Most musty odors are caused by mildew and bacteria. So never let wet clothes sit around before drying because dampness and humidity are the perfect breeding ground for musty-smelling bacteria. Thoroughly clean your washing machine of any mold and mildew to ensure everything stays as dry as possible.
Mildew and mold buildup are some of the most common culprits of foul-smelling laundry. According to the CDC, mold, and mildew develop in the presence of excessive moisture. You may have excess moisture build-up if you wait too long to transfer your clothes from the washing machine to the dryer.
Drying garments on clothes airers can sometimes leave them with an unpleasant musty or damp smell because they take longer to dry, especially if it's quite cold in your home as you try to keep heating bills down.
The clothes may be too wet when you hang them up to dry. Staying wet too long outside the washer can cause mildew smell in them. Plus if it's too humid inside the house, they won't dry fast enough.
You can try washing them again, but once mildew smells penetrate the fabric, it usually takes more than a regular wash cycle to remove them.
Fresh air and sunlight
“Sunlight can kill bacteria because of the ultraviolet rays. Hanging your clothes outside on a nice sunny day with a gentle breeze is the easiest way to remove the bacteria that's making them smell.”
Mildew is a type of mold, and the negative health impacts of mold are well-documented. While wearing a slightly musty shirt once or twice probably isn't going to cause any serious health issues, prolonged exposure can lead to congestion, sneezing, coughing, or respiratory infections.
A musty smell on fabrics is typically the result of stinky mildew byproducts, including spores and other microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOC). As mold grows on your fabrics, it releases these organic compounds into the air, resulting in the tangy, earthy aroma we recognize as musty smell.
Why do the armpits of my shirts smell after washing? As your armpits sweat more than other parts of your body, the armpits of your clothing collect more bacteria that can cause body odours. Some washing detergents clean your clothing, but don't completely get rid of this bacteria.
It's advisable to avoid drying laundry in the rooms where you spend the most time: for example, the living room and bedroom. Instead, you should place the drying rack in the bathroom, the kitchen or hallway where you spend less time.
If you're using a dryer, then make your clothes smell even better when they come out of the dryer by adding some Gain Dryer Sheets. Dryer sheets help give your clothes an even fresher scent. Add one dryer sheet for regular loads, or two dryer sheets for large and HE full loads.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid leaving clothes in the washer for more than 8 to 12 hours. However, Murphy says there's more to think about than just timing to prevent your clothes from smelling and mildewing, especially if you're prone to letting your laundry sit for hours at a time.
Wet clothes should not be left in the washing machine or dryer for more than 8 to 12 hours. After 8 to 12 hours bacteria and mildew will begin to form on the clothing, which results in bad smelling garments. Mildew forms in hot and humid environments and will cause wet clothes to smell if left idle long enough.
If you are looking for your laundry to smell extra nice, putting it on the soak cycle can help. You can pre-soak your clothes in a solution of water and vinegar. The vinegar will help to remove any lingering odors from your clothes, and the water will help to dilute the vinegar so that it is not too strong.
Try lavender water.
Add lavender water to a spray bottle and give your laundry a quick spritz before throwing it into the washer. Just enough scent will remain after drying to keep it smelling fresh for a long time. Don't love lavender? Try your favorite essential oil.
"The wet clothes expel moisture into the air as they dry; which, if not ventilated enough, can condense on cold surfaces and eventually develop into build-ups of mould and mildew," says Lee Devlin, Managing Director at Homecure Plumbers. "Where possible, dry wet clothes outside or use a dryer.
According to experts, your preference should always be to dry your clothes outside in the shade. But when the weather doesn't permit this, a clothes rack in a well-ventilated space will suffice.
Some garments dry up better in a machine.
"There are certain items that do not fair well with air-drying," he explains. "Many heavy sweatshirts and sweatpants, as well as towels, are better off in the dryer." Lighter pieces like linen items, on the other hand, dry nicely on a line.
For a load of laundry that was spun in a washing machine, and hung indoors in average conditions, the "easy" items will be dry in about 5 hours, and the "difficult" items will finish in about 9 hours. Also see our Air Dry All Types of Clothing article for tips on each different clothing type.
It's important to ensure that the room your clothes are drying in is well ventilated. This will not only help to prevent damp and mould (see below) but also your clothes will dry quicker. Opened windows are the best way to get fresh air circulating through your home (even if it's cold outside).
There are many reasons why you'll smell bad even with good hygiene and this could be as a result of hormonal changes medication food illness such as Diabetes Gout Menopause Overactive thyroid Liver disease Kidney disease Infectious diseases. Continue reading...