AIBU? To think that a lot of people aren't drying their washing properly these days?

[Oobiedoobiedo]

I notice a lot when I'm out and about people who haven't dried their washing properly *, and so it has that sour musty smell washing gets when it's wet too long or isn't getting enough air. To me it's a really "loud" smell, and I just wonder if people don't notice it? Or maybe don't care?

*disclaimer: I'm not critiquing people whose circumstances mean they can't dry them any other way, I have been there myself, but the people who could dry it correctly but don't.

It just puzzles me.

Actually yes I've noticed this too recently.

I work in a small museum with very small galleries and I often smell it as soon as I enter, and long after the visitor leaves.

The weather has been poor. Drying inside there might not be much space, homes may already be damp due to a poor summer.

I've recently bought a bit of stuff from Vinted and to be honest most of it pongs of damp or needs drycleaning. I guess it's a sign of the times

It’s both washing and drying that isn’t being done properly. You can’t wash on super cold and then hang dry indoors and expect to have very clean clothes.

How would you define drying it properly?

It's too wet outside to dry it on the line and not cold enough to have the heating on in the house. I don't own a tumble drier. How should I be drying my clothes?

How can you distinguish between those who don't care and those whose circumstances mean that they don't have other means of drying their clothes?
You can't really, so it's best not to judge.

I worry sometimes that out clothes have this smell. We only have a small yard with no line and no tumble dryer. We dry our clothes indoors on a clothes dryer or over bannisters etc but the heating isn’t on yet and won’t be a lot this winter so they often take several days to dry.

How on earth would you know which people have proper drying facilities and which ones don't?

Yes I find this is a tricky time of year for drying clothes - not warm enough for them to dry quickly indoors but not cold enough to put the heating on. Weather too variable to risk drying outside. We don't have a tumble dryer.

Perhaps people are using their heating and tumble driers less due to cost of living issues.

You can’t tell, but I do think some people just don’t know how to. Similar to how some people don’t know good food hygiene or even how to clean their home properly.

I think you mean you're not criticising rather than critiquing.
I've no idea if you're right about the smell as I tend to stay away from people, but it's fine to say it's something you've noticed but that you're not criticising people because you don't know their circumstances.

I blame washing capsules , they’re horrible and unless clothes are bone dried immediately the residual smell remains and smells gross.

I'm not sure why.

I don't have a tumble drier but washing goes on the line and then into the airing cupboard for a day or two. Dries perfectly.

Op doesn’t sound like she’s criticising at all?! I try not to use the drier for environmental reasons (plus condenser so crap anyway!) but with no heating on and bad weather it’s so difficult- I’d say that’s where most people are (minus the decision to buy a stupid condenser drier!!)

It creates damp and mould in the home hanging it up, so the less time it's hanging to dry the better.

Never had a dryer, nor space for one, have to use radiators.

Not many people I know have outside space or an airing cupboard!

You need a heated airer

It's an annoying time of year, too cold.for washing to dry and not cold enough to have the heating on. I use a tumble dryer to finish ours off but a lot of people don't have one. I once worked with someone who had no central heating or tumble dryer, just a gas fire in the living room. She permanently smelt of damp, not much she could do about it though.

I haven’t noticed this but I think people tend to overdo deodorants, perfumes, fragranced washing powder/ conditioners so I try to keep distance from them whenever possible.

Washing at lower temperatures and on short cycles to save electricity
Washing clothes less frequently - to save on electricity
Plus
Not cleaning the machine enough - sludge builds up because of all the low temp washing etc

Tumble dryer and heated airer are out if you can barely afford your electricity bill.

DSs clothes smelt like this when he brought them home from his damp student flat. They still seem to get the smell though but nothing else in our house does so I'm beginning to wonder if it's him (I'm wondering if he has some kind of fungal infection, he always smell slightly of damp dog! We don't have a dog.

I do think the “wash at 30” push has a lot to do with it. things aren’t getting properly washed and then few people have their heating on, but might not be in the house to be hanging things outside.

i really hate running the tumble dryer but struggle to get things dry when I’m working otherwise, feel for those who don’t have a dryer or can’t afford to run it.

I think it can be the type of fabric too. I’ve noticed recently this with some new dresses I bought from pour moi. I’m not what the fabric is but it’s something man made that has a slight ‘slinky’ feel to it, but it seems much more sensitive to holding smells than other fabrics. Whether that be my smell after I’ve worn it for a day or that off taken-too-long-to-dry smell you describe.

Lots of homes don't have airing cupboards anymore. I use mine to store towels and sheets and also to hang up clothes after ironing and to make sure everything is 100% dry.