There's nothing more deflating than washing a load, drying it, going to fold it away, and finding it still smells. You've done all the work. It should smell lovely. So why doesn't it?
Most of the time, it's because life got in the way. You put a wash on, got busy, and only remembered it hours later, by which time the whole load smelt. The other usual suspect is squeezing in one load too many without quite enough detergent. I've done both.
The good news is that it's almost always fixable, and usually in one wash.
The short answer
Clothes usually smell after washing because bacteria or mould are growing somewhere in the process. The most common causes are leaving wet washing in the drum, drying it too slowly, overloading the machine, using the wrong amount of detergent, washing too cool, or a dirty machine. Most smells go with one hot wash and quicker drying.
Why does my washing smell?
Work out which kind of smell you've got, because each one points to a different cause.
| The smell | The most likely cause | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| Musty or damp | Washing left wet too long, or drying too slowly | Dry it faster |
| Sour | Damp washing left in the drum, an overfull drum, or the wrong amount of detergent | Rewash hot with the right dose |
| Body odour that won't shift | Sportswear and synthetics washed too cool | Pre-soak, then wash warmer |
| Rotten eggs or sulphur | Your water supply or the drain | Check the cold tap |
| Clothes fine, machine smells | A dirty drum, seal or filter | Clean the machine |
Why does my washing smell musty?
A musty smell means your washing stayed damp for too long, either in the drum after the cycle finished or on the airer. Mould and bacteria love warmth and moisture, and they don't need long.
This is especially common in a UK winter, when everything dries indoors on a radiator or a crowded airer and takes a day or more to get dry.
How to fix it:
- Take washing out as soon as the cycle finishes. If you can't, use the delay timer so it finishes when you're home.
- Rewash the smelly load at the hottest temperature the care labels allow.
- Dry it as fast as you can: outside if possible, or spread out with space between each item, a window open, and a dehumidifier running if you have one.
Why does my laundry smell sour?
A sour smell usually comes from washing that sat wet in the drum, or from a wash that couldn't clean or rinse properly. Too little detergent in an overfull drum leaves dirt and bacteria behind. Too much leaves soap in the fabric, which bacteria feed on. Either way, you get a smell.
How to fix it:
- Rewash on a hot cycle with a smaller load, so the clothes have room to move.
- Add an extra rinse if your machine has one.
- From now on, dose by the instructions on the pack for your load size and water hardness, not by guesswork.
Why do my towels smell after washing?
Towels are the worst offenders because they're thick, they stay damp the longest, and they hold onto whatever is left in them. Fabric softener makes this worse: it coats the fibres, which traps smells and makes towels less absorbent.
How to fix it:
- Stop using fabric softener on towels.
- Wash them at 60°C if the care label allows.
- Don't overload the drum. Towels need room to move to rinse properly.
- Hang them spread out to dry, never folded over a radiator in a pile.
- Between uses, hang towels open rather than bunched on a hook.
Why do my gym clothes still smell after washing?
Sportswear is usually made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, which tend to hold onto body odour more than cotton does. Washing at 20 or 30°C often isn't enough to shift it, and the smell comes back as soon as you warm up.
How to fix it:
- Don't leave sweaty kit in a bag. Get it into the wash, or at least air it out, the same day.
- Turn it inside out, because the smell lives on the side that touches your skin.
- Pre-soak for 30 minutes in warm water with a scoop of oxygen bleach before washing.
- Wash at the warmest temperature the label allows, and skip the fabric softener, which clogs technical fabrics.
Why does my washing smell of rotten eggs or sulphur?
A rotten egg or sulphur smell is different from the others, because it often isn't coming from your washing at all. It can come from your water supply or from the drain the machine empties into.
How to check:
- Run a glass of cold water from the kitchen tap and smell it. If that smells too, the cause is your water supply, so contact your water company.
- If the tap water is fine, the smell is probably coming back up the drain or the machine's waste pipe. See why your washing machine smells for how to deal with that.
How do I get the smell out of my clothes?
For a load that smells now, this is the reset:
- Soak. Fill a bowl or the bath with warm water and a scoop of oxygen bleach. Soak the smelly items for 30 minutes to a few hours. Oxygen bleach is fine on whites and most colourfast fabrics, but not on wool or silk, so check the label.
- Wash hot. Wash at the hottest temperature the care labels allow, with the right amount of detergent for the load and no fabric softener.
- Dry fast. Get it dry within the day. This step matters as much as the wash.
- Smell it dry. If it still smells once it's completely dry, repeat once. If it still smells after that, the problem is almost certainly your machine.
Is it my washing machine?
If every load smells, even after the steps above, the machine is the likely cause. Smells build up in the rubber door seal, the detergent drawer and the filter.
A quick test: smell inside the drum and around the rubber seal. If that's where the smell is, start with the machine. My full guide to why your washing machine smells and how to fix it walks through every step.
How do I stop my washing smelling in future?
- Take washing out as soon as the cycle ends. A phone reminder helps if you're as forgetful as I am on a busy day.
- Dry it within a day: spread out, with air moving around it.
- Use the right amount of detergent for the size of the load, not more and not less.
- Skip fabric softener on towels and sportswear.
- Wash towels and bedding at 60°C if the labels allow.
- Leave a hand's width of space at the top of the drum so clothes can rinse.
- Leave the machine door and detergent drawer open between washes so they can dry.
- Run an empty hot maintenance wash and wipe the door seal once a month.
What not to do
- Don't mix vinegar and bicarbonate of soda in the same wash. They cancel each other out, so you get the fizz but lose the cleaning power of both.
- Don't cover the smell with more fragrance. Scent boosters and extra softener hide the smell for a day, then add to the build-up that causes it.
- Don't use vinegar as a regular rinse without checking your manual. Some manufacturers advise against it because, over time, it can be hard on rubber seals.
What you'll need
- Oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) for soaking
- A dehumidifier or heated airer, if you dry indoors in winter
- Washing machine cleaner or soda crystals for the monthly maintenance wash
About the author: Annie McWilliam is a mum of two girls, a former chalet manager and the co-founder of Colt & Willow, a plant-based refillable cleaning brand. She writes about natural cleaning, simple home routines and feeling calm at home.