To rewash clothes that have been left in the washer?

[PurpleCurtain]

Friend came round this evening in a pair of sports leggings that absolutely stank - really musty. She admitted that she has a tendency to leave clothes in the washer for 24 hours before getting round to tumble drying, which I would presume is what caused the smell. She sat on my sofa and then the end of my bed whilst she was here, and it's making me want to change the sheets and wash the cushions!

Personally I would always rewash things in that situation, or in general if my clothes still smell after drying - because I assumed that the musty smell was mould and that I therefore needed to from a health perspective (is it?). But is that what everyone else does? My friend is sure she's in the majority in not having time for that!

I sometimes leave clothes in overnight but I always open the washing machine door so there is air circulation. Never had musty smell.

Thanks for reminding me about the towels I washed this afternoon. Oh, well I'm tucked up in bed now so a re-wash tomorrow it is!

once a month instead of the epsom salts i use sterilising tablets (4-6) like milton's on 20 degrees and add pure whites - towels/school shirts. my machine is around 15 years old and kept in a damp outhouse and this keeps it fresh

YANBU

DH and I have regular disagreements about this but he broke his nose as a teenager and can’t smell and therefore is WRONG.

The longest acceptable time is taking a wash out in the evening after starting it that morning.

I've been known to wash the same load 3 times as I've forgotten it and then forgotten it again, lol. Foisty smells are just awful and make me feel nauseous if I'm the one wearing it.

Yes always. I can smell that damp mould on clothes from a mile.
I stayed in my aunts when I was a child the shower curtain stank I'd stay near the wall when showering.
It left a marker in my brain.

Yes it stinks, and I would always rewash stuff if I hadn't got to it within a few hours of it finishing, but I don't think it's a health issue.

I always put it back on on a 30 minute wash if clothes have been left for more than a few hours. Cannot abide that smell.

I have a 15 minute quick wash that I'll use if I've forgotten to take the washing out of the machine. Freshens it up. I wouldn't do a full on re-wash.

@SlB09

Deffo rewash but just quick one. It's one smell I can't stand, don't even like to put clothes on my skin when they smell foisty 🤢

This^ I always think clothes with that smell make an awful damp feeling on your skin. I try to only put washing on when I know I can take it straight out when it's done. Never leave it sitting wet for more than an hour though.

Horrible smell, I was once at a concert and someone nearby smelled like this, nearly spoiled it for me and ut was allocated seating so we couldn't move away from them.

I don't like waste at all but that smell is one I can't live with, so yes I'd give a quick rewash.

Mouldy fusty smelling clothes are no fun to wear so is she alright financially do you know?

Can imagine trying to get away with this if I was on the last of the electric and trying to get to the end of the week but otherwise I'd rewash.

Sports fabrics seem to get extra stinky quickly if they aren't washed and dried properly.

The smell is bacteria right? 🤮

I throw in a cup of vinegar and do a rinse and spin when this happens.

Is she coping alright? I’d be concerned.

If a load has been left for 24 hours I would definitely do a short wash. i’d do this after about 6 or 7 hours from experience if the smell when opening the door.
A couple of times a year I end up kicking myself and doing it when the laundry has completely slipped my mind.

To be honest, I find a musty smell caused by leaving damp washing in the machine won't ever properly go away, even with a rewash. I'd still give it a go though.

@gamerchick

I think she's fibbing about the 24 hrs thing. 4 or 5 days maybe

This

It doesn't really matter if her washing methods are right or wrong; the end result is that she smells so bad that other people notice it and have a negative reaction.

But personally, I agree with you - leaving wet clothes in the washer for up to a few hours is OK, not overnight.

I used to work with a guy who always smelled of damp, musty clothes. He had six kids and I imagine him and his wife between then weren’t coping with the laundry promptly. I also assume he had become nose blind to the smell because it was horrible.

I take my stuff out the machine within a couple of hours. If anything did smell musty I’d certainly rewash.

Yes definitely re wash, they will smell and bacteria soon grows in damp conditions. I always remove my washing as soon as the machine finishes.

I just do a rinse cycle if not taken out. Though never left long enough to smell musty. I mostly line dry my clothes.

I’m really sensitive about mould and that smell, but equally with it being as bad and noticeable to you as you describe I suspect there’s more to it than her having left it in for 24 hours…as someone else said, a few days maybe, or her house is damp, or her machine never gets cleaned, or all three. I’d have hated her sitting on my bed too

When I have left something in the washing machine for too long, I have put it on the 15 minute quick wash. But I have never noticed a smell and not even after 24 hours, which has happened. I think she must have left them in there for days. I am curious, did you actually discuss her smelly clothes? 😊

I've accidentally left washing in for 24 hours before, but it's been fine as long as the door has stayed closed. If ever it's not still smelling fresh i.e. DH has opened the door meaning to hang it out and got distracted, a quick wash is normally sufficient to have it smelling fresh again.
YANBU to rewash, to answer your question.
Your friend has either left it in longer than the 24 hours, has a washing machine that's not working properly (or isn't maintaining it) or as pps have said, is struggling with something.
The damp smell is horrible 🤮 my lovely sister's washing used to end up smelling like it, probably a mixture of dodgy washing machine and hanging stuff on indoor airers, but it'd be all bunched up and squeezed on and must have taken forever to dry I never could say anything.