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Washing is coming out smelling musty

I have a musty smell coming from my clothes, can certain materials give off a musty smell?

I stopped using fabric softener years ago and use vinegar instead. I know its not the washing machine 1 it's not even 12 months old yet and two when I wash towels and bedding they come out smelling fresh, I think I'm going to have to leave out some clothing to try to find out what clothing it is.

I think it's either trousers or underwear, tshirts and jumpers and socks don't seem to smell when they are mixed in with the trousers and underwear.

I will add before I put them in the washing machine I can't smell any funky smells from the clothing. This is what is making me think its the material. 
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Comments

  • Have you looked at the filter ?
  • _Jem_
    _Jem_ Posts: 342 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    @another_casualty Yes it's fine and I had also done a couple of hot washes without clothes to clean it all out. 
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 19 August 2021 at 10:46AM
    Certain man made materials can hang on to bacteria and smell even after washing, think running/gym gear and the like. I always wash my running kit together in a separate wash with a smaller amount of detergent and white vinegar added to both the wash and rinse cycles, but even then there are a couple of tops that keep a strange smell no matter what I try.. I'm also using Dettol Laundry Cleanser with the wash.

    Yes it's a good ide to run a hot wash regularly, at least once a month, with detergent and could also try a washing machine cleaner. As mentioned check your filter and remove and clean the drawer and surrounding aperture. 
  • Leaving the washing in the drum for a period of time before taking it out can create a musty smell.
    As can folding the dried clothes up before they're fully dried and aired.

    I knew someone that folded them whilst still fresh, put them away in cupboards etc, then when they got them out and put them on  ..... they smelt revolting, really disgusting.
  • _Jem_
    _Jem_ Posts: 342 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    neilmcl said:
    Certain man made materials can hang on to bacteria and smell even after washing, think running/gym gear and the like. I always wash my running kit together in a separate wash with a smaller amount of detergent and white vinegar added to both the wash and rinse cycles, but even then there are a couple of tops that keep a strange smell no matter what I try.. I'm also using Dettol Laundry Cleanser with the wash.

    Yes it's a good ide to run a hot wash regularly, at least once a month, with detergent and could also try a washing machine cleaner. As mentioned check your filter and remove and clean the drawer and surrounding aperture. 
    I never do a hot wash with detergent just with vinegar, So I will give that a try, I always dry out the machine plus draw and leave the door open.

    It seems most of the smell is coming from the waistband of the underwear and trousers. 
  • _Jem_
    _Jem_ Posts: 342 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 19 August 2021 at 4:35PM
    Catsacor said:
    Leaving the washing in the drum for a period of time before taking it out can create a musty smell.
    As can folding the dried clothes up before they're fully dried and aired.

    I knew someone that folded them whilst still fresh, put them away in cupboards etc, then when they got them out and put them on  ..... they smelt revolting, really disgusting.
    Yes it's that musty smell as if I have left the clothes in but I always take the washing out as soon as its finished.  I think it's going to be alot of testing as in leaving some of the clothes out to find out what items is making it smell.

    I have left the clothing out for a couple of days to see if the smell goes it doesn't.

    Unfortunately I'm in a flat so can't hang things outside. 
  • Alanp
    Alanp Posts: 741 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    You say you have done some hot washes, did you use the highest temperature available?
  • How long do the clothes take to dry? That musty smell can appear if they are damp for too long & the waistbands will usually be thicker material. 
    Maybe try a dehumidifier in the room they are dried in if it’s high humidity in there?

    Incidentally, I had some friends who lived in the Caribbean & their clothes had that musty smell when the humidity was so high that their washing just didn’t dry
  • Emmia
    Emmia Posts: 4,592 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 20 August 2021 at 5:11AM
    The smell is probably caused by "sweat" getting embedded in the fabric that touches your body - are clothes or parts of clothes made from synthetic fabrics affected more than cotton, wool, etc.?

    I have a similar problem with husband's gym clothes, and now wash them separately with specialist sports laundry detergent...

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/HALO-PROACTIVE-SPORTS-LIQUID-LITRE/dp/B003WGL0C6
  • _Jem_
    _Jem_ Posts: 342 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper

    Alanp said:
    You say you have done some hot washes, did you use the highest temperature available?
    Yes I use the hottest wash @90c

    Novice_investor101 said:
    How long do the clothes take to dry? That musty smell can appear if they are damp for too long & the waistbands will usually be thicker material. 
    Maybe try a dehumidifier in the room they are dried in if it’s high humidity in there?

    Incidentally, I had some friends who lived in the Caribbean & their clothes had that musty smell when the humidity was so high that their washing just didn’t dry
    The smell is there as soon as I open the door to the washing machine, I had been thinking about getting a dehumidifier to dry the clothes better, I must say it's only affecting some underwear not all of them.

    Emmia said:
    The smell is probably caused by "sweat" getting embedded in the fabric that touches your body - are clothes or parts of clothes made from synthetic fabrics affected more than cotton, wool, etc.?

    I have a similar problem with husband's gym clothes, and now wash them separately with specialist sports laundry detergent...

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/HALO-PROACTIVE-SPORTS-LIQUID-LITRE/dp/B003WGL0C6
    Yes part of the clothes are made by synthetic, I might just give that sprts detergent a go. Thankfully the smell isn't going onto the shirts and jumpers. 
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