The dreaded damp clothes smell and how to remove it

Sweating in your clothes, and the sweat not washing out properly. Remember that common skin bacteria can produce body odour, which may transfer to clothes.[1] Don’t have the time to drop your clothes in the laundry for another cycle? Check out our guide on how to get sweat smells out of clothes.

Wet laundry left in the washing machine for too long. Check out our guide on how to use a washing machine to get the best results for your clothes.

Putting clean laundry away before it is fully dry. Instead of folding your clothes immediately after getting them from the dryer, hang them under the sun. You can also let them air dry for a couple of hours before putting them away.

Check out some simple steps to remove the smell from your washing machine

If you don’t know how to stop clothes from smelling damp when drying indoors, they can build up a damp and musty smell.

To get rid of damp smells, clothes should be washed as quickly as possible. This will also help to prevent sweat stains!

• Wash clothes inside out. Especially if you have been sweating in them! This will also help to protect the colours.

• Wash your clothes on the hottest suitable setting. Double check the care label and wash at the hottest temperature recommended by the manufacturer to help eliminate odours.

• Add a cup of baking soda to your wash. This will soak up any unwanted odours during the wash cycle. If you don’t have baking soda, 2 cups of vinegar will do the job too. After all, vinegar has antimicrobial properties, allowing it to eliminate odour-causing bacteria.[2]

• Include a good fabric conditioner. Using a high quality fabric conditioner such as Comfort Intense Fresh Sky will give your clothes a fresh boost.

• Hang clothes outside to dry. This is the best way to blow away lingering odours, add a fresh, outdoors scent to your clothing, and avoid your clothes smelling damp after drying.

We recommend:

• Crack open a window and let in the fresh air. • Use a dehumidifier to remove the damp air. • Speed up the drying process by giving them a quick once over with a hairdryer.

Once you know how to get rid of damp smells in clothes, make sure they don’t build up again in storage. Putting clothes that aren’t fully dry away in a drawer or wardrobe will trap moisture in the fabric and lead to damp smells. So, wait until they’re fully dry first.

Another quick fix is to mix your favourite essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Spritz the solution all over the garment and let it air dry before putting it away or wearing it.

If there is water in the air, it will take longer for your clothes to dry. Moreover, garments can smell damp because of excess moisture in the atmosphere. So, we recommend using a dehumidifier in the room where you hang your clothes to dry. If you don’t have one, try drying your clothes in an airconditioned room.