Polyester clothes smell of damp after washing

[LadyDanburysHat]

I need some help, DS1 has a polyester polo shirt as his work uniform, and works in a hot environment. After washing they smell like they have been left wet at the bottom of a laundry basket for days. How can we fix this? It is awful for him to wear them smelling like that.

Try a laundry sanitiser
Can you dry outside?

Also do you use powder or liquid detergent?
I find powder is better than liquid/pods

Have you tried sports wash? I have some thermal base layers that really stink after washing some times and this resets it.

Powder detergent - personally I think biological is better at breaking down smells.

Are you sure the smell isn't there before washing? Is Chuck some white vinegar in the drum and make sure you are washing it enough.

How are you drying? Hang on hangars with enough space for airflow around shower cubicle or window if indoors.

Thanks for the responses. So it does smell before washing, but not that kind of smell. More a body odour. I use powder, and everything is line dried at the moment.

I will try vinegar first as I have that in. I will also get some sports wash.

Washing in bicarbonate of soda is also good for removing smells I tend to wash sports kit in it then wash as normal.

A spoonful of Napisan (find it by the baby stuff in the supermarket) works on our workout kit. Maybe give it a couple of rinses to get rid of any residual soap (you'll be able to tell if there are lots of bubbles in the machine.

You can get spray bottles of white vinegar in the laundry aisle. Easy to spray on the armpits of tops as your putting them in the washer. I also agree that bio powder is better than non bio.

@SmallestInTheClass I've been looking for Napisan to clean my washable make up removed pads, and can't find it anywhere. I think an extra rinse might help too.

I also have plenty of bicarb so can try that too.

@LadyDanburysHat try Wilko it's the only place I can find it.

Thanks @mommybear1 I heard that Home Bargains had it, but I couldn't find it there.

Have you tried soda crystals (not bicarb)? I throw a fistful in with the powder/tablet. Very inexpensive so maybe worth a try?

I'm willing to try anything so soda crystals can be added to the shopping list too.

I agree about white vinegar.

Also are you washing at the max temperature as given on the labels

Soak the shirt with soda crystals and some disinfectant (not a dettoly smelly one) before washing. Don't use fabric conditioner

Hot wash and powder. Add an anti-bac additive too.

@ILoveShula good point about the fab con, he has a lot of sports kit and always washes it on synthetic cycle with no fab con, so should do the same with his uniform.

I get Napisan in the larger Tesco or in their online shop. It isn't always easy to find, sometimes with laundry stuff, sometimes with the baby stuff.