Why do my clothes smell and DP's don't? Is it a lycra thing?

[bohemianbint]

I don't mean all the time - its just that we tend not to use the tumble dryer; I hang stuff up on the radiators but DP hangs everything up on rails in the loft. If he dries my clothes in the loft, especially jeans, certain tops and pyjamas they end up minging and have to be washed again which totally negates any greenness of not using the dryer!

Thing is, his stuff doesn't go as rotten as mine, is that because most women's things have lycra in them somewhere? (Although not the jeans, so am stumped with that one.)

Anyone else have the same thing?

No one else has smelly clothes?

Not smelly clean ones, sorry...

Lol...Oh well...

Are you talking about mouldy smells? I get that on sweaty gym kit, esp the dri-fit stuff. I found dabbing a bit of lavender or tea tree oil on the sweaty bits before bunging them in the wash helps. And drying them on radiators or in direct sunlight. I've never had smelly jeans though.

It's not quite mouldy...more sort of musty...and the jeans sometimes smell indescribable. I really don't understand it! WIll have to be firm and make sure DP never hangs my stuff up here. (Bless him, it's good of him to bother and all but it's not a very efficient way of doing it, takes days!)

Thigs that take a really long time to dry start to smell quite musty.
Is it just that his are al lightweight or cotton and so dry faster?

Yes, that's what I meant, musty. Drying heavy stuff in the dark doesn't help (I'm presuming your loft is dark here), especially waistbands and places where there is a double layer. Most of my jeans are hung up outside if it's sunny, with a final blast near a radiator, so I suppose that's why they don't smell.

I think you should keep using your method

Perhaps his stuff is more lightweight - or maybe he's just less fussy than me about such things!

Well, looks like the tumble dryer is going to get used more often then...

No, don't use the tumble drier! How about leaving them on one of those ceiling hanger thingies in a light airy room? Or radiator?

We haven't really got any light airy rooms (Victorian terrace!) so the loft is as good as it gets. I always try to get stuff on the radiator wherever possible - I really don't like to use the tuble dryer, but I'm getting to the point where I'm wondering if a half hour burst is better than re-washing stuff all the time!

On the upside, we are on renewable energy so I feel slightly less guilty about it...

if it takes days for stuff to dry in the loft than they are going musty before they get a chance to dry IYSWIM

you're right - better for a quick blast in the tumble than doing it all twice...

It's possibly that your DH just doesn't notice as much! I tend to stick slow drying things in the tumbler for a wee bit until they have had a head start and are warm, then hand them immediately on my drying rack. They then dry quickly and don't need ironed.

I think pregnancy magnified sense of smell doesn't help!

It was strange I found my clothes all smelt odd when I was pregnant too! Had to change washing powder.

I don't use my tumble dryer anymore and do everything on airer's in front of a radiator, you do need ventilation though so I always crack open the window or things will smell. The loft will make things smell because there's no fresh air in there.

It was the way I knew I was pg second time - EVERYTHING had a smell. My clothes included.

Weird isn't it - I mean, what is the point of heightened sense of smell? As super powers go it's not the one I'd pick, given the choice...

Heightened sense of smell is to stop you eating something dodgy that might harm the fetus.

Aaaaaaaaah - is that what it's for?! How clever. Still a hideous pain in the arse, though...