why do clothes smell when they have been washed and are clean?

Answer 1

are you leaving them in the washing machine for too long before you dry them? that will do it...

Answer 2

This may sound really logical but it all depends on WHAT you are washing & HOW you are washing it!
For instance overloading the washing machine doesn't allow the washing to circulate and the washing powder will not work as effectively.
Similarly using the wrong was programme for the type of clothes doesn't clean clothes as effectively.
Another thing to look at is whether it's certain items of clothes that are "smelly" prior to washing - typical example of this is SOCKS! If this is the case wash socks seperately to other washing and on a slightly higher wash setting.

Another cause for washing to smell is if it is left for a while before drying. If you're using a tumble dryer put the washing in the dryer immediately (or ASAP) after the wash programme has completed - maybe using a tumble dryer fragrance enhancer would help too.

If drying outside the clothes could be taking onboard an aroma from the surrounding area. I.E Nearby factories / car fumes etc.

If using radiators to dry clothes they maybe taking some time to dry and taking in the smells from the household - i.e. cigarette smoke, cooking odours. This can be eliminated with a linen spray before placing clothes in the drawers / wardrobe.

HOPE THIS HELPS

Answer 3

I have recently had the same problem when after washing clothes they still had a strange unpleasant smell to them. My Washing machine was 10 months old and the problem was not getting any better with each wash dispite trying different detergents and fabric softeners....

Here's the solution... you need to run your washing machine on a full wash on its highest temperature (mine was 95 degrees) with no clothes or fabric softener in but DO add detergent. This is also recommended in most washing machine care manuals and should be done 2-3 times a year to clean out the machine and remove the stale foul smells that build-up when using cooler washes.

Worked for me... give it a try!!!

Answer 4

They were not cleaned properly. Rinse your clothes and sanitize them in water with diluted bleach to get rid of perspiration odor or other bacteria. Use only the barest minimal bleach and use it carefully or else the colors of your clothes will fade. Tehn wash them twice in a good amount of washing powder. Do it twice if at all possible. Then let it go through the rinse cycle twice. For the third rinse....add fabric softener for that added clean smell. Make sure the clothes are dried properly also or else they will smell damp and mushy.

Answer 5

Have you tried cleaning your washer, pull the draw out give it a clean in bleach and put your washer on a high temperature cycle with a cup full of vinegar in, I do this regular as it gets rid of limescale and smells etc vinegar is great for cleaning. If clothes stay damp for to long they can start to smell musty. You could try placing tumble dry sheets in between your clothes when they are in the drawers to keep them smelling fresh. You can buy nice smelling water to put in your iron but that can get expensive.

Answer 6

If you're hanging them up to dry and they're too close together or you live in a one bed flat and there isn't much air circulating through the house, this could cause dampness which would make the clothes smell.

Use a good fabric softner and they try and spread the clothes out to dry - put them on hangers and then use door frames to hang them up. Should be fine then.

Answer 7

Possibly they are being left in the washing machine too long after the cycle is finished, rather than hung up. This can cause a mildewy smell with some machines.

Answer 8

You are either living them in the washer to long after the cycle ended or drying them indoors? The washing machine is the perfect place for new bacteria to start cultivating...warm and wet! Remove them straight away and dry them in a dryer or outside if condition are good. If you must dry indoors put near a heat source so they dry quickly.

Answer 9

try cleaning your washing machine out. there is some white powder you can get - put on a cycle with this but no clothes.

Answer 10

sounds like you have left your washed cloths in the machine too long b4 drying or hang your cloths in a badly ventilated room. dry using non-perfumed softerner. run your machine with a cap of chlorine at high temp once a month. this is to remove bacteria.

Answer 11

Our body oils tend to linger in fabrics. Go into a thrift store sometime and take a big whiff. That's the clothes that you smell.