It's a problem that many people recognize. You take your clothes out of the washing machine, they look clean, but an hour or so later you notice a strange smell. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it?
The laundry may be clean – but the machine may not
A common reason is that the washing machine itself needs to be cleaned. Grease, dirt and detergent residue can collect in the drum, rubber strip and detergent compartment. If the machine is not clean, these residues spread onto the clothes during washing. Swedish experts recommend regularly running a cleaning program for the machine or using machine cleaning.
Low temperature and wrong washing program
Washing at low temperatures saves energy and is gentle on clothes, but can sometimes be insufficient against bacteria and odor. If the clothes are sweaty or have a strong odor to begin with, 30 degrees can sometimes leave odor bacteria behind. Swedish laundry advice points out that higher temperatures may be needed for workout clothes, towels or bed linen to achieve full cleanliness.
Overfilled machine or incorrect dosage
If the machine is overfilled or the detergent is not dosed correctly, the clothes do not get enough water and movement to get completely clean. Dirt and grease are not dissolved properly and can cause odors. Filling the machine properly and following the detergent instructions is often more effective than rewashing the clothes several times.
How to prevent odor
To avoid smelly clothes, you can do a few simple things. Clean the machine regularly, do not wash too small or too large machine loads, use the right amount of detergent and choose a program with sufficient rinsing. Letting the clothes dry quickly after washing, preferably hanging so that the air circulates, also reduces the risk of odor.
