Why do you hang your washing outside when it always ends up smelling like damp?

[lilybit2025]

Apart from the obvious cost savings compared to using a tumble dryer, I don’t understand why people hang their washing outside because no matter what I do, mine always ends up smelling damp and completely unpleasant!

Mine smells lovely when it's been outside. Perhaps your washing machine is broken.

You need to run a clean rinse through your washer

I only hang washing outside on fine days. It never smells damp and musty.

I agree that the fault probably lies with your washing machine. I only use washing powder, never liquid or tabs, and regularly do a drum clean wash.

If you just do low temperature washes with liquids or tabs your washing machine will develop mould and start to smell.

Are you hanging it properly ? Spread out with as little fold as possible?

Yes always and only in the sun too. I've had many a washing machines and it's always ended up smelling the same - like damp. Maybe that's the smell people like and I don't? To me it doesn't smell like fresh air, just smelly damp

If it smells like damp then you need to either clean your washing machine or let it fully dry outside and/or finish it of for the last few minutes in your dryer.

In normal circumstances, washing smells particularly fresh after drying on a line.

My washing has never smelt damp when it’s been on the line.

If your washing always smells ‘completely unpleasant’, you are doing something wrong 😂

Something about where you live, maybe? That’s not normal.

I despise the smell from hanging washing outside 😫 any time I say this to anyone they think I'm mad. Glad I've found someone who thinks the same!

Mine always smells amazing. Is yours drying thoroughly? Is your washing machine clean?

I’m heading off to add washing powder to the online shop!

We use tabs and often it doesn’t smell wonderful after esp when husband rams everything from the washing basket into a single wash!!

Maybe it's just your house smell.
Do you have damp?
Do you have pets?
Mines never smell damp

Or you’ve got used to the artificially scented smell of dryer conditioner so unscented smells odd to you?

Are you leaving the washing in the machine too long before hanging it out?

Is the washing dry when you take it in? If so then that smell isn't damp it's fresh air!

Even if I take in the washing when still damp and put it on a clothes horse to finish it smells lovely and fresh.

Could be this, but it still shouldn't smell damp, if it's been washed in a working machine with detergent and line dried until completely dry. At worst it should smell of nothing (or grass or BBQs or whatever your garden smells of)

It’s probably a bit damp when you bring it in still. It’s too humid most of the time to get it properly dry outside; the moisture in the air means that there’s still dampness in the fabric even if it feels fine. Finishing it off in the dryer would likely work if you want to give it a shot.

I also do not hang clothes outside as we do not like the smell either. Its not damp but its unpleasant, maybe its an air quality thing?

You are not alone.

Mine doesn’t. Check your washing machine.

I love the smell of clothes/bedding that have been dried outside. The smell of the first wash load of spring is amazing after six months of machine dried laundry.

It must be one of those smells that people perceive differently.

I think this may be a city air thing? I hate the smell of washing from the line - it smells stale. But when I use the dryer or heated rails my washing smells great.

Too many clothes in that wash? Too low temp? Non-bio detergent on very smelly clothes? Washing machine door staying shut for ages after wash finishes? Honestly it doesn’t make sense for clothes to smell damp after air drying in the sun

I do 10+ loads a week, don't have a dryer and none of our stuff ever smells anything but lovely! Here's what I would do:

1. Buy some washing machine cleaning crystals and run them through your machine on a hot wash.
2. Clean the rubber seals inside the machine and around the washing machine door.
3. Make sure your clothes aren't already smelling musty before you wash them, and if they are, choose a hot wash.
4. Use washing powder rather than liquitabs.
5. Add a scoop of Vanish powder to each wash.
6. Make sure the washing is properly dry before bringing it in.
7. If you're hanging clothes up to dry inside, ensure you have a window open, and the room is warm enough that they dry within 24 hours, otherwise they will smell damp and need rewashing. I also add a splash of Lenor Outdoorable if I have to dry stuff inside.

I’m another who doesn’t like the smell of line dried laundry while my husband loves the smell. When he brings the laundry in he separates it and I put mine in the dryer with a tumble dryer sheet to get rid of the ‘fresh air’ smell