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how can i get the smell of damp out of clothes

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  • babyshoes
    babyshoes Posts: 1,771 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The damp smell is caused by bacteria which are killed by heat, (a biochemist friend explained it in detail once!) so I'd start with a hot wash (as hot as the clothes can take) with bio powder and vinegar for good measure, then dry in fresh air for as long as possible, or tumble dry if you can't get it out. A good hot iron should get rid of any remaining bugs and their smell....

    I have a jumper which, for some reason, always smells damp after coming out of the wash unless I dry it on the radiator. It is something to do with the type of fabric, and it's only that one jumper. Some fabrics are just prone to it, I guess!

    Does your son have somewhere proper to dry his clothes? If, like us, he lives in a flat with no outdoor space, he may be draping them on an airer in a cold room - if that's the case it's not surprising they smell damp as they will take days to dry. It took us a while to figure out how to get washing dry without smelling damp when we first moved in. We use an airer, but have heating on in winter and a window open in summer when there is washing out to dry, and usually manage to avoid the damp smell.
    Other options for him could be a heated airer from Lakeland, spending a bit more on the CH, a small oil rad placed next to the airer, a secondhand tumble drier if there's space, or a dehumidifier in the same room as the washing. Also, make sure the washing comes out of the machine promptly - if it sits for more than a few hours it will smell damp and needs another wash before being hung out.
    Trust me - I'm NOT a doctor!
  • bearcub
    bearcub Posts: 1,023 Forumite
    babyshoes wrote: »
    The damp smell is caused by bacteria

    It is indeed, which is why I always soak damp-smelling (isn't it awful?) items in Biotex, before washing in the WM. Works every time PROVIDING that the items aren't then allowed to dry slowly in a non-airy place.
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