if you can schedule some time when you know you will be around to unload the machine. I washed everyday so I really didnt have that problem, but then I also wasn't standing in front of the washer as soon as it stopped either. Sometimes I had to get a nap in while they nap or do other things that needed doing.

Just hang in there and it will work out. You will have no regrets in the end. I know, but, I sure do miss my Mom.

sparky823
Thank you for your advice and your sympathy. And yes I need to remember to rewash those clothes if left over a day or two. Now that I'm using the detergent of my choice and given its $$$$ I better be on the top of my game. Have you ever noticed that liquid soaps smell differently compared to powder given the exact same type of detergent?

Mango, yes, there is a big difference in smell between liquid and powder detergents, but I would not have guessed why my towels and underwear smelled so moldy when using liquid if I had not discovered this Forum. When you get time (don't hit me) do a search of liquid vs powder or something similar on this Forum and you will know why. The liquid just never gets rinsed out completely from the clothes and the machine! I've been using powder all summer and I cleaned out the washer and liquid softener space, and have had NO bad odor, just really clean clothes for the first time in my life, and I'm 68 for heavensake!! You might try CHEER powder to see if that smell is familiar. Should be able to smell it through the box in the store? Since somebody on here said that Tide powder leaves a powder on their clothes and machine, I've switched to CHARLIE'S and really like it, except is has ZERO odor, which I will LOVE once I get used to no smell. Think no headaches, no scratching, no odor.
Take care of yourself and as Sparky said, you will never regret this time.
Love,
Pat

Also, Mango, instead of fabric softener (which clogs the machine and gets moldy, put about one cup of white vinegar in fab softener cup. That gets out more of the soap in the rinse cycle.
I gotta tell ya, even after my earlier post above, that I love the smell and cleaning power of "Tide BLEACH" powder (not bleach alternative). It is so very faint when finished. And so nice. A smell you really want in your clothes, but if it does leaves a powdery layer on clothes and machine when finished (I don't have any proof that it really does) then I don't want to like it. Darn.
Pat again

Yes I can't think of any powder/liquid that smells the same except Gain.
I used All Free for my Moms clothes, well, all the clothes because scents seemed to bother her later on. I tried Ivory Snow in her things but she would sneeze when wearing something that had been washed in that so I just used All. In fact I got used to no smells in any of my clothes also because I didnt want any smells on me because then she could smell it and maybe bother her when I was around her. I had thought about using the Tide Free but it has enzymes and All doesn't. I read where enzymes can get on the skin and cause irritations especially if the skin gets wet. I also used Downy Free liquid so everything would be soft. As time goes on and they get up less you have to worry about bedsores so I wanted the sheets to be soft as well as the gowns.

I didnt mean to get on all that, but to answer again, yes there is a difference even with unscented liquids IMO. To me the All smelled less chemical than Tide Free because I have smelled them.

As for your kids clothes, etc I would just use the Tide Powder if you like the smell--and remember to unload the washerLOL.

To Devorah, Sparky and Patann,

Thank you. It's amazing but after all these years I've discovered the power of powder once again. And yes I want to try cheer powder as an alternative.
God Bless

I use Tide HE Total Care, the renewing rain sent. I admit, I am not fond of the smell when you open the bottle and sniff it, but it is completely different smelling after you wash your clothes in it. I went on Tides Wedsite and they will send you a free sample, which I tried, Love it! Next time I will try the clean cotten scent. Yes, it is expensive, but it works great for me. I used to love the regula Gain scent, but I think they changed it, cause it no longer smells like "clothes that are hung out" just my opinion on that, my friends and family say that say thing about it too. I remember back in the 80's, BOLD and a great scent to it, I think it is off the market now...bummer cause that was the best smelling stuff ever. Percil is the cadillac of HE detergent, just hard to get and you have to mortgage the house to buy it, but it's cleaning capabilities are unsurpassed.

Mango, I can understand the routine with having a hard time keeping up. I too have an elderly mother that I care for on top of a myriad of other chores, job and responsibilities. Basically, I ended up with a routine that works for me.

When I go to bed at night, I put a load in and when I get up in the morning, while the coffee is brewing I hang dry that load (or if you have a tumble dryer put in there) and start another load. Then... just keep up that cycle every day. It gets one load done per day. If you need to do more, then I understand, just dry that second load at night before you put in the next load, and you have 2 loads done per day. Then, I just dump on the bed and when I get a few minutes here and there through the day I fold them. By the end of the day there is no laundry sitting around and it is all folded and put away.

OK, sorry for the slight hijack.... hehe

Anyhoo... Yes, I notice a difference between powders and liquids. In general I prefer powders as I feel they attack the ground in dirt out of my clothes where the liquids don't. What you are talking about with the smell is sour laundry. Nothing will stop that from happening except drying your clothes right away. Thus, my routine so I keep up on laundry ;)

Mangotoo,

I am currently taking care of my mom, my handicapped sister, my two children and my husband. I know how you feel. It can be very difficult. I too have been so tired at the end of the day that I have fallen asleep completely dressed after everyone else has gone to bed waiting to put the laundry in the drier.

Somethings that will help prevent the moldy smell. Washing whites with bleach can help hold off the smell. Tide HE powder is good and there is also Gain HE powder. The Gain He powder really holds off the stink. Sometimes washing all loads with oxi clean included can help prevent the odor. I have also heard that Arm and Hammer HE liquid will help too.

I hope this helps. Hang in there and try to smile as much as possible.

Sounds like your time is precious. As xhappyx suggested use the delay start on your washer. Set it so a load is done the first thing when you get up in the morning. Make it part of the morning routine. Get up, load clothes in dryer, then on to other things. At least if they are dry you won't have the smell issue. Like everything it will take a while to develop the routine. If you do this every day that is (obviously) seven loads a week. Hopefully this would be enough loads per week, that you could eliminate having to deal with moldy wet clothes.

As far as soap try the powdered Sears stain fighter. Comes in a green box with an orange circle. Right now the big box is on sale for 22.99 for 275 loads. That's less than 9 cents a load. Quit running around and dealing with coupons. Save your time and energy for more important stuff. Not a real smelly detergent but it cleans well.

Best wishes in dealing with all the stuff in your life.