Smell on clothes

[Chesure]

I've obviously stopped using the tumble dryer as much. Yesterday at 11 I did a load, hung it on the Lakeland dryer turned on with cover over the top. Turned it off at 8pm and took cover off to circulate air, leaving door open in room

This morning I've collected it up to finish it off in the tumble dryer. But it's got that slightly 'pissy' (sorry it's the best way I can think of to explain it) smell that comes from not drying properly. But it's dry within 24 hours so it doesn't seem long enough to get pissy smelling. This has happened quite a lot over the last 3 months. Resulting in me needing to rewash stuff.

I'm using the same fabric conditioner (I have to due to sensitive skin and DD has sensory issues with rough or scratchy clothes - hence finishing them off in the tumble dryer). I use Fairy gel for darks and colours Fairy powder for whites. This was a dark wash.

I haven't noticed a difference depending on the washing programme I use (1 hour or 2 hours). This dark wash was 90 mins at 40 degrees.

If I hang the stuff up in a warm conservatory it can still happen within 24 hours.

I've emptied the washing machine to check if the water is draining properly. No blockage. I'm spinning at 1200 so it's not that wet when it comes out.

What else can it be please? I literally cannot afford to tumble dry everything anymore. But I cannot send my DC to school in uniform that smells like piss!

I could be a damp smell. I always use a dehumidifier to dry my clothes indoors. The moisture from your wet clothes has to go somewhere and if you are not sucking the moisture out of the air then it will still be in the air, and moist air makes clothes smell musty.

You really do not need to use fabric conditioner. Try just washing the clothes and see if there is a difference

Just to add, even with a heated drying rack there will still be moisture in the air. Just think how much water the TD gets out. That will be in the air indoors unless you are using a dehumidifier.

I’ve got the same problem with the same set-up (only my dryer is from Amazon and not Lakeland).

My Mum suggested I'm over-loading it and so I try to put half the amount in and haven't had the problem since .

(Dries a lot faster too, so overloading is false economy!)

I’ve stopped using fabric conditioner and use Dettol laundry disinfectant now instead.

I did. DD noticed the difference and refused to wear any of her clothes. That may sound like I'm being indulgent but it's what I need to do to get out of the house every morning.

I've used fabric conditioner for years but this is a new smell.

I may be overloading it so there's not enough air circulating so I'll try that to start with.

I have 2 chemical dehumidifiers with those blue and white blocks which should help. Our actual dehumidifier stopped working years ago.

I've found that doing a smaller load in the washer and then an extra spin has helped massively today.

The air is not as loaded ( not a heated one) put the rad on in that room only and opened window m. I do thing a dehumidifier would be great

Are you opening windows? You need to extract the moisture from the air in order for the moisture to keep evaporating from your damp clothes.

Your moisture traps won't be doing much to help dry your clothes. They're great for closets and cupboards, but in a normal room opening a window will be far more effective.

Is your washing machine ok? Try bicarb in with the clothes and white vinegar where you would put laundry liquid.

Also try liquid rather than powder as it builds up less.

You do if you're in a very hard water area. If I don't used conditioner my clothes come out with a crunch.

Does it only happen when you use the gel?
Could be the detergent that's a problem. Maybe try a different one

I do load in the machine, an extra spin and then straight to tumble dryer. It's exactly 1.5 in the heat pump drier and costs pennies. I know the smell you are seeking of, I gave up on drying it any other way now.

I find that sometimes and I normally put one of the washing machine cleaners in on a hot wash as it cleans the machine and the pipes, washing seems fresher afterwards.

It's overloading the airer, simple as that. You need air to circulate properly round it so reduce the load on there

My washing machine does have a cleaning cycle so I'll give that a go too.

We are in a very hard water area so crunchy clothes is a big issue.

If you have hard water try adding a scoop of soda crystals to each wash. DH’s work clothes always had a horrible fusty smell to them even straight out the machine and using detail wash. He adds soda crystals now and no smell at all.

I used to use soda crystals but ran out so I'll get another bag.

I agree with this - liquids and gels don't have the same bleaching agents as powders and can cause build up in your machine making it less effective at cleaning. Powder is a lot better. You should also do a hot wash, eg for towels, or run a cleaning wash on the machine every couple of months.

Can you dry outside? I found that even with colder weather, the washing smells different if it has been outside for a couple of hours.

Ideally I get it out. around 8am and. bring it in by 2-3pm. A breezy day is even better. Or put. the airer next. to an open window if possible.

But also overloading is an issue, clothing takes longer to dry. With the wet weather the last week, my. washing took ages compared to yesterday when I just had to dry it off overnight indoors.

You do have to be more strategic with washing in the winter I find. A smaller load in the washer, do an extra spin cycle before you take it out and make sure you give the clothes enough room to dry on the airer. You need to open windows too - otherwise the washing just makes the house damp and it doesn't dry.

Items need to be 90% dry within 12 hours or you get that fusty smell. It's worse with thick items that you can't put on a hot wash or tumble like jumpers so I end up putting the heating on for an hour and draping them over radiators.

Once they go fusty it's really hard to get rid of it with subsequent washing. You should leave your washing machine door open after using to allow it to dry out that can be a source of unpleasant smells too

I get this but only with my darks, not sure why ?
Was thinking maybe because the darks are thicker, like hoodies, track bottoms ect. X

I know what you mean as we dont have a dryer.

I always put the washer on the highest spin and once the Lakeland dryer timer has finished I open the cover up in case stuff is still slightly damp.

Must admit though I had a problem for ages with washing smelling like vomit and I couldn't work it out - realised it was the Asda fabric conditioner!

I do an extra spin with heavy clothes natural fibres. I'll also hang out for a few hours before finishing off in the tumbler

I have started doing a smaller wash so that less clothes are on the airer and that works well.