Key Steps
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Wash clothes ASAP, especially if you get sweaty or wet while wearing them.
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Wash clothes inside out to give them a deeper clean.
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Add a cup of baking soda or 2 cups of vinegar to your wash cycle to shift odours.
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Don’t forget to clean your washing machine too!
There is nothing worse than picking out your favourite outfit only to discover it has a musty damp clothes smell lingering. Don’t panic, we have an easy guide for how to get damp smells out of clothes, and prevent them in the future.
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What causes clothes to smell damp after drying?
There are a few reasons you could end up with damp smelling clothes, including:
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1
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.
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2
Wet laundry was left in the washing machine for too long.
Clothes can also smell damp when you leave them too long in the dryer. As such, remember to take them out as soon as the washing and drying cycle ends. Check out our guide on how to use a washing machine to get the best results for your clothes.
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3
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.
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4
Your washing machine is due for a deep clean
Check out some simple steps to remove the smell from your washing machine
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5
Inadequate drying.
If you don’t know how to stop clothes from smelling damp when drying indoors, they can build up a damp and musty smell.
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Top tips for how to get rid of damp smell in clothes
If you want to get the damp smell out of clothes and prevent it from building up in the first place, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few simple tips and tricks for how to stop clothes smelling damp:
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1
Wash damp or sweaty clothes as soon as you can.
To get rid of damp smells, clothes should be washed as quickly as possible. This will also help to prevent sweat stains!
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Try some washing machine tips and tricks for how to get damp smells out of clothes:
• Wash clothes inside out. Especially if you have been sweating in them! This will also help to protect the colours.
• Wash your clothes in the hottest suitable setting. Double check the clothing 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.
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On cold or wet days, you may wonder how to stop clothes smelling damp when drying indoors.
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.
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Never hang damp clothes in the wardrobe.
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.
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Spray with essential oil.
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.
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Use a dehumidifier.
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.
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How to make your clothes smell good?
Now that you know how to deal with clothes that smell bad after washing or drying indoors, let’s look at some ways to make your garments have that newly cleaned scent:
Know what the clothing care symbols mean
Do you check the clothing care symbols before throwing anything into your washing machine? If you haven’t been doing this, then it’s high time you do. This way, you can get the damp smell out of clothes for good.
Remember to review the appropriate washing temperature for specific clothes. Also, you should check if the garment can be tumble dried or should be line dried only.
Understand the washing machine settings
Did you know that there’s a proper way to do laundry? Along the same vein, there are ideal washing machine settings for specific types of clothes. You need to carefully separate your clothes before washing them to avoid problems like colour bleeding, shrinking and even smelling damp. Also, don’t forget to review what washing machine symbols mean to ensure that you’re using the right settings.
Use the right amount of detergent
Adding too much detergent will leave a sticky residue on your clothes that may also cause mould to develop. As such, read the detergent instructions to ensure that you’re using just the right amount for the load of clothes you’re washing.
So, with our simple guide you have all the tips and tricks you need for how to remove the damp smell from clothes with ease.
References:
1. Lam, T. H., Verzotto, D., Brahma, P., Ng, A. H. Q., Hu, P., Schnell, D., Tiesman, J. P., Kong, R., Ton, T. M. U., Li, J., Ong, Lu, Y., Swaile, D. F., Liu, P., Liu, J., & Nagarajan, N. (2018). Understanding the microbial basis of body odor in pre-pubescent children and teenagers. Microbiome, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-018-0588-z
2. Zinn, M., & Bockmühl, D. P. (2020). Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures. BMC Microbiology, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-01948-8
Frequently asked questions about damp smells on clothes
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What can I spray on my clothes to stop them from smelling damp?
You can add about two tablespoons of Comfort fabric conditioner to a cup of water inside a spray bottle. Shake the bottle, then spray the solution on your clothes. Remember to read our guide on using fabric conditioner to ensure that you won’t damage your clothes while following this tip. -
Why do my clothes still smell damp?
As we’ve mentioned, when clothes do not dry properly, the excess moisture gives off a damp smell. So, we recommend following our tips to ensure that your clothes will dry completely and smell good. -
What does dampness smell like?
Dampness has a musty, stale smell. Some say that it is similar to the decaying smell inside a dark basement. -
How do you neutralise damp smell?
The acetic acid in vinegar kills odour-causing bacteria, effectively neutralising the damp smell in clothes and on various surfaces. When washing your clothes, simply add about half a cup of white vinegar to your regular cycle. Doing so will prevent your clothes from smelling musty even when you’re drying them indoors. -
How do you remove damp smell from clothes without washing?
If you don’t have time to remove damp smell from clothes, you can use a quick fix. Pour equal parts water and fabric conditioner into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto your clothes and iron them.
