How do you keep your clean laundry smelling fresh?

Question

My clothes get an odor a few days after being washed, and it doesnt matter if i store them in the closet, the dresser or a basket.
Any suggestions?

We cant really hang them out to dry because of my sons allergies, when you hang clothes outside to dry they pull in all the pollen and stuff.. we cant use fabric softner either, Just tide laundry soap. and bounce dryer sheets.

Thanks for everyones suggestions you've all been really helpful, it will be hard to choose a best answer,

We change out filters monthly, and vaccume every other day. i will try the vinager in the washer, and the baking soda in the closets today, thanks again

Answer 1

Try hanging them out to dry outside on a clothesline. I know we have come to the age of the clothes dryer, but I know my mom used to always hang our clothes to dry, and they always smelled fresh, I think its the natural air that makes them smell good.

Answer 2

My wife, who is a whiz at laundry problems, swears by the fabric softener sheets in the dryer. She says the inexpensive store brands work as well the more expensive ones. However, with allergies, these likely are not the answer.

The answer likely lies in your choice of detergent and other cleaning agents.

After much trial and error, my wife will no longer use any detergent but Tide. She is convinced that nothing else works as well, and seeing what she has gotten out of her yard sale finds for our grand kids, I'm convinced too.

She insists on doing whites with bleach, and insists on Clorox brand there.

If you never use bleach in your wash, you risk mildew buiding up in your washing machine. If you don't want to use it with your clothes, then do what another writer suggested, do a cycle with no clothes but with bleach once a month to keep the washer clean. Vinegar may work, but my wife's never used it. We know that the bleach works.

Answer 3

I have this same problem with my machine. Here's what you can do to fix it. Take your clothes out immediately after washing (Mildew sets in as it sits). Now you are probably already doing this step so here are the other steps to make your washing machine stop making your clothes stink. Run a cycle with some baking soda (Hand full) and vinegar (Maybe a Cup) on hot, it will help break down some of the minerals that are stuck in your wash that create that smell. After that make sure you leave you washer machine lid open so it can vent out between washes. If you close it after washes, the water has nowhere to evaporate and it makes you washer stink, therefore making your clothes stink. You probably just have very hard water like me, so if it sits and doesn't evaporate out of the wash, those minerals work there way in. Hope that helps

Answer 4

Are you drying your clothes directly after washing, if your not and leaving them in the washer for hours or the next day is even worse, clothes pick up a nasty odor from sitting before drying, you may have to wash them again and you should also use a static/softener sheet, it leaves a clean scent.

Answer 5

I wash with Gain my family prefers Island Fresh. But since ur son has allergies... have u tried using Arm & Hammers Baking Soda Fridge-N-Freezer boxes cost about 58cents. U open the sides and they are great to absorb odors. My son uses one in his car, because food ordors sometimes happen when he forgets to throw out food/wrapper bags...

Also clothes smelling could mean u have humidity problem in your home. Mold can be growing & u don't notice it. U might want to spring clean the closet, dresser. Put in a cedar deodrizer. When's the last time u vacumn and changed heating/air conditioning filters? They can spread odor and mold.

Answer 6

Maybe there is moisture and no ventilation in your closet. (take care of the source 1st) Are you drying your clothes right away as soon as they are washed? If you let them sit there and than remember later and then dry them (ups! they are going to smell bad. (very unique smell) You should dry all washed clothes the same day within 12 hours. In the event this happens because it happens sometimes than wash them again in cold/cold water, detergent and about 1/5 cup of ammonia. Use extra downy and dry them (use drying sheets also if your budget allows it).

Answer 7

No, no, put your favorite pour in rinse, like Downy, hang them fresh out of the washer on a plastic hanger inside your house. I have an dehumidifier that helps with the drying. Also will cut your drying bill in half, and it holds the smell for a week!

Answer 8

Does someone smoke in the house? That really leaves an odor. You can add vinegar to the wash but if you have done that you might try an organic soap detergent that is much healthier. Try Sun and Earth.

Answer 9

They probably have some bacteria trapped in them (maybe from leaving wet too long at one time). Try adding about 2 cups of white vinegar to the next wash cycle along with your usual soap. The vinegar will neutralize a lot of stinky things and make your laundry smell fresh. And don't worry -- the vinegar smell will rinse out during the rinse cycle.

Answer 10

Place a fresh dryer sheet in your dresser drawers with your clean clothes.