What's that smell?

[SandraSprocket]

What causes it? You smell it on some people, a mix of damp and fustiness clinging to their coats. I'm sitting next to someone now on the bus. I suppose it beats fag smoke or weed.

I know what you mean, I think it's damp houses that cause it. I work with a wealthy woman and she smells very strongly of it. She wears lovely, expensive clothes and is always visibly clean. She lives in an old farmhouse so that makes it makes sense that it's her house rather than anything she's actually doing to cause the smell. It does make me a bit sick tho

I think it's when clothes don't dry or air properly- the moisture gets trapped in the fabric and gives that sour damp smell ?

Its clothes left in the machine too long after the end of the wash. Only takes about an hour for that smell to develop.

Fags mixed with too much fabric softener. That's the smell on people I can't stand.

I've been noticing this a lot on my own clothes recently and I've came to the conclusion it's the fabric and whatever they are using to dye it.

This has only became a problem for me in the past few years and it's not like I've changed anything with regards to my washing routine. It's driving me crazy!

I wash with bio powder and a minimum of 40°, or 60° for darks. I do an extra spin at the end of the wash to ensure it's extra dry and everything goes in the dryer (also tried line drying).

I've tried using vinegar, I clean my machine with a boil wash twice per month and I even replaced my machine one year ago incase that was the problem. It still stinks! It's driving me bonkers.

A fine cocktail of clothes put away damp, damp houses with a hint of vape and a touch of cheap perfume.

When clothes are left damp for too long after washing.

UK homes are the absolute worst for doing laundry in. Most people don't have utility rooms. Loads don't have room for tumble dryers and even if they do, rarely use them because of the price of energy. The weather for most of the year means you can't dry outside. Too many people are stuck trying to dry stuff on airers and radiators.

Damp fog, damp clothes, not dried after washing or getting wet.

It's your drains

I had this on one jumper that needed hand-washing. I duly hand-washed it, wrung it out with my hands and hung it on our ceiling airer in the utility room.
It took 48 hours to dry, and that smell of damp wool didn't leave it until I washed it again. I now short-spin all hand-washed garments, especially wool ( on short-spin cycle, then stopping it mid-spin, about 1 minute in). The smell has gone. I'm convinced it's, as others have said, damp. Wool is particularly bad for this.

What would be causing the drains to have the smell and how would it get on the clothes?

Totally spot on

I've often smelled this from (usually) men on the bus. I think it's stale sweat from not washing. If you're lucky it's mixed with stale fag smoke.

It is horrid.

I just don't understand why more people don't have proper dehumidifiers. They are the answer.

Decent ones are pretty expensive aren't they?