Stinky washing conundrum

[RusholmeRuffian]

In the winter I dry clothes on radiators and on a clothes horse indoors. Everything dries fine and smells lovely when dry (of fabric softener).

Today has been a breezy mild day so I thought I would get the washing line up. My clothes smelled lovely coming out of the machine but once they had been on the line a couple of hours they had a weird musty smell. This happened last year too every single time I put washing out. It's driving me crazy. Any idea what could be causing it?

[Iamastonished]

That's odd. My washing always smells wonderful after it has been outside. Is there a lot of air pollution where you live?

[RusholmeRuffian]

I know, it should smell better outside, it's infuriating! Not a particularly polluted area but there is a large food factory quite close to us. I can't smell anything untoward in the garden but the clothes smell horrible.

[dudsville]

When clothes doubt dry thoroughly they can get a damp smell. Do you put them on the radiator when you bring them in for a final dry off?

[RusholmeRuffian]

Yes I do if it takes a while but even on a hot summer day they smell weird!