The smell is in the wardrobe, not in the clothes

Short answer: When clean clothes smell musty, the problem is usually the wardrobe and not the wash. Air it out, wipe it down, and only put clothes in once they are completely dry. That way the smell gets nothing new to cling to.

The smell does not come from the wash

If your clothes smell fresh when they leave the machine and musty after a few days in the wardrobe, the wardrobe is the problem. That is a useful observation, because then you do not have to change detergent or rewash everything. Look at the wardrobe itself instead, and at how the clothes are put away.

Moisture in a closed space

A wardrobe without air exchange holds moisture from the wall and from clothes that were not fully dry when put in. The damp stays in the room, and the smell settles into everything, including bamboo sweat clothes. The longer the door stays shut, the more saturated the air gets, and the stronger it smells when you open it.

Fabric absorbs the smell

Textiles pick up odours from the air within a few days, and bamboo viscose does it as readily as cotton. So it is not a fault in the fabric but something all textiles do. It also affects bamboo socks at the bottom of the drawer, where the air is stillest and fresh air rarely reaches.

How to get rid of it

Empty the wardrobe and wipe it down with vinegar water. Leave it open for a day so air reaches every corner, and put back only completely dry clothes. Do the same with the drawer for bamboo underwear for women. If you deal with the wardrobe first, you rarely need to touch the clothes themselves.

How dry is dry enough

Completely dry means dry at the seams, not just on the flat. Seams and waistbands have several layers of fabric and hold moisture longest. Check by hand, and put clothes away only when even the thick parts are dry. A few more hours on the airer costs almost nothing but can spare you the smell later.

Clothes hung too close

If the wardrobe is packed, air cannot move between the hangers, and moisture stays between the fabrics. Give the clothes some room so there is air between them. The same goes for drawers where things are stacked high. A little less in each drawer gives better air exchange and makes it easier to notice if something starts to smell.

Airing out as a habit

Keeping a wardrobe fresh need not be a chore. Leave the door open after you have aired the room, and look inside now and then. You quickly notice if something smells, before it spreads to the rest. A small routine is easier to keep than a big clear-out once a year.

Does everything need rewashing

Does everything need rewashing once the wardrobe is sorted? A single wash with an extra rinse is usually enough. Wash only the items that really smell, and leave the rest. Hang them until fully dry, and put them back in the cleaned wardrobe only when they are dry all the way through, seams included.

Frequently asked questions

Do scented sachets help

They cover the smell but do not remove the moisture. Solve the moisture problem first by airing out and wiping the wardrobe, and afterwards use a sachet at most as a bonus on top.

Does the clothing need rewashing

A single wash with an extra rinse is enough once the wardrobe is sorted. Wash only what really smells, and hang it until fully dry before it goes back.

How dry should clothes be

Completely dry at the seams, not just on the flat. Seams and waistbands have several layers of fabric and hold moisture longest, so check there before you put clothes away.