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How to Get Damp Smell Out of Clothes (and Stop Winter Washing Going Musty)

“Nothing ruins a good jumper faster than the faint scent of a wet Tuesday. Perfume won't fix it, and neither will more fabric softener. Treat the cause, which is usually slow drying, and even the old favourites come back.”Her take

Why do clothes smell damp even after washing?

That musty smell usually means clothes stayed wet for too long, either in the machine, on an overcrowded airer or in a damp wardrobe. It often seems to disappear once the item is dry, then returns when you warm it up by wearing it. That's your signal that the cause hasn't gone.

There are three common sources, and it's worth checking them in this order: the washing machine, the way you dry, and where the clothes live. If you only rewash without fixing the source, the smell usually comes back.

How to wash the smell out

Check the care label first, as this method suits cottons, towels and sturdy everyday fabrics. Use the hottest wash the label permits, which for towels and cotton bedding can be 60°C. Wool, silk, viscose and anything containing elastane needs a cooler wash. Heat can shrink wool, fade colour and tire stretch fibres.

A powder detergent is a good choice for smelly loads, because many powders contain a bleaching agent that liquids generally don't. Colour-safe powder is kinder to darks. Don't overfill the drum: clothes need to move, and you should be able to fit your hand in above the load.

• White vinegar: check your machine's handbook first, because some manufacturers warn that repeated use can damage rubber seals and hoses. For an occasional rescue wash only, add about 100ml to the fabric softener drawer. The smell leaves as it dries.
• Bicarbonate of soda: if you prefer it, sprinkle about 4 tablespoons into the drum with the clothes. Use it as an alternative to vinegar rather than combining the two.
• Leave out fabric softener on this wash. It can coat fibres and mask rather than remove the smell.
• Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach, because the combination releases a harmful gas.
• Take the load out as soon as the cycle ends, as damp clothes in a closed drum start the problem again.

How to dry clothes indoors without the musty smell

The aim is simple: get them dry in less than a day. Run an extra spin if the fabric can take it, because every bit of water removed in the machine is water that doesn't need to evaporate in the room. On a dry, breezy day, the washing line beats any indoor setup.

Hang each item with a gap of a few centimetres, and turn clothes around halfway through. Dry them in the smallest room you can close off, with a dehumidifier running, or with an extractor fan on and a window or trickle vent open. Moving air matters as much as heat, so a fan aimed along the airer can help. Avoid draping clothes directly on radiators: it dries one side unevenly, adds a lot of moisture to the room and can scorch delicate fabric.

Thick items take longest. Turn hoodies and jeans inside out, unbutton shirts, and lay jumpers flat on a mesh rack rather than folding them over a rail.

How to clean your washing machine

If several loads smell the same, the machine is the likely culprit. Sniff the detergent drawer and the rubber door seal, and wipe away any dark residue or trapped fluff from the fold of the seal.

Run an empty maintenance wash at 60°C or higher with a powder detergent or a washing machine cleaner, following your machine's handbook. Clean the drawer and the filter too, if the handbook allows. Leave the door and drawer ajar after each wash so the inside can dry.

What about wool coats and dry-clean-only clothes?

Don't put them in the machine. Hang the coat outdoors on a dry, breezy day or by an open window, then steam it lightly from a distance and let it dry fully before you put it away. For a mild smell, a closed bag or box with an open tub of bicarbonate of soda alongside the garment can help overnight. Keep the powder from touching the fabric.

If the smell survives this, take it to a dry cleaner and tell them what you've tried. Visible mould spots, on any fabric, deserve a professional opinion before you wear the piece again.

How to stop your wardrobe making clothes smell

Wardrobes on cold outside walls are the classic culprit in British homes. Pull the wardrobe a few centimetres away from the wall so that air can move behind it, and don't pack the rail tightly. Never put anything away slightly damp, including a coat fresh from the rain: let it dry on a hanger in an airy room first.

Moisture absorbers can help in a small space, but they don't solve a wet wall. If you see condensation or dark patches on the wall behind your clothes, deal with the room first. Otherwise, your freshly washed clothes will simply pick the smell up again.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Hottest wash the label allows, an uncrowded drum, dry within a day with moving air, and fix the machine or wardrobe if the smell keeps coming back.

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