The Good Ol' Washing Machine.

Updated on October 03, 2008
A.L. asks from Troy, OH
21 answers

My husband works in a machine shop as a welder and comes home smelling like it. He takes off his uniform and sticks them in the laundry for me, of course. Thanks honey. I don't do any pretreating to get the grime off because they come out looking as dirty as when they went in. My problem is after they come out there is a nice greasy grimey ring left in the washing machine. Honestly, I haven't tried anything to get it out yet but it looks pretty tough. Is there anything anyone can suggest to get the "ring around the basin" off? Thanks ladies, you are the best!!

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So What Happened?

I appreciate all the feedback. Honestly I didn't expect this kind of turn out, thank you all very much. I, of course, haven't tried any of them as of this moment but I plan on making a weekend of it, sounds fun huh. I am going to try most of the suggestions till I find the easiest, quickest and most efficient one for me. I appreciate and did consider the laundry mat suggestion but dragging 5 kids is not and option. Unless of course I could get the hubby to take them himself, yea right. I will let you know which suggestion was the winner. Thanks again for the feedback, like I said you ladies are the best!!!

Featured Answers

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R.N.

answers from Columbus on

Seriously my grandma used to sell this stuff and there is NTOHING BETTER---- go to the stanley home products web site ( no idea what it is) they sell all kinds of cleaning things.... DE-GREASER order a bottle or two and I swear you will never use anything else again. It gets out grease stains that have been in cothing for years and will clean the washer as well it is amazing stuff. My gram send it to me free once every few months and WOW

2 moms found this helpful
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D.H.

answers from Toledo on

there used to be a saop called Lestoil? in came in a bottle thaT LOOKED LIKE PINE SOL any how i would use this in my husbands clothes, with the regular laundry soap and it worked well. And yes ewww what a mess. I know one woman that takes her husbands work clothes to the laundry matt because the washers that are front loaders do a better job. hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

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S.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hey A.,
I haven't found anything that a Magic Eraser and a little good old fashion elbow grease can't take care of. You can find them in the cleaning aisle at your local grocery store. I 've cleaned up a lot of dirt, goo, and grime around my house using the Magic Erasers.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

I'd try vinegar and if that does work, then put the vinegar in a squirt bottle and spray it on the ring, then shake some baking soda on it and let it fizz up and wipe it down. Run a load of rags or whites after to clean it out. It really shouldn't do anything to colors, but just in case...

1 mom found this helpful
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S.R.

answers from Toledo on

Hello A.. I don't know how to get the grime off, I just thought you might want to start taking his clothes to the Laundry mat. I recently had to do that for a month when my machine was broke and it wasn't all that expensive. Plus, I could throw the clothes in for 36min and leave while they were washing and stop back to get them. I used a front loading washer and those 'lock' while in cycle so that they can't be opened. Best of Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from South Bend on

You can try a number of things but I had washing machine issues and used that oxy clean stuff. It seems to have taken care of it. Hope I helped!!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.G.

answers from Lima on

Taking those clothes to the laundromat is good idea, you could always just bring them home to dry them.
Stanley Home Degreaser is another good choice.

Here is one more--- Lestoil
It is the about the only spot remover/degreaser that I use. Just pour a cup in the washer everytime you do his work clothes.
It can also help if you ever have color bleeds.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

My husband was a mechanic for a long time and I never washed his uniforms with the other laundry. In fact he had a special hamper just for them because I didn't want the smell in the rest of my clothes. I admit I did pretreat the worst of the stains with Zout and I used Oxydol (which is darn hard to find). I also learned that baking soda will take out a lot of the smoke smell.
I used PineSol (two cap fulls) or white vinegar (1/3 cup) in the wash cycle and didn't have the ring around the drum in my washer.
Good Luck, I sympathize with you!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.N.

answers from Toledo on

My father retired from truck driving several years ago but also worked in the garage quite alot on all of the family vehicles. My mother would put in a can of soda, (Coke or Pepsi) the entire can, along with regular laundry detergent. Not only did it remove the greasy, oily stains on his clothing but it also helped with the washer. Something with the acid in the soda. Hope the suggestion helps. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

MAGIC ERASER from Mr. Clean is MAGIC.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi A.! When we moved into our rental apartment, I discovered this greasy, black ring in my washer. Eww. I tried all sort of things and was using lots of elbow grease (hey, more grease! hahaha) when it dawned on me....GooGone!!

Worked fabulously with no more scrubbing. I then ran an empty load with HOT water and a cup of bleach. It looked brand new after that. HTH! ~L.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.G.

answers from Cleveland on

I had issues with our washing machine smelling moldy/mildewy and couldn't figure out how to get rid of that smell. Then I heard about Smelly Washer (www.smellywasher.com) and I read about it. I decided to buy it. I followed their directions and it worked like a charm. It completely got rid of the smell and build up that was causing the smell. To prevent the smell from coming back quickly we keep the washer lid open now. I might end up using this stuff like once a year.

One key thing with using this is that you need to add a few extra gallons of hot water to your washer so it can reach high enough in the machine...and you have to be sure to do this or this treatment or any other treatment won't really reach the stain line.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.S.

answers from Terre Haute on

Try filling your washer with hot water and 1 cup of iron out (it can be bought at any grocery store or big r)and let it set overnight. It should do the trick. Good luck P.S. LET YOUR WASHER RUN A FULL CYCLE THE NEXT MORNING

1 mom found this helpful
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E.

answers from Dayton on

First, fill the washer with hot water. Then when it starts to agitate, put in 3 or 4 cups of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda. Let it agitate for a few minutes and it gets very bubbly and foamy. Then turn the washer off and let it sit and for 30 minutes to a hour. Then restart the machine. When it is done, wipe out the drum and all around the top with a cloth and vinegar.

My husband used to be a welder and now likes to work on cars. I know how ya feel. But baking soda and vinegar can work wonders. Also, I have wiped out the drum with a magic eraser, which works but requires more elbow grease.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.F.

answers from Cleveland on

1 cup of pine sol in the wash will get both your machine & his clothes cleaner!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.

answers from Dayton on

I use Dawn dish soap on my husband's greasy clothes. Doesn't leave a ring in the washer afterward. I use it to pretreat the grease, and soem with the regular laundry soap. I always use a lot less laundry soap when I use the Dawn.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.O.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A.!

If you are just trying to get the ring off and the other suggestions do not work, try a Magic Clean Eraser. Those things are absolutely amazing about getting all types of things off of a variety of surfaces.

Good Luck!
K.

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M.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

You probably can't wash his clothes in "hot" water, but if you can, I would. I would also soak for half an hour, then wash. THe best grease cutting soap is dish soap- Dawn or Ajax. Also, for the wash machine, if you can wash a load of towels, rags, etc in hot water with a little bleach that should help clean it after you have done the grimey clothes.

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S.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

I think I just wrote to you, anyway you can just put a little ammonia on a rag to clean the ring in your washer.

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H.

answers from Fort Wayne on

When we wash the clothes, we pour in a can of Coke (has to be the real thing). It's very acidic and helps cut the grease.

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L.D.

answers from Columbus on

I had to chuckle at this. Your hubby brings home the greasy clothes but his company has no product for the greast. Just struck me funny. I didn't have a clue about getting rid of the grease line but learned by reading the other responses.

I just wanted to comment on the "A little about me" section. My husband and I worked opposite shifts as my daughter did NOT want a day care person. It was tough so we made sure we had date nights. It's very important in your relationship with each other and with your kids. I hope you will be able to do that at least once a month. We used to plan it for a payday weekend just so we could keep it consistant and not have to remember when was the last time.

Good luck with those grease lines! LOL

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