Not sure I’m with you on the baking soda and vinegar for the smell—honestly, if it’s a real flood, that combo just kind of masks things for a bit. I’ve found enzyme cleaners do a better job breaking down whatever’s left behind. And about the shop vac—totally agree, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to check the filter first and end up with a bigger mess. Seen it more than once...
As for waterproof mats, I’ve seen some decent ones meant for pet accidents that don’t look half bad. Not spa-level, but better than gym locker room vibes.
- Enzyme cleaners are my go-to too. Tried the baking soda/vinegar trick once and the smell just came back a day later—like the flood was haunting me.
- Shop vac filter disasters... been there, done that, ended up with a fine mist of who-knows-what all over the laundry room. Now I double-check before plugging in, but it’s wild how easy it is to forget when you're half-asleep at midnight.
- Those pet accident mats are surprisingly decent, right? Not exactly chic, but if you squint they almost pass for regular rugs. I even grabbed a couple for under the washing machine—bonus points for being easy to hose off outside.
- One thing I’ll add: if you’re trying to keep things eco-friendly, some enzyme cleaners are better than others. The citrus-based ones tend to break down gunk without leaving weird chemical smells behind.
- Also, if you’ve got old towels lying around, they’re perfect for sopping up the first wave before breaking out the big guns. Just don’t expect to ever use them again unless you’re feeling brave...
Pet mats under the washer—now that’s thinking ahead. I’ve used them in entryways too, and you’re right, not exactly stylish but they do the job.
—I’ve tried running those towels through a hot wash with vinegar, but sometimes there’s just no coming back. Has anyone found a way to actually save those towels after a flood, or is it just time to let go?Just don’t expect to ever use them again unless you’re feeling brave...
I gotta push back a bit—I've actually managed to rescue a few towels after a gnarly flood, but it takes more than vinegar and a hot cycle. Here’s what I do: first, rinse them outside with a hose, get as much gunk out as possible. Then soak in hot water with a heavy-duty detergent (sometimes even a bit of borax). After that, run them through a long wash, maybe twice if they still smell off. Not every towel makes it, but I’ve been surprised by what pulls through. I just can’t bring myself to toss 'em unless they’re truly hopeless.
Honestly, I’m with you—some towels just refuse to die, no matter what they’ve been through. I’ve had a few that survived the “toilet tsunami of 2022” and, after a triple wash and a little borax magic, they’re still in rotation. You’re right, though, sometimes it’s just not worth the effort if they’re beyond hope. But hey, if you can save ‘em, why not? It’s oddly satisfying when you pull one out of the dryer and it smells like… well, not disaster.
