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.

An interesting theory!

I have this issue too! My house is really old!

I notice this too. Musty smells are strong to me and they're everywhere. I think it stems from people using dryers or hanging their washing indoors rather than hanging up outside - a big problem in the UK where space to hang up washing is very limited. I fight a constant battle with my own washing for this reason and have to manually fluff, have windows open, etc just to keep it from taking too long to dry and going musty

I do wonder how much the nose-blind thing is innate capacity and how much an acquired skill - like the difference between eyesight and observation.
I suspect it’s largely innate but is there any research on the matter?

You can get used to most smells, like smokers not realising they smell of smoke, or people with dogs not realising that their house smells of dogs, or people who wear perfume putting more and more on because they can’t smell it so much as time goes on. It’s not necessarily “nose blind”, just accustomed to the smells in your usual environment.

I can smell that damp washing smell, but I find it much less bothersome than strong fabric conditioner smells, as they give me a headache.

The BO may also be the clothes not the person. If there’s a clothes washing issue, the clothes can sometimes trap BO too. If it’s intermittent, that may be because some materials clean easier than others.

I switched to pods earlier this year as they were on offer, take up less space and are less messy, I could never get rid of the stink on my gym kit, the smell of BO was rank and made me self-conscious. I switched back to powder and haven't smelt it since.

I honestly don't think pods/tablets/liquid work as well.

I just think anything but powder is an expensive gimmick. I keep the (own brand) powder by the washing machine with a scoop in it, it couldn't be easier. For anything stained I use some (own brand) stain remover. Clothes are very clean and smell lovely!

It's very dull but you also need to look after your washing machine. Once a month I do a hot wash with spirit vinegar and bicarb to clean/descale the washing machine, and wipe round the door/seal regularly.

Which actually recommends powder for whites & liquid for colours (because no bleach) but I have to say I disagree & use powder for both, but I do use separate powders.

I haven't noticed anyone smelling of dampness. I wash at 40 or 60 and only put a wash on when I know I'll be there to take out of machine. If it's a dry day I'll hang outside for a few hours but always finish it off in the tumble drier for 30mins with a lenor drying sheet.

For all your laundry questions, has anyone already posted this really interesting thread?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA

I’ve put a load of washing on this morning, span it out extra then immediately hung it to dry next to the dehumidifier. I’ve come home and as soon as I walked in the door all I could smell was damp 😫Can someone please tell me what I need to do. I don’t have a drier and I have a 2 year old so lots of washing to do. Should I use powder? What temp?

I think maybe it's those really scented fabric softeners / pellets that over time make clothes smell musty, and its a smell you cant wash out. I got some second hand baby clothes the other day and they had that horrible sweet musty smell that wouldn't wash out, I had to give them to charity.

I've had this with clothes from vinted and there was no amount of soaking or leaving it out in the sun that would expunge the smell.

My parents’ drains used to get blocked quite often until they changed from powder to liquid laundry detergent so I’ve stuck with liquid.

@Ilovemygingercat is this the first time you've used the dehumidifier recently? The smell has got into ours and it's now multiplying! Not much I can do as I need to use the dehumidifier. I rang the company and there's not much they can do about it. Ironic really since you need them to dry out damp houses but then the mould gets into them and they can't be cleaned thoroughly enough to get rid of it!

I have just pulled the drain hose away from the sink connection and it was full of congealed hair 🤢. That won't have been helping.

Well I've taken issue with the expert already. They state there are no other countries that have a bio/non bio split and bio is completely harmless. I was actually on TV (my only claim to fame!) because I'd reacted so strongly to the new Persil bio when I was a school girl, I was one of many.
And non-bio detergents are absolutely available in the EU as I've bought them, the brand we used to buy was I think Italian. Plus pure soapflakes were also for sale. I hate this whole bio sensitivity thing is a myth rhetoric.

Likely that people aren't putting tumble dryers or heating on as much, perhaps they have a crap washing machine that stinks of mould but can't afford to replace it? Perhaps they just don't give a crap as there's more important things going on? I wish I could see how perfect you are and how perfect you smell, must be awe inspiring!

The weather has been damp but warm for months. Unable to dry outside as too wet unable to put the heating on full whack as too warm. I find some items such as thicker pjs tend to get the smell if not outside on the line or a hot radiator but not much I can do about it?!

Before the advent of combination/ condenser central heating boilers, most houses with central heating would have had a hot water tank in an airing cupboard. The newer boilers heat hot water as it is needed, so no need for a water tank and airing cupboard. We still have an old type bolier and I would be lost without thecairing cupboard. Wehave lived in 8 flats/houses over the last 50 years, and they have all had an airing cupboard. Shame they are no longer built in.

Yes!! I get really extreme headaches in my MIL's house as she uses chemicals for every single thing. Her washing smells brilliant to everyone else but I get a blinding headache whenever she washes one of the kids things when they've stayed over etc. I think some of us are very sensitive to chemicals.

Ironically, my last two washes have both developed "the smell" whilst still drying. They didn't have it when I pulled them out of the machine but smelled like that when I went to fetch them in. They are still damp after eight hours on the line. Humidity in my house is 74% and even higher outside, according to the weather station I got from Lidl.

A dehumidifier is on order...

I was shopping today and actually walked past someone who had this smell really strongly