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.

All these posters talking about the water temps, it has been mentioned several times on this thread already that in some parts of the world people wash in only cold water - where I live is one of those places. I can assure you that our clothes do not smell, and they are clean (mostly, there are people here also who don't seem to wash their clothes properly).

The detergents used in these parts are different moatly hence why it works. It's simple washing rules.
You either use higher temp on shorter time or longer time on cold wash. People claiming in UK that 30 min cold wash with our standard detergent workson anything but alightly worn clothes (like few hours and not a sweaty dirty work) are simply wrong.

Wash them with vinegar and detergent on higher tempt then hang somewhere with more airflow like hallway. I found top landing the best. In a flat it was a different place. Every property has that one place which has better airflow. Bit in a way but dries better. I aired 2x a day 10- 15 min blasts with all windows open. Enough to draft out stale air, not enough to cool the house down considerably.
The vinegar also helps clean the washing machine. Mum run cleaning wash on highest temp with 5l of vinegar once a month when I was little. It never smelled plus limescale gets blasted.
In one flat we used humidity catchers, the super cheap ones in a build in corner wardrobe when bathroom fan broke. It helped

Yes,
In China (almost) all houses and flats have a drying room which is South facing with big windows. Even if the weather is damp and cool its usually airy enough, I sometimes put an office fan in there to crate some movement when conditions are very poor.

I cannot stand the whiff of stale clothes it would be very hard for me to wear anything like that

Yes also smelt it, it is clothes that have not aired properly after washing, I use a Dry-buddi, best thing ive ever bought, i love it, i hang on line so had a blow as my mum used to say, then finish off on my Dri-buddy, i can not afford to run a tumble dryer, this uses very little electric, although it only holds a small amount of clothes, to me worth every penny.

Here's what I do washing powder straight into drum. Every 8 weeks do a drum cleaning cycle (read your instructions on how to do this), clean the filter and the drain pipe first then do a drum cleaning cycle (for my machine it's cotton 90 degree wash with extra rinse, your machine might have a special drum cleaning cycle setting

How to clea drain pipe:

i don't have space for a drier so I do a big load of washing and then take it down to the laundrette and stick it in the drier there. I cannot stand the smell of manky half dried clothes.

My sense of smell went crazy after I had covid in July.
I became really hyper aware of body odour smells, especially on myself. I'm also super aware of other people's perfume/body spray smells. People I objectively know DON'T smell, like my boss(!) now absolutely stink of a sort of sour, meaty, over-ripe smell.
It did improve a lot over September, but I've noticed this past week it's deteriorated again.
Could this me what has happened to you?

They leave the stuff in the washing machine too long, we call it the soapy flannel smell, it’s quite pungent but people don’t seem to be aware of it. I really hate it. I smell all my clothes when ironing them if they don’t smell right they get washed again.

I beg to differ, lots of countries only cold wash with no problems but you’re probably right about the drying.

I also have the Lakeland one...I've had it over ten years...maybe even 15! and also use it every day except on warm summer days. My clothes never have that smell...dh is really really sensitive to that smell and sniffs things before he puts them on! Drying things on an ordinary airer without heating on or a dehumidifier is really really slow and often leads to that horrible smell.

For me it's the prospect of having to constantly remind the kids not to knock over the airer while playing that puts me off drying clothes indoors. That must be hard work especially in a small flat.

I’ve found this recently, I’ve dried clothes and they smell funky, I’ve had to re wash a whole load before… I’ve no idea why some days it dries fine and other
days not..
I wonder if it’s when a wash load is too full so it doesn’t wash/rinse properly

A couple of peeps have mentioned this but not many.

Powder has bleachy things in that will kill the smelly bacteria. Liquid doesn't.

Having said that other things are important - water temp (I realised my eco 60 setting wasn't actually 60 so stopped using that for towels - much better), and drying. I put outside all year round if paths drying, even some drying outside is some moisture not in my house.

I really feel for people without the space and/or time to do this properly. And as for management companies banning it - that should be banned.

People are the best they can with what they have. I doubt there's many 'not drying it properly even though they can'.

Heated rack! I got one from Amazon for less than £20 a while ago. It’s amazing. And apparently uses the same energy as an energy efficient light bulb??

I just lie my clothes and bedding across it and it dries well so long as you don’t really overload it.

Obviously nothing is as nice as that fresh-off-the-line smell (although there are people who love scented fabric conditioners etc who disagree) but it works fine for when it’s raining out etc.

More likely some people aren't washing their clothes enough. Even damp washing will smell fine with the right amount of detergent and fabric conditioner.

Sometimes my washing gets this smell and I've no idea why. It's a horrible smell but every so often a load comes out of the machine really smelly for no reason.

I used to get this. Do you use the gel liquid ? Mine was that the pipes were clogged up with it
I use powder now

Not read the whole thread but possibly a more realistic piece of advice is to get the Aldi electric clothes dryer. I'm sure the Lakeland one is superior but I find the Aldi dryer with a cheap dehumidifier under it perfectly adequate for a fraction of the price.

I think that some people genuinely don't smell it. Or they just think it's "washing smell".
I really dislike it, but it doesn't bother me DD at all!

Yes, i think this is the problem rather than not drying properly.

I caved in. A year with a new partner who washes on short cycles, with non bio due to allergy and then trying to dry in racks in winter in a cold house - took days. i demanded a tumble dryer

for me to wash in 30, you need to use bio

if you are using non bio and not washing at 40, you need the longer cycles

Clothes need to dry within 24 hours or they just won’t smell fresh

but cost of living is meaning many people don’t heat their house and use lower temps and shorter cycles. People may well own fewer clothes too.

I sometimes have this problem because I’m a skint student living in a shit damp house sans dryer. Also its autumn and so the weather is crap.

I’m not doing it on purpose!

Just to note, if you don’t have a well insulated house and you are still putting the heating on minimally, then in the winter, clothes will
take so long with heated dryers and dehumidifiers, a tumble dryer might be cheaper. I’ve tried it and it still took hours

No, you’re wrong about all that.