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.

You can smell it, clothes smell musty. I’m surprised people don’t notice it themselves. It’s very obvious when you’re near them.

Must say I have never noticed this. I do notice less people smell like cigarettes than they used to.

So how do you dry the clothes properly to stop them smelling musty?

Most people don’t have tumble dryers and it’s been crap weather, even for most of the summer.

People used to have open fires or radiators but I don’t know anyone with either of these now.

I hate that smell. We are fortunate enough to have a garden so I check the weather the night before, do a load and put it out first thing, sometimes it needs a night in the airing cupboard after. We have three kids so I can’t be letting it al dry indoors but we do have a heated clothes horse incase.
I second the person who said about capsules, they are rubbish. My clothes didn’t smell lovely and fresh (despite being line dried), my washing machine smelt funny and my clothes were properly clean, revert to powder and softener people!

It just puzzles me. why does it puzzle you? Its hard to dry clothes when it's wet. Especially if you're cutting back on electricity

"underfloor heating, and a whole house ventilation system"

I think you've just answered your own question.

Besides, it's not cold enough to justify having the heating on much, if at all yet, where I live. Hence dehumidifiers.

I jumped on the washing capsule train ….. then a few months ago we were on hosptial and I had to run and get some detergent and picked up a bottle of liquid one fairy even on cold wash something or other - no strong smells etc and a bottle of lenor which did have a bit more of a smell.
I discovered just how crap the capsules were at this point 😂
I couldn’t believe the difference in my child’s clothes.
now we are back on liquid.

I am one of these people (and yes it's embarrassing). We are one of growing thousands of people who live in new build flats that have no: space for a dryer, balcony or radiators (most new flat radiators are blower heaters). And there is only one window per flat. And the front door doesn't ventilate to outside - only to an internal corridor.

So yeah, everything stinks.

Aye maybe in Positano

I think if people aren’t using heating because of cost of living then that could very well be the case.

I rented a damp cottage in summer a few years back, the clothes really stank, there was no way to dry them as the cottage owner wouldn’t allow us to put the heating on and it was raining outside. I can’t imagine having to live that way permanently.

This is why I ignore the "wash at 30⁰" bollocks and now use only laundry powder rather than tabs. Everything is washed at 40⁰ here. I think that is better because it is above body temperature so cleans better.

I dry as much as possible outside on the washing line, and I have two airers inside next to the living room radiator and patio doors. I do also have a tumble dryer but only use it very occasionally.

The heating has not come on yet but it usually does sometime in October.

We have a wash room and I’m in tempary accommodation and I can’t physically get my two small children’s and washing down the stairs which when’s when. I’ve eventually got the pushchair and two kids down the dryer and they aren’t done sometimes I have no option but to bring the clothes in knowing they aren’t d try properly I found this there insulting tbh due to a struggle I already have

Washing pods and conditioner gum up the machine with gunge. Add to that too low temperature washing and no wonder clothes get smelly.

Powder and no conditioner is the way to go, but first, do an empty hottest wash with just soda crystals. I was appalled at the amount of dirty grey foam that appeared - had to do it twice.
Haven’t used pods or conditioner since. Just powder and soda crystals in every wash. And less plastic! I used to hate the plastic pod containers anyway - bastard things to open.

Is your machine a Siemens/Bosch, by any chance. I could have written that post about mine. Plus the lack of a pre-wash. It's driving me potty.

Most people don't really understand the chemistry etc around clothes washing, properly airing houses etc.

1. People are encouraged to clean clothes on cold washes, use eco cycles that spin clothes less etc. Colder wetter laundry = water slower to evaporate = musty smell when clothes take too long to dry.

1. Biological detergents require some heat for the enzymes in them to work effectively.

1. Very cool, short cycles that use less energy aren't always that effective = musty smell.

1. A well insulated modern house does not only keep water out, it also keeps it in. More moisture inside the house = clothes slower to dry =musty smell.

I loathe that smell! It smells like off, defrosted garden peas with a soupçon of off cheese (just me? Anyhoo). I live in a teeny tiny bungalow and can't afford a tumbler (though I desperately want one) so I invested in a dehumidifier and when DD is at school I open the window, stick the dehumidifier on and pop the clothes to dry in there. Before that, it was like living in a laundry come Autumn! In the Summer, I get as many loads done as possible from 6am and hang it outside. I'm rambling now lol. But yes, I get what you mean about the smell, its musty and unpleasant.

Washing clothes with luke warm water doesn't help either

😂

I always wonder..., CAN YOU NOT SMELL YOURSELF!?

Well I'm sorry I live in rainy England and can't afford to have my tumble dryer going on all the time 24/7.

You have my sympathy, people who design these type of flats should be forced to live in them.
Do you have room for a dehumidifier? we found ours helpful. It's on wheels so can be tucked away when not in use.

Of course they can. And they may be embarrassed but what else can they do!

Or a dehumidifier.

Agree with this. Heated airer and a dehumidifier gets used at ours as we don't have a tumble d

From mumsnet it seems that lots of people wash all their clothes on the quick wash setting. I’d think that is the main issue!

There’s also the possibility more people have moved to their autumn winter clothes that have been been stored badly so have got damp and a bit smelly, even though they were clean when packed away. The musty smell often isn’t obvious until clothes start getting warm from being on a body.