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Clothes Smell Musty After A Wash? This Could Be Why

Clothes Smell Musty After A Wash? This Could Be Why

Washing in machine We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how often you should really wash your pillows , bras , and even shoes (spoiler alert: it’s much more often than I usually manage). But if you’re washing your clothes diligently and still notice an unwelcome smell afterwards, Ian Palmer-Smith, an appliance repair expert at Domestic & General , explained that you could be making a common laundry mistake. It can make “your clothes come out smelling musty, even after a full wash,” he warned. Laundry pods can sometimes cause machine issues I am a lover of laundry pods, partly because they take up so much less space than washing powder. They’re also pre-measured , meaning they deliver the exact right amount of detergent your clothes need ( most of us are using too much ). But even laundry pod company Tide’s principal scientist, Jennifer Ahon, told HowStuffWorks that liquid detergents can be better for stain removal and pre-wash. And Palmer-Smith shared that “When a laundry pod’s water-soluble film doesn’t dissolve completely, the sticky residue can end up clinging to your washing machine’s drain or filter”. Over time, this “builds up like gunk in a plughole, slowing drainage and trapping bacteria”. That can lead to your clothes smelling “musty,” even after a full wash, he said. How can I get rid of laundry pod buildup in my washing machine? The first step is noticing the signs of possible laundry pod blockage. Per Palmer-Smith, these include stinky pos-wash clothes, visible slime around your machine’s seal, water pooling in the drum after a wash, and gurgling or unusual noises during the drain cycle. You might also spot “Longer drain times or the machine stopping mid-cycle with a drainage error,” the appliance expert said. “If you spot these warning signs, clean the filter and run a hot maintenance cycle,” he advised. “Acting early can save you from a costly washing machine repair. A little extra care when using laundry pods can go a long way towards keeping your washing machine healthy and your clothes smelling fresh.” Related... This Common Laundry Mistake Keeps Your Clothes Wet For Longer Here's How Often We're Meant To Wash Our Pillows, And Oops I Just Learned How Often We're Meant To Wash Our Shoes, And I'm Appalled