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!

If it helps at all, the smell of Persil liquid (and some others that are strongly scented) makes me gag and, if someone in the house buys it and uses it, it gives me headache. Would much rather walk past / live with someone who uses powder, a clean washing machine, and dries their clothes outside any day of the week.

Everything from our washing machine smelled rank until I stopped using fabric conditioner and started using Dettol Antibacterial Laundry treatment every wash, with a medicine cup of soda crystals added to the pre-wash tray when it's a white load. Together, these keep the tray and everywhere else fresh and clean. I am also diligent about leaving the washing machine door open to let it air and dry - I have a child bumper thing so it doesn't get closed - and I wipe the drum and door seal with antibac spray once a week.

I use liquid in the drum - in a cap - and also those scent pearls. Now our washing smells gorgeous, whether it's line dried, hung to dry in the house, or tumbled. We only tumble dry towels and bed linen on rainy days though. We're not made of money... ;-)

I find it really interesting how differently we all experience smells. I find the smell of washing powder artificial and not very nice. I really dislike the smell of fabric softener, to me it is very unpleasant. I think, because I dislike it, I notice it maybe more than others. If I buy clothes off vinted etc I have to wash them multiple times before I can bear to wear them. I really notice if other people are wearing clothes smelling of fabric conditioner. (Although obviously I recognise this is my issue, so I’m certainly not walking around gaging like the previous poster apparently is whenever she encounters line dried clothes!) I didn’t realise some people react to line dried smells the way I do to artificial fabric conditioner smells.

Also, everyone in our house loves the smell and crisp feel of line dried clothes, and especially line dried bed linen. I like that the wind blows creases out too.

No its definitely not the smell people like, theres something wrong with how youre washing it. So you need to see what it smells like when you FIRST open the door, if it smells like that then, well no matter if you dry it inside or out its guna smell like that i've found. My mams washing has never ever once smelled like that but mine does often and ive tried to figure out why and ive got a newer machine than her, she does do a clean / rinse more than me but ive noticed the main thing is she just literally puts less in the machine, I overload it sometimes and since putting less in it doesnt happen! Agree that powders are better than liquids and tabs to reduce mould as well.

Do you live in a polluted area? I live in the countryside and my washing smells heavenly after it has been line dried. Just put my first set of line dried sheets on the bed this year - a lovely smell heralding that Spring is truly here.

Are you ok hun?
Not everyone smells of mildew all the time, that would be silly.

Fresh air does have a scent. Pollen and UV oxidation, and that post rain earthy smell, perfectly normal for some people to dislike it - I wouldn’t call it a damp smell though.
I love that feeling of slightly cold, crisp, line dried laundry, especially bed linen and towels but equally also like a big pile of warm laundry from the dryer artificially scented when it’s too wet to dry outside.
Both work for me.

Mine always smells lovely when I dry it outside, unless I've forgotten about it and left it in the machine overnight or longer, then it smells damp and even line drying doesn't get rid of the smell, I have to rewash it.

If the weathers right for line drying it shouldn’t smell damp. It should just smell fresh.

I don’t like the smell of line dried washing either. It doesn’t smell fresh at all to me. I live in a coastal town so don’t think it’s my air quality, I’m just broken it seems.

Can I ask why liquid causes this but not washing powder? I always use liquid and usually do 30 or 40. I'm now worried my machine will be mouldy. My clothes all smell normal when I wash them though.

Sunshine is a natural disinfectant and washing really shouldn't smell damp. Not always possible in the UK though!

I gag when people stink and/or their clothing.

Why are you pretending this is a difficult concept to grasp?

Are you habitually argumentative on this forum as a source of entertainment?

Are you triggered because you may have a hygiene issue? If so, I sympathize but the issue can be easily rectified through acknowledgement and advice.

Otherwise, your response is bizarre.

Do you think your opinions or experiences supersede mine? Newsflash! They don't!

Are you, darlin? I didn't state what you typed here so ....??????

I suggest do a cleaning cycle - empty drum, max temp, soda crystals.
Or there are proprietary products you can buy.

Are you ok?

Are you? You seem defensive over damp smelling clothing that others can smell.

Thoughts and prayers x

Either there's something going on with your machine or you're putting it away damp, it really only has to be a tiny bit damp to make that smell. Or, you're leaving in the machine too long. I can't stand even the faintest smell of damp and have been known to put a line dried load in the tumble dryer for five minutes to be certain it's all completely dry before it gets put away.

I seem defensive?

I hate the smell too. To me it’s not a damp smell, but smells like syliva?

My laundry doesn't smell significantly different if I line dry it or tumble dry it. Initially when it comes out of the tumble dryer there is the smell of warm laundry detergent, but that subsides quite quickly and then it just smells of clean laundered clothes in the same way as when the clothes are line dried.

I think there are so many variables as to why some people get a mildew smell from line dried laundry:
It could be that the machine has mildew in it and you bake the mildew smell out when you tumble dry but not when you line dry,
it could be that the air isn't actually dry enough to properly dry the clothes,
it could be that you are leaving the clothes out so long that the dampness comes on later in the day and the laundry isn't 100% dry
It could be over use of fabric softener which often have humectants in them and can retain moisture.

Quite shocked by @PennyThought gagging all day long at the smell of other people's line dried clothes. I presume you don't commute, work in an office, or ever go to a hospital, place of worship, supermarket, school, event etc. It sounds like a really life-limiting issue.

/yes?

What is complicated about what I said?

Why are you all so defensive and strange about me not liking the smell of mildew from some people who line dry their clothing?

How many times do I have to say that I realise, from this post, that some people may not be taking the appropriate steps (like the steps you have mentioned) to avoid the smell of mildew which obviously, myself and the OP @lilybit2025 , have come across?

Yes, I gag at smelly clothes. I presume you like bad smells? That is gross but to each their own? I will not apologise for having standards. I don't lower mine to make others feel better.

I... don't trust your judgement.