Clothing smells musty? How you can dry and freshen up your laundry

There are several ways you can make sure your clothing dries properly, including heated stands. Photo: Robert Michael/dpa/dpa-tmn

If your clothes still smell musty after a wash cycle, check your washing machine and have a good look at the garment itself - and consider how you dry it, too.

The problem could be that your laundry is not completely dry when you put it away in the wardrobe. Damp fabrics quickly start to smell musty.

Ideally, dry your clothing in a well-ventilated room or outdoors, to prevent both the washing machine and your clothing from smelling, says the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre.

Prevent unpleasant odours

For your white wash, try using a heavy-duty detergent with oxygen-based bleach as this will not only remove stains, but also unpleasant odours.

Another prerequisite for laundry to smell fresh is that your washing machine is hygienically clean and odour-free - and not mouldy.

Consumer advocates recommend you run a programme at 60 degrees Celsius using heavy-duty detergent at least once every three to four weeks. Otherwise, microorganisms can accumulate inside the machine and form a biofilm.

And after each wash, leave the door open so your machine can dry thoroughly inside.

Ideally, pull out the detergent drawer slightly, and wipe the rubber seal with a cloth.

What if laundry already smells?

If your laundry still smells, treat it with bicarbonate of soda which neutralizes odours.

Just take five litres of water and dissolve a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda in it, then soak your clothing or textiles overnight in the water. Then wash your clothes in line with the recommended wash programme.

But if your clothing is made of wool or silk, air your items outside, in the fresh air.

Later, place a scented sachet or a bottle of natural essential oils such as lavender, cedar or Swiss stone pine in the wardrobe, as long as you are not hypersensitive or allergic to certain fragrances. Otherwise, it is better to avoid essential oils.

What about fabric softeners?

While advertising often promises otherwise, consumer protection agencies tend to advise people not to use detergents with fragrances – for the sake of your own health and that of the environment. Many people are sensitive to fragrances, experiencing symptoms such as headaches, allergies and respiratory problems.

Scented laundry additives are often harmful to aquatic organisms and difficult to break down, especially if the fragrances are packaged in plastic capsules known as microcapsules. If the plastics used are not biodegradable, they contribute to microplastic pollution. – dpa