Did you just wash and dry your favorite shirt? You’re happy to have it fresh and clean again, but it smells musty. Why does that happen? Read on to find out more. That freshly-dried shirt has an earthy smell even though it no longer smells like sweat or body odor. What gives this garment its particular aroma is a blend of volatile compounds that are released from the fabric when it’s heated by the hot air inside the dryer. If you want to avoid that musty smell after drying your clothes, read on for some useful tips.
Why Do My Clothes Smell After Drying?
It is a very normal phenomenon that your clothes smell after drying. This is because, there are many microbes present in our clothes which transform clothes from from one state to another when it dries. These microbes are present in all kinds of dryers and are not harmful to health. All these smell will loose their smell once you wear the clothes. But if your dryer is not drying the clothes completely, then there is a problem with the dryer. You should check the temperature settings of your dryer and also the condition of your clothes before putting it in the dryer.
What Causes The Smell After Drying?
1. Microbes
The most common cause of the musty odor is microbes. When clothes are dried in a dryer, they are exposed to hot air which causes the growth of microbes (bacteria) on clothes. These microbes are a natural part of our environment and they live on all the surfaces around us. They thrive in moist places, such as your laundry room, where they feed on the moisture in your laundry and release chemicals that produce an odor. This is why it’s important to dry your clothes on a drying rack instead of inside a dryer; the heat from the dryer encourages bacteria to grow.
2. Fabric softener
Fabric softeners are another cause of musty smells in your clothes. Fabric softeners coat your clothes with chemicals that make them feel softer. Unfortunately, they also leave behind a residue on your clothes that attracts bacteria and can produce a musty smell.
3. Detergent
Detergents contain chemicals that can react with the minerals in water to create a musty smell. If you use a detergent that is too strong for the type of water you have (hard or soft), it can create unwanted minerals in your washing machine and leave a musty smell behind when the water evaporates from your fabrics during the drying process.
4. Poorly ventilated dryer
If you use an older, poorly ventilated dryer, it may not be able to remove all of the moisture from your clothes because it doesn’t have enough power to run for an extended period of time at a high temperature, which is necessary for removing moisture from your laundry load. This can cause lingering odors in your clothing after drying because there is still moisture trapped inside the fabric fibers when they are heated by hot air inside the dryer; this causes microbes to grow and release their chemicals into the air around them, causing them to smell bad when they cool down again after being dried in the dryer.
How To Make Your Clothes Smell Better After Drying
1. Use a drying rack instead of the dryer
If you’re having a problem with musty smells in your clothes after drying, try hanging them on a drying rack to dry instead of using the dryer. Drying racks are easy to use and they allow air to circulate around your clothes while they dry, which helps to reduce the growth of microbes. They also force you to separate your laundry into loads so that you don’t overheat one load and cause odors in all of your clothing.
2. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle
If you still have problems with musty smells after hanging your clothes on a drying rack or line outside, try adding vinegar to the rinse cycle when washing and drying them next time. Vinegar is an excellent cleaning product that can help remove any residue left behind by fabric softeners, detergents or other chemicals used in the washing process. Just add two cups of white vinegar to the rinse cycle when washing your clothes next time and it should help remove any unpleasant odors from your clothing after they are dried.
3. Clean your washing machine
If you still have problems with musty smells after following the above tips, you may have a problem with your washing machine itself. Washing machines are a breeding ground for microbes because they are designed to hold water and provide the perfect environment for microbes to thrive in. If you have a musty smell coming from your clothes after drying that doesn’t go away even after using vinegar in the rinse cycle, consider cleaning your washing machine to remove all of the residue left behind by fabric softeners, detergents and other chemicals used in the washing process.
4. Clean or replace clothing that is stained or damaged
If your clothing still smells bad after following these tips, it may be time to throw it away if it’s stained or damaged beyond repair; otherwise, consider keeping them in an airtight storage container until you can get them cleaned professionally to remove any bacteria or mold spores from them before putting them back into circulation around your home again.
5. Don’t overheat your clothes in the dryer
Overheating your clothes in the dryer can cause a musty smell to develop, so don’t use high heat when drying your clothes. Drying your clothes at a lower temperature should help prevent any odors from developing inside them.
6. Wash and dry delicates separately from other clothing
If you have problems with musty smells on clothing that aren’t caused by over-drying or overheating, consider washing and drying delicates separately from other clothing in your home to avoid any problems with bacteria or mold spores that can cling to those types of clothing after they are washed. Delicate fabrics like silk, lace, and wool are prone to absorbing odors more easily than other fabrics and they can also be damaged by harsh chemicals used in the washing process if you don’t treat them gently. Washing these types of fabrics alone may help reduce the risk of odors developing after they are washed and dried.
Tips To Make Your Clothes Smell Great After Drying
1. Use an anti-static dryer sheet
Using an anti-static dryer sheet after drying your clothes can help reduce the risk of musty odors developing on them later. These sheets help collect any loose particles left behind by the drying process, which may otherwise have a chance to develop bacteria or mold spores on them after they are put away in your closet.
2. Use a fabric softener sheet
Using a fabric softener sheet after drying your clothes can help reduce the risk of musty odors developing on them later as well. Fabric softeners can help reduce static cling and the buildup of lint in your dryer, which may otherwise have a chance to develop bacteria or mold spores on them after they are put away in your closet.
3. Avoid using too much detergent when washing your clothes
Overusing detergent when washing your clothes can leave residue behind that may attract bacteria or mold spores and cause musty odors to develop on those fabrics later, so consider using less detergent than you normally would when washing your laundry to reduce this risk.
4. Wash clothes in cold water as much as possible
Washing your clothes in cold water can help reduce the risk of musty odors developing on them later, so try to wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. Washing in cold water will help reduce the risk of mold and bacteria from growing on your clothing, which may otherwise have a chance to develop bacteria or mold spores on them after they are put away in your closet.
The Final Words
Drying your clothes releases a number of volatile compounds that create their specific aroma. The same compounds also contribute to a musty smell. When you use the right amount of detergent, use the gentle cycle, and air out your clothes, you can prevent this from happening.
