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.

This might not work, but have you tried putting extra water in before it starts? I don't know how they work so I guess if it's weight based that might not work? Or could you put water in the drawer where things that would be added to a prewash go? I might be thinking too simplistically but maybe it's worth a try to see what happens.

I agree. I notice the smell too. It's really strong to me. I also think people don't wash properly either and wash lights with darks.
I try not to tumble dry and have a heated maiden for when the weather is no good for drying.

Washing on 30 degrees and with laundry capsules if fine for our clothes in the main. Our LG washing machine/dryer is great though IMHO. I do use additional laundry cleanser in the wash by Dettol though which kills germs so that might be why 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I dry outside wherever possible and try to do washing at weekends in winter to get the most out of it drying in daylight hours, then I finish off inside. If I have to dry inside then I use a dehumidifier alongside or heated airer. I don’t like to use the tumble dryer much, only really for towels socks and pants.

My mum does this when she has small load. Apparently it prevents clothes rubbing too much because washing machine just adds enough water for that weight.
But watch out, some washong machines empty before they start in case there was old water.

My washing seems to not dry properly at the moment but it's not got the awful wet dog smell (it makes me gag). I'm being totally stupid, it's fine weather and I won't put the washing out because yesterday I went out and walked through a spiders web stretched across the path. The big old spider was hanging by a thread and I couldn't get it off. I was screeching and flinging heavy t shirts in the hope that it would snap the thread stuck to my hair.
Today I went out to get it in and a new web was across the path, I had get a stick to break through it and there were three big webs with big spiders on my washing line down to the grass. I grabbed the dry washing and ran indoors.
I've washed my summer bedding today ready for putting away- but I can't get it dry. Decking spiders. I hate them.

Some of us live in flats or homes with no room/access for tumble dryers nor have access to outdoor spaces for washing lines. My washing especially in the winter take FOREVER to dry and likely smells the longer it takes -but I have no other option to change it

I think part of the reason my washing stinks is there is old water sitting under the drum and because it uses so little water and no pre wash, this skanky water is used in the wash. The worst program on my machine is the eco setting, it takes 4hrs and the washing comes put smelling as if it has been sat soaking in stale water, which I suspect it has.

Yeah I learned by the weird smell that our old washing machine did not properly drain so had to run drain once and usually just in case did it before washing as well.

Well we live and learn I never knew why my washing machine emptied itself before each wash. It's about 14 years old and I'm dreading having to replace it.

I wash on 60, spin twice and then use a small fan heater under the clothes airer to blow everything dry. Works well and thanks to scent beads everything smells good.

I did try to put things on the line today but it didn’t work!

They have residual water as it's not good for the pump to dry out. I'm fairly sure my old machine used to empty at the start. New one doesn't and it doesn't have a button just for draining unlike the old one. Really annoying. Sometimes I run a rinse at the start, but it's extra time and electricity.

Fan heaters use so much electricity though, probably as much as a dryer.

Yeah but I don’t have a dryer so that’s my solution!

I hate that smell of damp clothing. I have a colleague who smells of it and I can’t stand sitting by them.

I feel like I used to be that colleague. Cringe!

Use powder in your machine, not liquid or pods.

Get a dehumidifier if you can't do a tumble drier.

Space clothes out on the airer (smaller items on the inside, larger on the outside) and turn them all over/move about as they are drying.

Do a high temparature maintenance wash every 4 weeks with only soda crystals in the machine.

Clean the filter every 4 weeks.

Leave the door and powder drawer of your machine open every night when you go to bed.

When the heating is on finish drying your smalls on the radiator.

Put damp shirts and tops on wire coat hangers and hang them off the door frames upstairs if you live in a house (hot air rises).

If you have a tumble drier but are scared of the cost, use an airer for 24 hours then finish off in tumble drier for 10 minutes.

Also do at least one 60 degree wash per week (bedding and towels seems obvious) to help keep your machine clean.

I think washing at 30 doesn’t kill bacteria and then hanging indoors isn’t a great option. However that’s exactly what I do as washing any higher damages the poor quality of clothes available nowadays (I’m looking at you polyester). I do dry clothes on the line when I can but waiting for a dry day than happens to be on my day off isn’t reliable so often have to dry inside. I’ve started opening the windows fully in that room and it seems to help. I don’t have a tumble dryer.

I spend a lot of time on Rightmove (sad, I know). The amount of kitchen photos that show a finished washing machine with the clothes just left in there. That's what makes them smell fausty.

I use daz bio powder now too. Those liquid tabs are total shite.

I've noticed this too with a few of my clothes! May be TMI but I had to stop wearing them when working in hot weather because I would be sweating by the end of the day and I had to wash the items several times to get the smell off. I try avoid buying that materiel now

I wish this was my only problem in life. Who cares?

Leaving clothes in the washing machine for too long after the cycle ends makes them smell musty aswell, I think a lot of busy people do that.
Also I think less and less people are buying sented detergent and conditioner and are using the Aldi / Lidl stuff so they don’t have the same ‘Clean’ smell

I had a friend that worked in a very small crowded office with someone that always smelled of really musty clothes and whose personal hygiene wasn't great either, all the staff complained to the boss, the boss had to have words as it was making the staff vomit. Turns out she only had 3 work outfits , no outside space or a tumble dryer, she would not spend money on heating water and only had the gas fore on low if the temperature went below freezing.

Me because i have to use public transport and have to suffer such unpleasant smells.