There's just something magical about the smell of freshly washed laundry, isn't there? For this reason, there are few things more annoying for us than putting on a freshly washed dress only to find that it smells even worse than before it was washed. Although we always put our clothes in the closet clean, after a while they can take on a pretty foul and unpleasant smell. Does the laundry smell musty after washing or in the closet? No need to panic right away! We'll explain why this is and what you can do about smelly clothes in our article!
Laundry smells musty after washing: That could be the reason
When we think of freshly washed clothes, we immediately get a clean and pleasant smell in our nose. But the disappointment is also all too great when it smells bad. Does your laundry smell musty after washing? So that this doesn't happen to you again in the future, we have put together the most common reasons for smelly clothes.
The laundry is left in the washing machine for too long
Okay, we've probably all made this mistake at least once. After all, we don't always have the time or desire to do the laundry after work. But if clothes are left in the washing machine for too long, the moisture cannot evaporate, resulting in musty and smelly laundry. In addition, the accumulated moisture is the perfect breeding ground for any bacteria and if the clothes stay in the drum for too long, they will multiply quite quickly. If this is the reason why the laundry smells musty, then you need to wash the load again and get the clothes out as quickly as possible afterwards. To be on the safe side, you can also add a tablespoon of baking soda to the detergent - the home remedy neutralizes the odors and is therefore a real miracle weapon against smelly laundry.
You are using too much or too little detergent
Do you always accurately measure the amount of detergent you use, or do you add a little and hope for the best? Too little or too much detergent is actually the second biggest mistake that leads to musty laundry. If we use too little, the clothes will obviously not be cleaned properly. Too much detergent, on the other hand, is not completely rinsed out of the laundry and can therefore create a bad smell. When dosing the detergent, you should base it on the amount of laundry, the degree of soiling and the hardness of the water. And if you are still unsure, then follow the manufacturer's dosage recommendations.
Laundry smells musty because the washing machine is not clean
The laundry smells musty and none of the above reasons apply to you? We are not always the culprits and in some cases it is the washing machine. When was the last time you cleaned them? We thought so too. Since it rinses all the dirt out of our clothes, it also makes sense that residual dirt, bacteria and germs accumulate there over time. Another mistake most of us make is only washing at 30 or 40 degrees and unfortunately the low temperatures cannot kill the bacteria in the washing machine. The newer models now have disinfection programs, but if this is not the case for you, you can do it yourselfclean the washing machine.Does the laundry smell musty?, then apple cider vinegar can help against the smell. To do this, add 1-2 cups of vinegar to the detergent compartment and run the washing machine empty through the hot water cycle on the longest setting.
The washing machine drum is always closed
The laundry smells mustyafter washing? Do you close the washing machine door immediately after you've finished using it? Well, unfortunately this is not a good idea and can actually lead to smelly clothes. The reason for this is that after washing, residual water and moisture always remain in the drum and the rubber seals cannot dry well. Because the remaining water does not evaporate, bacteria form in the washing machine. To prevent this, leave the door and dishwasher compartment open for at least 2-3 hours after each wash cycle.
Especially when the season changes, it can happen that the laundry in the closet produces a musty smell. The most common reason for this is that we have stored them there for too long. Even if the cupboard is too full, the air circulation cannot work. In this case, you should wash the clothing once and make sure to air it every now and then in the future. To get a fresh scent into your wardrobe, you can use scented sachets made from lavender or other dried flowers. Alternatively, you can get rid of the musty smell by thoroughly wiping the cupboard with vinegar.
What to do about smelly laundry from the dryer?
DieLaundry smells mustyafter the dryer – that can be pretty annoying too, right? If our clothes stink after drying, there can be various reasons. After each drying process, moisture remains in the dryer, which promotes the formation of mold and bacteria. So to let the device dry out properly, leave the door open for a few hours. It is also important to completely empty the collection tank with the liquid after each drying process. Dust and dirt in the lint filter also give off an unpleasant aroma and as a result our laundry smells like it has been burned. If the hose is blocked, you must remove it and rinse it thoroughly with hot water.
