Help me with my mouldy smelling clothes..... please

[MyTitsAreBetterThanYours]

Around 5 years ago I put three bin bags full of clothes in my shed. They were all size 10 and I could no longer fit into them but decided to keep them for when I lost weight.

And lo! That day has come! Once more I am a size 10...

Anyway, moving away from that boast... I retrieved my clothes from the shed. They were all still immaculate and in one piece but smelt very musty and mouldy. I put them through a very hot wash with copious amounts of powder etc. Air dried them...and they still smelt. So I repeated the exercise. They still smell.

It's a very distinct mouldy smell although there is no mould on them. So... what can I do? They were not in anyway in air tight bags for the past half a decade and my shed is pretty horrible and damp ish I suppose.

Do I need to bin them?

I wish I knew the answer! I have the same problem but with a pushchair! I don't know how you would do it, but have you tried bicarb? Or maybe wash them in white vinegar? I sprinkled bicarb on the pushchair and hosed it off (appreciate you can't do that with clothes!) and it helped a little! But the pushchair is in the house and I keep getting a waft and its making me sad!

PS your tits will definitely be better than mine as mine are dismal!

Ha - mine are OK

Hmmm, I suppose I could soak them in white vinegar and then try another hot wash.

Nothing quite beats the smell of mould and damp does it?

vinegar
put them on a long wash and put vinegar into the fabric softener compartment.
do an extra spin, so the clothes are as dry as possible before hanging out and dry quickly.

the vinegar smell goes away when the clothes are drying.

hanging out in the sun will help

Thanks.

I shall try the vinegar trick... I take it white vinegar, not malt?

You say copious amounts of powder - but often that can make stuff smell more somehow. Have you tried a half dose of biological powder / gel? Or even just a hot wash with nothing? That's what I used to do with my reusable nappies when they got a bit stinky.

Line drying in the sun always seems to make a difference too.

malt only on dark clothes :o

I was also going to suggest drying outside.

I got rid of a smoky smell from something I bought on eBay by leaving itonthe line outside for three weeks. Tried allthe above solutions this was the only thingthat worked!