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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

443 replies

Oobiedoobiedo · 05/10/2023 17:17

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.

OP posts:
AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 05/10/2023 21:47

@TheClitterati that's the humidity in the air. Also, if you leave clothes out overnight, mist/dew/fog in the morning will get them damp again. Then repeat.

Rewis · 05/10/2023 21:49

At my place clothes dry overnight. In my bf's place it takes 2 days. So if washing has been done at his I'm not surprised if ther is a musk.

sjj28358 · 05/10/2023 21:50

I still wash at 40 and dry outside when I can. Don't have a tumble drier so tend to wait for dry, breezy days for big items and finish denim etc off in the airing cupboard.

Icannoteven · 05/10/2023 21:51

Well, I can only answer for myself but my clothes smell like this because I’m very absent minded and will end up washing my clothes, leaving them in the machine for 3 days, rinse and repeat multiple times before they get dried.

Then, when I finally manage to dry them and remember to take them out of the dryer, I don’t get around to putting them away. They become my floordrobe. Then the dog goes to sleep on them 😬

My partner has recently taking over all laundry duties. I have been relegated to household tasks that can be done in one go/ don’t matter if I get distracted half way through completion.

TheClitterati · 05/10/2023 21:53

Yes I guess it's quite humid here. I'm counting the days I can dry outside.

In winter I mainly use a heated airer and dehumidifier combo. I'm lucky to have a laundry room now. We used to live in a small flat and had to dry clothes in the living room which was also my bedroom 😱😱😱

DevonSeaSwimmer · 05/10/2023 21:55

Burgundylover · 05/10/2023 21:44

I don't smell that musty smell of clothes taking too long to dry very often. It's much more common to smell strong fabric conditioner which is very unpleasant.

Someone kindly gave me some hand-me-downs for the DC. The smell of the fabric conditioner was so strong that I had to wash the clothes three times to even begin to stop coughing and having a headache around them. I wouldn't say I've got a particularly sensitive sense of smell either. I find air fresheners and someone wearing too much perfume or aftershave is similarly cough and headache inducing.

Bunnycat101 · 05/10/2023 21:56

Yup it’s the drying. We’ve had it before when our sheets have got tangled in the tumble dryer so have patches that haven’t dried properly ( it also not realised until I’ve made the bed). You can smell it really clearly on the affected bits and then it’s the toss up of rewash and re-make the bed or hope the mustiness will go. My daughter had school swimming recently and dumped her cardigan and tights with the wet stuff and by the time I got the things back in the evening the cardigan smelt really horrible but weirdly the swimming stuff itself was fine.

SeenYourArse · 05/10/2023 21:57

stayathomer · 05/10/2023 17:30

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!!)

Wonder if you just don’t have a good one? I have a Samsung one and it’s great, dries a full 8kg washer load in about an hour which costs less than 80p on my smart meter. It also warms up the utility room so much that it also dries the non tumble safe stuff on the maiden in there if I close the door at the same time 👌🏼

Hemera2023 · 05/10/2023 21:58

If you are struggling to dry washing get a dehumidifier!!!

We got a dehumidifier and it works a treat. Clothes on a clothes horse in a small room and the door shut. It wasn’t too expensive (about £80) and is very cheap to run. I have a tumble dryer but don’t use it anymore.

AngeloMysterioso · 05/10/2023 22:00

We don’t have a tumble drier so have to use a heated airer and a dehumidifier. We used to just hang the stuff on clothes horses/radiators but we soon had a damp problem with clothes and shoes going mouldy. This way I can do a load of laundry in the evening, hang it on the airer overnight, put the dehumidifier underneath and it’s dry to put away in the morning. Stuff like towels and bedsheets we will take to the launderette.
I’ve also found putting liquid detergent in a dispenser in the drum works better than capsules, and add a cup of white vinegar in the pre-wash part of the drawer. Machine is always lovely and clean.

WhatToDooooooooo · 05/10/2023 22:12

I agree with what everyone is saying about cold washes, not enough ventilation and too much humidity when drying, but I also want to point out the scourge of wash-in fabric softener. I avoid this stuff like the plague and my washing only smells if I forget it in the machine but everyone I know who uses it has stinky musty washing plus the overpowering chemical smell of the fabric softener.

Towels are the worst for this (too much fabric softener will make them stink even after tumble drying. Plus it gums up the machine.

FantasticElasticBand · 05/10/2023 22:13

Clean the washing machine -
(hot cycle &/or special detergent), including door seal, drawer, drawer cavity & the bottom filter.

Wash powder -
cheap n cheerful is fine. Use less - use a measure so you don’t overdo. Don’t bother with conditioner.

Silk/wool -
use a wool wash & the lowest temp setting your machine has. Dry items flat.

To dry:
Spin drier -
use net laundry bags so woolies etc… don’t stretch out.
Hang/lay on rack. Pull out arms/legs/cuffs etc…. Easier for ironing (or not).

& a dehumidifier. Shut windows & door to get best effect.

I only use the tumble in an emergency. The whole wash/dry cycle takes about 3 bloody days on my machine!

TadpolesInPool · 05/10/2023 22:16

There is also the problem of over filling the washing machine. When at uni a housemate would absolutely ram the washing machine full. He was a large bloke who sweated buckets and then would stuff the machine so full he could barely close the door. His clothes STANK. Unfortunately so did our house when he hung them out to dry.

ditalini · 05/10/2023 22:18

I miss my hot cupboard ☹️. We had to get a new hot water cylinder a couple of years ago and the new one has super duper insulation so the cupboard is no longer warm.

Saves energy but it used to be great for the cold damp months in Spring/Autumn with no heating.

I'm going to investigate a dehumidifier, although we don't have a lot of storage space for the rest of the year when it's not needed.

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 05/10/2023 22:21

Hayley0203 · 05/10/2023 21:35

I've never smelt this on anyone...now I'm worried I smell terrible or something. And I seem to be alone here 😅

Me neither. People have different blind spots.

Lovelymoon · 05/10/2023 22:30

DurhamDurham · 05/10/2023 17:24

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.

Came here to say the exact same thing

fetchacloth · 05/10/2023 22:36

Helenahandkart · 05/10/2023 19:19

If you’re lucky enough to have outside space then washing will dry outside even if the temperature is freezing. The temperature is irrelevant, it’s the humidity that affects the drying.

This is true I've had washing outside in February before now and it's dried when the humidity is low.
However since the end of June the humidity has rarely dropped below 60 percent so the washing has taken ages to dry. The only decent week in this period was the first week in September when we had the heatwave 😕

fetchacloth · 05/10/2023 22:41

Gellhell · 05/10/2023 20:25

We have a couple of days of sunny weather coming up. Time to get washing!

Yup. The washing machine is on already. It's show time 😁

justjeansandanicetop · 05/10/2023 22:54

MintJulia · 05/10/2023 17:27

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.

Sorry to sound ignorant, but could you explain an airing cupboard to me?

I've heard of them but never known anyone who has one.

I think I have just assumed they are the same as a linen cupboard, but from this I'm guessing they are different?

For example, I'm guessing the clothes can't be folded, or they would do damp and not dry. As they are in there to "air out", do you have to hang them up? On a close horse or something?

Also, things don't permanently live in there, like they would a linen cupboard? So they hang up in there for a few days until dry then get put away?

Sounds pretty great.

Is it only big houses that have these?

Shadyboots23 · 05/10/2023 22:56

@justjeansandanicetop I sort of had one in my old home, mine was where the boiler was and it was really warm
The previous owners had fitted it with a rail and some shelves. So if stuff was just a bit damp/cold you could put it on the shelves or hang it up and it dried really quickly
Not a big house, was an ex council one with loads of handy storage though!

Wrongsideofpennines · 05/10/2023 22:57

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 05/10/2023 19:48

I have literally never noticed this. Confused

I was thinking I must be the only one!

MintJulia · 05/10/2023 23:08

An airing cupboard is just the cupboard with the hot water tank or boiler in it. It's warm in there and so usually fitted with pine slatted shelves above that you hang any damp laundry on.
My laundry goes out on the line and then -almost dry-goes into the airing cupboard over night and is dry by morning.
I've not had a house without an airing cupboard, All houses I've been in, old or new, have them.

coffeeaddict77 · 05/10/2023 23:15

MintJulia · 05/10/2023 23:08

An airing cupboard is just the cupboard with the hot water tank or boiler in it. It's warm in there and so usually fitted with pine slatted shelves above that you hang any damp laundry on.
My laundry goes out on the line and then -almost dry-goes into the airing cupboard over night and is dry by morning.
I've not had a house without an airing cupboard, All houses I've been in, old or new, have them.

Most houses have combi boilers now though rather than a hot water tank and they aren't in an airing cupboard.

Tinybrother · 05/10/2023 23:21

Loads of people don’t have airing cupboards. I have had one in every house, but I can conceive of people not having them. There hasn’t been one in any flat I’ve lived in - they have all had combi boilers in the kitchen.

saythatagaintome · 06/10/2023 00:58

clothes should be placed to dry immediately after being washed. Whether that’s in a dryer or air dried on a line/rack.

I use a dryer and rack. Really depends.

there’s a couple of reasons clothes stink:

1 when they are left to sit in a washing drum (or basket) for hours and hours.

2 cold wash cycle and then left to dry in a damp home.