Keeping spare linen fresh

[Flyingoutofcontrol]

Our spare bedding/towels are kept on a high shelf in the airing cupboard; also in there is a hanging rail for things that need dried quickly (not sure if this is relevant!).

Anyway, for our bedding and towels which are changed regularly, it's not an issue, but for spare bedding/towels which can go 2-3 months without being used it seems that they end up smelling a bit odd. Not manky or pongy, but they don't seem to smell "fresh".

I wash them in non-bio fairy tablets, occasionally with a bit of fabric conditioner for the sheets (never the towels).

How can I stop them losing the fresh smell?

I know that smell - our airing cupboard doesn't have the hot water tank in, and so is just a big cupboard.

It is not 100% effective, but works well enough, I put tumble drier sheets (bounce) in between the layers. They have a fabric conditioner or something in them and smell nice.

I don't think there is much you can do other than that, and if there is I want to know too

how do you dry the stuff? Line-dry and sunshine, or tumble drier, will make them fresh, but draped around the house is not so fresh and I think gives the mould a good start, as they have been damp and at room temperature for a while.

Some people put their empty perfume bottles, with the lids off, among the stored linen, there is just a trace left in the bottle which leaves a trace on the clothes.

Are you sure the washing machine dopesn't need a HOT HOT HOT maintenance wash to remove soap sludge and bacteria?

Wash at 60 degrees for both towels and sheets; line dry in warmer, dry weather, tumble at the moment.

Oh, and sorry, bio tablets are used for our towels (but not for guest towels as my DF who uses them most is allergic).

Def. not the washing machine that's the issue as stuff is fine when it comes out; our sheets etc are fine on a weekly basis - just the guest stuff that sits for a while that's the issue.

don't know then

if you hang damp things in there to dry quickly, is it possible that the damp is getting into the folded things above?

Water vapour is lighter than air so it rises.

Yeah. Think it's probably that as it gets used for times when I need the top that DS has just snottered over or similar!

Think I might invest in sucky bags with tumble drier sheets inside to combat this - also maybe easier to organise cupboard as I can stick a label in so that DH doesn't try to give guests the cleaning towels

Some people fold sheets to fit into pillowcase/s for storage, so storing like this in extra pillowcase or similar, complete with drier sheet, might solve problem. I keep spare bedlinen in a drawer in spare room, no problem, but v. easy to add lavender bag or lining sheets if wished

Lavender bags or sandal wood beads make our spare linen smell nice for ages.

Sandal wood beads? Lavender bags?

I remember these in my gran's linen but I don't think I've seen them for sale recently.

Where did you source yours?