Musty clothes smell

[Raindancer411]

Hi all,

Has anyone actually managed to get rid of the musty clothes smell? My wardrobe has really started to smell although I have cleaned the machine and washed them.

Any hints please?

Clothes are in wardrobe and some are stored in open topped plastic tubs so going to have to remove them maybe?

Do you maybe have a problem with damp? Maybe consider getting a mini dehumidifier to stick in the wardrobe and see if that helps

When you wash them, use dettol laundry cleanser as well as biological liquid. Make sure washing is properly dry before putting away and preferably dried as quickly as possible - use a dryer or put heating on etc.

Think this is caused by drying too slowly and/or damp collecting in clothes after they have been dried. If you have any scope to dry clothes outside, increase ventilation and/or add a dehumidifier that may well fix it.

I've also noticed that some clothes (typically heavy jersey fabrics) will not dry fast enough in the winter to avoid the musty smell if they are dried on an indoor rack or even the radiator. The only solution i have found for these is tumble drying if the weather is not suitable for them to go outdoors.

This but I also use a dehumidifier to fully dry clothing quickly and I have those dehumidifier bags flung around my wardrobe, shelves and drawers.

I have had this problem too. I'm getting there with having them very well dried (leave in airing cupboard once folded or ironed before putting them away), and also not having them too jam packed in my cupboard, so that there's some air flow around them. I find this is more of an issue for the clothes folded on shelves than the ones hanging.

I did try dettol cleanser, but it turns out that both my sons (with slightly sensitive skin) are allergic to it. (So don't do what I did and buy 4 massive bottles when it was on offer!!).

Thanks all :) I shall give some things a go. I got some dettol today and did a wash with that

I've had this problem before and there wasn't a damp problem in any of the properties, the clothes were totally dry. It seemed to be once they got this problem it never really went away. More than a few weeks unworn ie out of season and they'd be making the drawer smell again, you could pinpoint the offending item by smelling them all but it would pass first to those items on either side of it and eventually to everything in the drawer. Or items would be fine after washing then a few hours of wearing and the smell would be back. I get rid of things that have gone like this now, I don't find it to be properly curable. I'll try one long full cycle and hot 60°C wash which will sometimes solve the issue (and if it's wrecked it's wrecked), but if not then it goes. For preventing it I find not leaving things laying around to be worn a second time at some undetermined point in the future helps a lot. Nothing goes back in the cupboard or drawer once it's been worn, outer layers like chunky cardigans which I'm not going to wash after each wear are put on a shelf near the coats. The rest of things are worn for a day then washed regardless of how clean they seem to be, unless I'm going to wear it the very next day. Since I started doing this I haven't had the problem. Bedding and towels washed weekly at 60°C on the quick wash cycle. I don't know if it's because I mainly buy cheaper clothes or if it's due to man made fibres, but I'm finding some things seem to have a lifespan, even if they still look fine. As if they've been dirtied up or sweated on one too many times and they just can't come clean ever again.