GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 04:54 PM
Original message |
Have you ever forgotten you had clothes in the washer? |
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How the hell do you get that nasty stagnant wash water odor out?
I've tried running them through the wash again, using dryer sheets, baking soda, Febreeze, and Nature's Miracle with no luck.
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hobbit709
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Wed May-13-09 04:57 PM
Response to Original message |
1. That's the smell of mildew. |
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First run them through the drier to kill the mildew. Then rewash in hot water and dry again. Let them air out somewhere for a day or two.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
4. It doesn't smell like mildew... |
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It just smells like stale wash water.
Unfortunately, it hit a load of cold-water wash. If I use hot water, my things will shrink.
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Arugula Latte
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Wed May-13-09 04:58 PM
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2. Hmm ... I wonder if washing them in hot water would work? |
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And maybe just a tiny bit of bleach (not enough to turn anything white, but a bit to kill the germs).
I've left clothes in the washer several times and generally another wash (in cold water even) does the trick. Don't know why yours are still stinky.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 05:07 PM
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6. Sometimes the odor lasts through several washings. |
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I wonder if they need a second rinse...
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grace0418
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Wed May-13-09 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
9. The worst is when it seems like they don't smell any more but then you notice the smell |
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after you've been wearing the clothes all day and you're in a hot car or something. Yuck.
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Richardo
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Wed May-13-09 05:04 PM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Wed May-13-09 05:04 PM by Richardo
That happens with alarming regularity. :dunce:
I find that a re-washing usually does the trick.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 05:44 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
10. The odor lingers even after rewashing... |
lizziegrace
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Wed May-13-09 05:06 PM
Response to Original message |
5. Vinegar in the wash water |
GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 05:45 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
11. I tried baking soda... |
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I'll try vinegar and see if that helps. Thanks!
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lizziegrace
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Wed May-13-09 05:57 PM
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12. Vinegar kills mildew on surfaces |
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it should work on fabrics. Good luck!
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 06:00 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
14. It's good for cleaning out yourcoffee maker, too... |
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and if you pour a little baking soda in your drain and rinse it down with vinegar, you've got a nice little drain cleaner. :hi:
Thanks for the tip!
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Mike 03
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Wed May-13-09 05:11 PM
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7. Yes but, ironically, only since I owned a home and had my own washer. |
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I was OCD when it came to using an apartment building washer or public place.
But I never forgot for so long that I ruined clothing.
I have had a few unfortunate shirts shrink to the size of a Barbie doll when washed in hot water.
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grace0418
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Wed May-13-09 05:16 PM
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8. You have to wash them in lots of vinegar to get that out. Then you should probably run |
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a super hot cycle of rags or white cotton towels with vinegar and bleach. I never use bleach any more but this is one instance where you might consider doing it. Otherwise that mildew smell can permeate subsequent loads of laundry even if they don't sit in there after washing.
Also, that load that did get mildewed may have to get dried then rewashed in the vinegar (no bleach) solution. Even if you can't smell it, it may show up after you've been wearing the clothes for a bit and you get warm. It's not pleasant.
Good luck. Been there, done that.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 06:01 PM
Response to Reply #8 |
16. It's weird, though...It doesn't smell like mildew. |
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It just smells kind of sour.
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grace0418
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Wed May-13-09 07:42 PM
Response to Reply #16 |
18. That's just another kind of mildew. The vinegar wash will work. Use a lot. The laundry |
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room will smell like salad dressing while it's washing but after you dry it all will be better.
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HopeHoops
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Wed May-13-09 05:59 PM
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13. Only while I was wearing them. |
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Man is it hard to get in and out of that thing!
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Fleshdancer
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Wed May-13-09 06:00 PM
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the only luck I've had was drying them and then rewashing.
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ElmStreetPlaza
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Wed May-13-09 06:04 PM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Wed May-13-09 06:11 PM by ElmStreetPlaza
Been there and done that! I am still trying to find dye for my blue jean jacket that was destroyed after I left it in the washer for several days.
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Inchworm
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Wed May-13-09 07:44 PM
Response to Original message |
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:banghead:
Ok, I lied.
I do this often. Hot water rewash/dry and rewash usually fixes it.
:hi:
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Kali
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Wed May-13-09 07:48 PM
Response to Original message |
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about the only think I know that will kill laundry odor for sure. If the clothes are already ruined it couldn't hurt - try as little as a 1/4 cup in a full tub of water and let it agitate a little to mix before putting the clothes in.
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rcrush
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Wed May-13-09 07:48 PM
Response to Original message |
21. The dryer takes care of that for me. |
quakerboy
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Wed May-13-09 07:52 PM
Response to Original message |
22. Sometimes amonia will help |
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or bleach, vinegar, baking soda, certain stain removers, febreeze, a proper drying, etc. Not all at once, mind you.
Some times you just have to throw them out.
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Whoa_Nelly
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Wed May-13-09 08:01 PM
Response to Original message |
23. Take'em out, air dry them. Run a heavy hot water, sopa nd bleach through washer, no clothes |
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Run washer again, just cold water, no clothes.
Take air-dried clothes and settle them in for a 1/2 hour cold water soak in the washer with liquid soap or Dawn dishwashing liquid (that's the best!)
Spin the clothes out, and then run them again as a regular cold water wash. The smell is from the outer tub of your washer. Mildew getting in the laundry event hough you are washing again. Clean out the washer, and redo the clothes. Trust me on this one ;)
:loveya: GoG! :hi:
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DeepBlueC
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Wed May-13-09 09:14 PM
Response to Reply #23 |
25. ooh, this is very persuasive |
GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #23 |
28. I'm going to try this... |
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It makes sense to me.
Thanks, Whoa_Nelly! :hug::hug::hug:
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yellowdogintexas
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Fri May-15-09 06:53 AM
Response to Reply #23 |
37. this is especially true if you have a front loader. Keep the washer open when not in use |
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very important. I leave mine open when it is empty, always.
Have the washer serviced professionally annually as they will clean out around all the gaskets etc.
If you have a front loader there is a tablet compound sold at Lowes, Home Depot etc that you run in the machine monthly with nothing in the washer. Service techs recommend doing this monthly.
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tigereye
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Wed May-13-09 08:18 PM
Response to Original message |
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:rofl: I just wash em again - that usually works. I guess it depends though, on how long you forget em for!
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Wed May-13-09 09:35 PM
Response to Reply #24 |
26. I usually don't leave them for more than 24 hours... |
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If I don't do a load a day, the laundry gets backed up. But sometimes I'll put a load in around dinner time, and I get so caught up in dinner and making sure the kid gets himself clean and in bed that I forget the laundry.
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tigereye
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Thu May-14-09 08:12 PM
Response to Reply #26 |
29. that's what I do - I have to do at least a load every day, and there are only 3 |
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of us, plus my husband does his own usually, since I refuse to mix lights and darks. :crazy:
My son isn't the tidiest fellow and I think I have too many clothes! :rofl:
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Pacifist Patriot
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Wed May-13-09 09:38 PM
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27. Wow, that's some stubborn mildew. Usually just rewashing works for me. |
dugaresa
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Thu May-14-09 08:29 PM
Response to Original message |
30. If you have a soak cycle, use white vinegar (use about 2-3 cups) |
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and then wash the clothes again after that.
I have successfully used this technique.
If you don't have a soak cycle, put the clothes in a wash basin with the vinegar to soak for a while then wash again.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Fri May-15-09 08:10 AM
Response to Reply #30 |
42. That sounds like a good idea too... |
MrsBrady
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Thu May-14-09 11:03 PM
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dgibby
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Thu May-14-09 11:07 PM
Response to Original message |
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You can use it for everything. Great stuff, used in hospitals. I have cats and dogs, takes care of all kinds of odors. I use it to clean countertops, sinks, floors, laundry. You can buy it at Sam's and Home Depot. They even make a spray for your yard.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Fri May-15-09 08:11 AM
Response to Reply #32 |
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I never heard of this product before.
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dgibby
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Fri May-15-09 01:16 PM
Response to Reply #43 |
51. You're welcome. It's the very best stuff I've ever used. |
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It smells great, too, and it kills approx 99% of germs, etc. I orginally found out about it because we used it at the Navy Hospital where I was stationed.
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DU GrovelBot
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Thu May-14-09 11:07 PM
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33. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ## |
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This week is our second quarter 2009 fund drive. Donate and you'll be automatically entered into our daily contest. New prizes daily!
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Dogtown
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Fri May-15-09 06:06 AM
Response to Original message |
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presoak in a Lysol solution to kill the mildew.
rewash as always but WTFU & get them into the dryer in a timely fashion this time.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Fri May-15-09 08:12 AM
Response to Reply #34 |
44. The liquid disinfectant |
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or the household cleaner?
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Dogtown
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Fri May-15-09 08:20 AM
Response to Reply #44 |
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The institutional-stink kind.
May require 2 rinses & airing to dispell the hospital-morgue scent, but it will definitely kill the stale/mildew smell.
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Orrex
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Fri May-15-09 06:44 AM
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35. You just have to go naked from now on |
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I suspect that was your plan all along.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Fri May-15-09 08:13 AM
Response to Reply #35 |
carlyhippy
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Fri May-15-09 06:46 AM
Response to Original message |
36. I do this about once a week...haha |
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tide degergent, as much as you can get away with, and if the clothes won't get messed up, probably a little bleach in the water. At my house it usually ends up being the towels that are left behind and forgotten.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Fri May-15-09 08:14 AM
Response to Reply #36 |
46. There's nothing worse than |
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drying off after your refreshing shower and realizing that your towel stinks.
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gbate
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Fri May-15-09 07:46 AM
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38. You have to re-wash them. |
secondwind
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Fri May-15-09 08:00 AM
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39. have you tried warming them in the sun? nothing like fresh air and sunshine! |
GoddessOfGuinness
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Fri May-15-09 08:15 AM
Response to Reply #39 |
47. We have so many trees in our yard |
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that the clothes would just be covered with bird poo.
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madrchsod
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Fri May-15-09 08:03 AM
Response to Original message |
40. vinegar and solar powered dryer works for getting rid of icky smells |
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if not you will have a lot of cleaning rags
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Jamastiene
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Fri May-15-09 08:07 AM
Response to Original message |
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with entirely new clothes or just wear that certain batch of clothes around the house until the smell goes away. That's the only way I have figured out how to deal with it.
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GoddessOfGuinness
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Fri May-15-09 08:16 AM
Response to Reply #41 |
48. Ha! Good excuse to go shopping! |
JitterbugPerfume
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Fri May-15-09 10:07 AM
Response to Original message |
50. What? ME forget stuff |
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never
Now what were we talking about?
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