Trousers smell when wet

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

I bought some stuff from a charity shop today and stuck it on a 40 wash when I got home. All fine and well except one on the pairs of trousers smell funny as they are drying. It’s like an ashtray smell but not really. They trousers didn’t smell smokey before I washed them and the parts that have dried already smell fine. It’s just the wet bits that smell horrible - It’s very odd.

The trousers are made of a really soft fabric and feel almost suede like to touch. That was the reason I liked them so much in the first place. I’m thinking the smell might be to do with the fabric, but now my second worry is that if I wear them and it rains would I stink like that if they get wet. Anyone had anything similar happen?

Wash them at 60 (a one off should be OK), dry them, put them in a bag in the freezer for about a week. Then wash again.

What fabric does the label say?

I would cut my losses on smelly charity shop trousers ..ugh!

You could try using dettol antibacterial laundry cleanser. It works well on smelly gym kit etc

It could just be the fabric -,I have thermal tights and they smell foisty when wet but absolutely fine when dry!

Unstoppables are pretty good at leaving a long lasting nice smell - or Lidl fabric conditioner

Vinegar and baking soda - might help

I had a pair of trousers like that. They were a silk-crepe mix and smelt of wet Labradors when wet. Fine when dry though! Most odd. They didn't smell when it rained luckily.

Ok the trousers are dry now and smell okish. Maybe a very, very faint ashtray smell in a couple of areas. They also don’t appear to have picked up my washing powder smell at all so I’m thinking it might just be the fabric.

The label is 90% polyester 10% cotton. They feel like suede so I’m guessing they count as polyester suede (faux suede). I think I will rewash them with white vinegar today (as that’s all I currently have in) and see it that lifts the smell. We have rain predicted all afternoon on I would have hung them outside to dry too as I’ve heard that’s also good for shifting lingering smells.

Failing that I will have a look at some of the other suggestions of dettol, freezer and fabric conditioner. I don’t normally use fabric conditioner as I find it gums up my tumble dryer but I suppose it would be handy to have in for the occasional use.

I don’t mind cutting my losses and re-donating them if I have to. They only cost me £4. It would be a shame though as they fit like a glove and are very flattering for my shape.

BigusBumus- my DD had a tyedye top in the summer that had a wet dog/ fox piss smell. It was fine when it was freshly washed but the smell got worse throughout the day as she wore it. I think it was the dye they used rather than the fabric. She loved the top and insisted on wearing it all the time until it ‘mysteriously’ vanished one day.

I would hang them out in the rain, rain was always great for shifting any lingering smells when I used cloth nappies. Gentle on the fabric too! Plus then you will see if they smell in the rain 😄