Sometimes after taking out freshly washed clothes from the washing machine, they don’t smell clean at all. Instead, they have an unpleasant damp, musty smell.

Several factors can cause your clothes to smell damp, but there are simple solutions for you to eliminate the smell.

 Why Clothes Smell After Washing

• You’re not using the right amount of laundry detergent

If you don’t use enough detergent, your clothes won’t get cleaned properly, but using too much detergent will result to residue on clothes. Read the detergent label to the check the recommended amount of detergent for your washer.

• Your washing machine needs cleaning

Washing machines need to be cleaned and maintained in order for your clothes to get cleaned properly. If your washing machine is unclean it won’t be as effective at cleaning your clothes. Check out our guide on how to clean your washing machine.

• You leave your clothes in the machine after the cycle has finished

When you don’t take your clothes out from the washing machine straight away, the damp clothes will create a musty smell once they’re dry or are in the process of drying.

How To Remove Damp Smell From Clothes

• Vinegar: Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle in your washing machine drawer. Alternatively, you can add equal parts of detergent and vinegar to your laundry on a normal cycle.
• Baking Soda: Add 1 cup of baking soda into the washing machine and wash as normal. Alternatively, you can soak your clothes in 1-2 cups of baking soda and warm water for several hours (even overnight) before washing as normal.
• Dry clothes outside in the sun: Drying your clothes out in the sun will kill the germs and eliminate odour.

If you would rather have a more professional approach to removing the mildew smell off your clothes, you can book a laundry collection with Laundryheap and have your clothes returned to you as a good as new.