O/T Washing and drying clothes

[torch2010]

Hello. Wondering if anyone can help me. I live in a small house that has no room for a tumble dryer. I wash my clothes at home and then take them to the laundrette to dry them.

The problem I am having is when they come out of the dryer they smell funny, I can't ever determine what they smell like, just 'not right'

Is there anything I can add at drying time to make them smell nicer?

 

[MindUtopia]

It could be there is just mold or mildew growing in the dryer. This happens sometimes. It could also just be that whoever else uses the dryer, as it's public, smells bad and they aren't well-cleaned. We don't have a dryer either, just dry everything on a clothes rack or over the heater in our bedroom. It takes a day or two in the winter, but everything still smells great from the wash, so I don't mind.

 

[maggie111]

Can you use some dryer sheets like bounce?

It sounds like your washing machine might have some must in it and be making your clothes smell. Run your washing machine on empty through a 90 degree boil wash with a bit of washing powder or white vinegar. Make sure for the next few washes all your clothes get washed on the hottest wash they can and that should hopefully get rid of any smells.

If that doesn't, it could be the laundrette has musty machines and I'd give the machine a good clean before I put my clothes in.

As an aside, this is easily the favourite thing in my house!!! https://www.lakeland.co.uk/2180/Hangaway

I hang the clothes on it when wet, by a radiator - clothes dry completely without creasing so I hardly ever do ironing now! (Just work shirts). Packs away nicely when you want the room too.

Ironically I bought it as a stand for clothes when I iron and now I don't have to bother! I've had mine for 5 years now and it's still fab.

 

[MummyMana]

It could be because they're hanging around with no air getting to them between when you wash them and dry them, if you leave a basket of damp washing for a while it smells funny, how long does it take to get them to the laundrette?

 

[maggie111]

It could be because they're hanging around with no air getting to them between when you wash them and dry them, if you leave a basket of damp washing for a while it smells funny, how long does it take to get them to the laundrette?

So true, they've really got to get dried the day they get washed or I wash mine again.

 

[torch2010]

They are washed and dried the same day. I get up early and wash, normally 3 loads and then straight to get them dried x

 

[MummyMana]

I've left mine for less than a day before and they've started to smell :s

 

[RKW]

My washer dryer smells when I put it on dry, maybe try just a dryer and not a washer dryer? Or dry clothes at home in an airing cupboard, over radiators or on a clothes horse over the bath? Xx

 

[Zebra2023]

I had this problem before, it wasn't mould as my washer and dryer are new. They just need to be aired quite a bit, I find tumble dryer sheets help a lot as well.

 

[ellismum]

Why not invest in a dehumidifier and dry at home? Ours dries clothes in no time and handy for keeping the house damp and mould free. The cost pennies to run and clothes never smell as they are aired and dried quickly.

 

[lucy_x]

my tumble dryer makes my clothes stink horrible, not moldy or anything just not a nice washing powder smell, im hoping its just cause its fairly new and will stop soon, although now i pop a hanky with essential oils in and that makes them smell lovely!

 

[Abz1982]

I've found that if the clothes get too HOT, they get a funny smell as they are in a way burning. Ive a new dryer inside so I am drying them and then checking them and just do them till they are 'just' dry, not bone dry.

 

[Redhead84]

It could be any number of things, most of which have been mentioned already, but I agree with the pp that it could be imply that the clothes are getting too hot inthe big dryers at the laundrette.

We used to go to one when we lived in rural Cumbria and the heat they generate is way above that of a domestic tumble dryer. We had to make sure we turned the setting down on the laundrette dryer or the clothes would be frazzled within about 8 minutes!

 

[Abz1982]

It could be any number of things, most of which have been mentioned already, but I agree with the pp that it could be imply that the clothes are getting too hot inthe big dryers at the laundrette.

We used to go to one when we lived in rural Cumbria and the heat they generate is way above that of a domestic tumble dryer. We had to make sure we turned the setting down on the laundrette dryer or the clothes would be frazzled within about 8 minutes!

Yes, round here the laundrettes use gas dryers - whatever the difference it. They are super fast and hot!