Checklist when something smells

Short answer: Check whether the smell is in the fabric or in the machine. Wash once more at forty degrees first, then run the machine empty at ninety if the smell stays.

Find out where the smell comes from

A smell in clothes can have two sources. Either it sits in the fabric from wear, or it comes from the machine that was meant to clean them. It is worth working out which before you rewash everything. If only a few pieces smell, it is usually wear. If most things smell, it is more often the machine.

Wash once more first

One more wash removes most smells that come from wear. Wash the piece again at forty degrees, and do not overfill the machine, so the water can reach everything. An overfull machine rinses poorly, leaving sweat and soap in the fabric. See bamboo underwear for women.

Do not wait too long to wash

Clothes left damp and worn in a laundry basket for days pick up a smell that is harder to shift. If you are not washing straight away, let them dry before they go in the basket. This applies especially to workout clothes and socks, which are often damp when you take them off.

Check the machine if the smell stays

If all your laundry keeps smelling, the problem is in the machine, not the clothes. Over time a film of soap and grease builds up inside, especially with frequent low temperature washes. That film gives off a smell that settles in the clothes at every wash. See socks for women.

Clean the machine at ninety degrees

Run the machine empty at ninety degrees without detergent. It removes the film of soap and grease that causes the smell. Afterwards, leave the door open so the inside can dry fully. Then wash the clothes that smelled once more.

Do not use too much detergent

It may seem logical to use more detergent when clothes smell. But too much soap does not rinse out and stays in both fabric and machine. That can cause the very smell you are trying to get rid of. Follow the dose on the pack, and choose an extra rinse over an extra scoop.

Dry fully before putting away

Half-dry clothes in a closed drawer smell within a day. This applies especially to thicker pieces, which dry slowly at seams and cuffs. Feel the edges before you fold anything. If it feels cool and slightly damp, let it hang a little longer. See bamboo hoodies for women.

Smell from storage

A smell can also come from where the clothes are kept. A drawer or wardrobe without air can give everything inside a stale smell. Air it out now and then, and put away only clothes that are fully dry and clean. That smell only goes with a fresh wash.

Frequently asked questions

What do you do when clothes smell after washing

Wash them once more at forty degrees. If the smell stays, the problem is probably in the machine rather than the clothes.

How do you clean the washing machine

Run it empty at ninety degrees without detergent. That removes the film of soap and grease that causes the smell.

Can a smell come from storage

Yes. Half-dry clothes put in a closed drawer smell within a day, and the smell only goes with a fresh wash.