After a hard day, nothing compares to slipping into clean beds and inhaling the scent of freshly laundered clothes. It’s one of the basic joys of life. However, occasionally the new scent disappears too quickly as if it were fading with every load. Even though you’ve been using fabric softener and scent enhancers for years, something isn’t quite right.
There are several reasons why your laundry isn’t smelling very nice, but instead, it produces clean garments with an unpleasant smell (at least that’s what we believe). Here, the laundry experts offer their best advice on how to get the most out of every wash and how to give your laundry a significant aroma boost.
Read also: What Not to Wash in Hot Water
Reasons Your Laundry Might Not Smell Fresh
Forgetting to Change the Temperature
Would you rather avoid using bleach? Instead, change the temperature of your water. Consider running a cycle with warm or hot water sometimes if you often wash with cold water to help slow down the buildup of detergent and dirt. Odor-causing microorganisms are killed by hot water.
Not using laundry detergent
While bleach is unsafe for certain fabrics, other chemicals can have comparable antibacterial effects. Since liquid laundry sanitizers eliminate odor-causing bacteria rather than merely masking them, they are a useful tool for deodorizing with every load. However, sometimes things that are already clean just require a little more encouragement. Fabric sanitizing sprays are perfect for a quick refresh in between washes. A sanitizing spray will not only help control bacteria that cause odors, but it may also help you get more wear out of your clothes before they need to be thrown out.
Overloading
It’s easy to overfill the machine, especially if you’re eager to do this specific task. However, one method to undermine your goal of freshness is to overload the machine. The clothes may smell foul if the washing machine is overloaded. This is because it may make it impossible for the load to be properly cleaned. As a general guideline, you should leave roughly 6 inches of space between the top of the drum and the load in a front-loading washing machine.
Letting Wet Clothes Sit
Of course, letting your wet laundry rest before putting it in the dryer also has an obvious odor component. In addition to keeping your laundry smelling good, moving it quickly—whether to the dryer, drying rack, or air drying—will also assist prevent deeply ingrained wrinkles.
Additionally, to avoid the growth of bacteria that cause odors, wash wet clothing, swimming suits, exercise attire, and damp towels as soon as possible.
Avoiding Stain Pretreatment
To prevent them from spreading, take care of stains and smells as soon as you detect them. Apply a tiny bit of stain remover or liquid laundry detergent with enzymes that battle stains to the area and rub it in. Before washing, let it sit for ten or so minutes. Treat other odor-prone areas first, like the armpits, where musty and deodorant odors accumulate.
Shutting the Door
We would be negligent if we did not provide this additional tip, even though there are other ways to keep laundry fresh, many of which merely involve machine maintenance. Fortunately for you, this is probably the simplest of all: leave the door of your washer open in between loads. It will guarantee that your wash basket dries out in between uses, which is crucial for preserving freshness.
Read also: How To Care For Dry Hands From Excess Handwashing