Taking clothes off the line after drying at home can be both satisfying and frustrating. On one hand, line-dried clothes often have a naturally fresh, airy scent that many people enjoy. The sunlight and breeze can leave garments feeling crisp and clean.
On the other hand, weather conditions, pollution, or nearby odors can sometimes cause clothes to smell odd or musty. Factors like dampness, outdoor allergens, or drying in shaded areas may also affect the final result.
According to www.marthastewart.com, while line drying is eco-friendly and cost-effective, it doesn’t always guarantee consistently fresh-smelling laundry, leading to mixed experiences for many people.
The fresh scent of clean laundry is satisfying, but if your clothes smell stale or mildewy, it may be time to adjust your routine.
Experts suggest cleaning your washing machine and making simple laundry changes to help your garments smell fresh and pleasant after every wash.
*Deodorise your washing machine
If your laundry doesn’t smell as fresh as it used to, your washing machine might need to be cleaned. Always check your washing machine’s use and care guide first for cleaning instructions. It is typically recommended to clean your washing machine at least once per month—or every 30 cycles—to prevent soils and detergent from building up in your washer.
*Wash smaller loads
While you want to aim for full loads to save energy, water, and time, you should never cram more clothes into your machine than it can handle. The trick to loading the washing machine is to leave room for it to agitate. Do not stuff or push clothes in, and leave several inches at the top of the machine. It can help to put in clothes one by one or in small batches instead of one giant armful.
*Don’t let wet clothes sit
Wet clothes that have been left in the washer for too long can develop a mildewy smell if not taken out promptly. While this odor may take a few hours to develop, moving your freshly washed clothes to the dryer immediately to prevent them from smelling like mildew.
*Use fabric softener
Whether you add essential oils to homemade fabric softener or buy an all-natural scented option, the product is a great way to make your clothes smell good. The ingredients in fabric softeners are deposited onto fabric fibers to help fight wrinkles, reduce static, and add a soft touch and fresh scent to your laundry.
*Line-dry clothes outside
Instead of placing clothes in the dryer or hanging them up in your laundry room, try line-drying them outside. Line-drying laundry outdoors (presumably on a clear day with no residual smoke or pollutants in the air) leaves laundry fresh smelling. The clean fragrance will last longer if the clothes are, in fact, clean and not just perfumy from laundry products.
*Treat stains quickly
Treating that leave lingering odors (like sweat) promptly can help your laundry smell better after cleaning. Most importantly, you want to deal with the stain as early as possible. The less time a stain has to soak in, the easier it will be to remove, although there are ways to remove old stains out of clothes as well.
*Use wool dryer balls
Wool dryer balls reduce static cling, speed up drying times, and soften garments. Making wool dryer balls at home gives you the opportunity to infuse them with a natural scent by adding a few drops of essential oils to the wool roving. When you dry your garments with the dryer balls, the scent from the essential oils will give your clothes a fresh smell.
*Store clean laundry properly
Even once clothes are clean and dry, they can still pick up odors if they aren’t stored properly. Keep them smelling fresh by placing dryer sheets or lavender sachets in drawers and closets for a subtle scent. Also, give your clothes room to breathe. Overcrowding storage spaces can lead to stale or musty-smelling clothing.
Always check your washing machine’s use and care guide first for cleaning
instructions.
While you want to aim for full loads to save energy, water, and time, you should never cram more clothes into your machine than it can handle.
Wet clothes that have been left in the washer for too long can develop a mildewy smell if not taken out promptly. Picture: GOOGLE