We’ve all been there: your clothes are washed and ready for you to put away. But instead of smelling fresh, your items have a weird stale-like scent about them.
WATCH: Juliet Love shows you how to make a cluttered laundry look bigger
The bad news is your clothes need to be washed again. But the good news is, we’ve gathered a list of reasons why your clothes smell after washing so you can avoid it in the future.
Why do my clothes smell after washing?
Nicole Gibson is the Laundry Queen at Söka Australia, and her Instagram page is an excellent source for washing and stain removal advice.
In a recent series of stories on the Soka Australia Instagram page, Nicole reveals some common reasons your clothes smell after washing. From improper drying to using low-quality detergent and leaving damp clothes in the washing machine for too long – here’s how to ensure your clothes come out of the wash sans the weird smell.
1. Overloading the washing machine
Trying to cram all of your washing into the washing machine might seem like a time-saver, but it will take even longer if you have to wash them all over again.
“If there isn’t enough room for clothes to move around, they won’t get cleaned or rinsed properly – aim for ¾ full,” writes Nicole.
2. Not using the right washing machine setting
All those settings on your washing machine are there for a reason, so make sure you use the right one for your washing.
Nicole recommends the following:
- “Determine how dirty the load is.
- Determine if the load needs to be sanitised or hygienically clean.
- Keep in mind the type of fabric and rinsing capability of the machine.
- Think about how often you wash these clothes.
- Do they require deep cleaning?”
3. Using too much detergent
If you’ve ever had towels or clothes that feel crunchy after washing or have gone stiff, you’re most likely using too much detergent.
“Using too much detergent will hinder the cleaning process as it won’t be able to flush through the fibres. Excess detergent residue will remain over clothes after the rinse cycle causing odour and dullness,” writes Nicole.
Not to mention, lots of washing detergents contain something called fillers. Fillers are made from chemicals, ground down into a sand-like consistency, and added to detergent as a bulking agent.
Here’s how to tell if your detergent contains fillers.
4. Not washing your machine regularly
If neglected, the appliance can become the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, with some claiming clothes might be dirtier after you wash them.
Nicole writes: “Lingering bacteria and unwanted odours will transfer to clothes during the wash cycle. Clean your machine once a month or more regularly, depending on your loads.”
Here’s how to clean your front-loader washing machine properly
5. Not drying your clothes properly
The longer your clothes stay damp, the more likely they are to smell.
“Clothes need adequate airflow space to dry,” writes Nicole. ”The longer drying time will result in musty odours remaining on your clothes.
6. Leaving your washing in the machine too long
Bacteria and mildew will grow on wet clothes sooner than you think.
Nicole previously told BHG: “The bacteria causing these musty odours will remain in the clothes until rewashed, and depending on the degree of odour, they may even benefit from a hot wash.”
7. Using fabric softener
Nicole says fabric softeners can mask and “make built-in odour smell worse”.
She adds: “Excess softener residue can leave clothes looking dull, crunchy and smelly. Clean clothes shouldn’t smell like anything. Use 1/4 cup of vinegar as an alternative if necessary.”
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