Really works!!!!
I have had a revelation and wanted to share. There were some items that, no matter how I washed or dried them retained a sort of musty unpleasant smell - mainly teen ds clothes but also my favourite hoody had become unwearable.
I googled and came across the idea of putting distilled white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment. I was deeply skeptical, expecting everything to come out stinking of vinegar, but desperate enough to try anything. And it worked!!! Smell completely erased, no vinegar smell, just fresh clean smelling 
Hope this helps someone else!