How can I freshen up my laundry

Counting_Pennies_2

With the onset of wet and cold days, my washing is drying inside and no longer has that line freshness. With a toddler and working part time, and no money for a tumble dryer, I have absolutely no time for continual turning of my laundry on the airers and in fact if I am having a particularly challenging week it won't even reach the ironing basket.

It really is smelling of wet dog.

Can anyone tell me if there is a way of freshening up the laundry when it smells of wet dog. Is there something cheap and easy to prepare to fit in between the items in their drawers?

Thanks in advance

janb5

Could it be that you are putting too much in the machine which means the clothes cant rotate properly? Could you hang shirts on hangers leaving more space on airers. You can also buy mini airers to hang on radiators- useful for smaller items.

lil_me

I use comfort refresh I think it's called and the in wardrobe hanging freshners (also handy for suitcases) made by the makers of comfort. A friend uses car air freshners in her wardrobe.

Also I put watered down fabric conditioner on my radiators, aswell as making the room smell nice it can help when drying fabrics, but careful with delicates and those that mark easily.

Whistling_Gypsy

Isn't it awful in this cold and damp to get things dry and fresh smelling too?? I rarely get a chance to hang things on the line evben when it is a sunny day (leave house at 7.00am in darkness and return at 4.30pm in darkness!!)
I use the tumble-dryer freshener sheets between layers of clothes in washing basket/ironing pile or in a drawer/over hangers in wardrobe. They don't last for ages - but if your washing is on a fairly quick turnaround (it certainly sounds like it!!) they should do the trick.
You can get them really cheap (last lot were about 59p for a box of 20 - will last a good few weeks) - or pay more for a named brand - depends which you like the smell of best and how the pennies are!!

davsidipp

never put too much washing in one load son does that at uni and clothes reek. always use a good detergent i have used cheaper versions but still think something like good ole persil or ariel wins hands down then you wont think you have a smelly dog in the house.

astonsmummy

I dry mine on the radiator, never smells of wet dog, i dont iron everything at once either, i rarly have to iron. If i do i just iron when i need to wear it, i shake my clothes out and smoth the creases when they come out the machine, also dont put much in and things dont crease as much.

chmmy

I'd imagine that it would be better to try to dry the clothes properly in the first place rather than trying to mask the smell with nice smellies, as although they may smell nice when you take them out the drawer the bad smell might come back when you wear the clothes when they start to warm up .

Getting washing dry is an absolute nightmare. My sister recently got a dehumidifyer which she says is great for helping the washing dry.

I use an airer for socks and small items, towels etc, and Ive got two double clothes racks and I hang everything else on there on hangers. Mostly clothes dried on hangers dont need much ironing either:T
I find the trick is to not have the clothes too close together, not touching so there is enough air circulating around them to dry them.

tawnyowls

It's the drying - there's just no way round it. If your clothes stay damp, the bacteria will have a field day and end up causing the stink. You either kill all the bacteria (practically impossible unless you boil wash everything), or remove their source of water quickly enough so they don't have time to go forth & multiply. Is there anywhere you can hang the clothes to dry outside where they'll be covered? The colder air will slow their growth. If you can't (and I know this will be very difficult with a toddler) could you try only doing one wash each day so you have less stuff drying inside, hence the air inside will be less humid? If you're changing clothes every day, wearing them for a second day might be an option - most people will not have any hygiene problems doing that, unless they're in a job where they sweat a lot.

You could try adding vinegar (and possibly a capful of Zoflora) to the wash to slow the growth too. Washing at a higher temperature will help a bit, but obviously uses more energy.

lil_me

I also try to limit how much I wash, I do have the luxury of the drier, but don't use it for everything and will only wash when I know I have space to dry. If that means just one load a day so be it as I agree it is important to give them room to dry on the airers.