If you don’t have a tumble dryer, then air-drying your laundry is the only option, but it can leave your clothes smelling musty. A clothes expert has shared a simple tip to prevent the odour.
If you’ve ever noticed a musty smell on your clean laundry after air-drying it, you’re not alone – and it’s not something you have to put up with.
Nicola Barker, Head of Buying at Suit Direct, has shared a simple trick to prevent this unpleasant odour developing on your laundry.
“Add half a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle,” Barker suggested to Express.co.uk, making clear it’s not to go in the washing machine at the beginning of the wash.
“This natural deodoriser can help prevent musty smells from developing during the drying process,” she explained.
For those concerned that the smell of vinegar may linger, Barker reassured that the white vinegar scent naturally disappears as clothes dry, leaving them smelling fresh and odour-free.
Barker also emphasised the importance of the way you hang clothes on a clothes horse; it’s best not to overload the clothes horse so that each item has the ability to dry properly.
If you do overcrowd the clothes horse, clothes are going to take much longer to dry, and the risk of a musty odour increases.
She recommended: “Consider placing it near a good dehumidifier, which will draw excess moisture from the air.”
The use of a dehumidifier will also help to remove any musty smells, commonly found in damp and humid spaces.
While it might be tempting to put away partially damp clothes, Barker strongly advises against it.
“If there’s even a hint of dampness or that musty smell, your clothing isn’t fully dry. Storing partially damp clothes is the fastest way to develop mould and persistent odours that are difficult to remove.”
Finally, Barker warned against placing clothes on radiators around the house, even if it seems tempting.
“While it might seem like a quick way to get laundry dry, it can increase the amount of moisture in the air, which can cause damp and mould,” she explained.
