Musty and moldy smell?
Question:I need to know what will permanently kill the mold and mildew smell in towels and washcloths and what actually causes this to form in the first place. My wife thinks it is because I keep them on a line in our basement, but I disagree since we have a dehumidfier in our basement, and because she has a hair towel that got the same funky smell after it was left in our upstairs bathroom. I think it is because they are left folded on a line, and they can't breathe while drying. Thoughts and suggestions please.
Answers:
If you leave any fabric wet and dry slowly, it will obtain this mildewy smell.
If you leave items in the washing machine for a day or 2 before drying, they have already obtained the smelling process and if dried, will still hold on to that smell.
I suggest wash your clothes with ammonia added to your load - when done, remove immediately and let air circulate your clothes while drying - a dryer or an outdoors clothes line.this will eliminate the smell of mildew - if you have to use your basement for a clothes line, add a fan to direct air circulation to your clothing.
DO NOT let the clothes set in the washer for more than an hour or 2 - that's the culprit if they set for over a day - mildewy/musty smell.
If you wear these clothes that smell mildewy, then everyone will notice - especially if you sweat - then it's downright rancid and people will notice and avoid you.
I still have people at work that hold this smell in their clothes and I can't stress enough - do not let clothes set in a damp situation - if this happens, rewash them and don't forget the ammonia (it softens the water and eliminates odors)
they need to be able to dry in a timely fashion, maybe your wife is right about the clothes line in the basement, i would suggest hanging them for a few hours and then finishing them off in the dryer or getting a clothes line outside.
Wash you towels in hot water with a liquid detergent like Tide or Gain. Use a liquid fabric softener, such as Downy, (April Fresh) & dry the towels immediately in a dryer, not in your basement. If clothing sits in a washer for a few days before being dried, they will pick up a nasty odor. Clothing line dryed in a basement can still smell funky even with a dehumidifier running.
They are not 100% dry when you decide to fold them up and stack them away. Doesn't matter if left on a line or not, they must be dry. Whenever possible get them on an outside line to dry in the sun and get some fresh air in them.not basement stale air. (A world of difference). Her towel is not drying in the bathroom either(as the bathroom is a place of high humidity)
Bleach will kill mold and mildew. Add a cupful to the wash next time and allow to dry fully afterwards.
FYI Your dehumidifier is good for living cooking and breathing, but was not meant for dehumidifying loads of laundry.
a bit of bleach, lemon juice or vinegar and baking soda will freshen your laundry and fight mildew/mold. make sure when drying that is is fully dried and no moisture is left. make sure to use a softener/ dryer sheet.. this could be caused by a number of things. hanging in the basement, (even though you have a de- humidifer), if they sit in the washer any amount of time before you dry them. being put away with moisture left in them so on and so forth. i always put fab sheets in the place where i store my towels too. and treat the whole area with a fab freshener 1 or 2 times a week. good luck!
Maybe your basement is always damp ( dehumidifier or not) & anything you hang down there smells moldy, I'd check to make sure, mold & mildew are bad for your health. Maybe you have leaks down there that you cant see, check it out for your own safety. In the mean time throw your towels in the dryer to dry or if your able, hang them out on the line to dry.
If clothes are left damp, then mold and mildew will set in.Clothes need to have plenty air . The way to rid the mildew/mold. Is expose the towels to the sun, the sun kills of mildew / mold. So hang them outside in the sun, then pour over fresh lemon juice, again expose to the sun. Then wash on a normal wash. With clothes of dry cleaning materials. do the same outside in the sun , add lemon juice and salt, then wipe down with a cold water sponge
The problem may be your washer. My Maytag was giving the laundry, towels and washcloths in particular, a very unpleasant odor that was getting worse and worse. Eventually I figured out how to clean it and the problem could be controlled. I had to periodically clean the lint trap, which is not easy on that model. When the towels get wet the smell gets worse.
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