5 reasons why laundry can smell bad after washing, and 5 tips to avoid this

When you take your laundry out of the washing machine at the end of the wash cycle, you expect to find it smelling fresh and clean and that the scent of the detergent will linger. However, sometimes, on opening the drum, we may be surprised by a bad smell emanating from the washing. These smells are sometimes so bad, that we wash everything again.

What are the causes of these horrible smells? And above all, how can we prevent it? Below, we reveal the 5 main causes and solutions to this annoying inconvenience.

Causes

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There are many potential causes for bad odors to be on our laundry after washing:

• Untreated stains: when the garments we put in the washing machine are very dirty, it can happen that the bad smells the stains gave off will remain; for this reason, it is very important to pre-treat any stains before washing: it will save you the trouble of doing the wash again.
• Excess detergent: it may seem paradoxical, but an excessive amount of detergent not only does not improve washing results, but can even have an opposite effect. An excess of detergent will stick in the fibers and bad odors will develop.
• Over-loading: it is necessary to pay close attention to the load put in the washing machine, since an excessive load could block the passage of water and detergent. Dirt will not be properly removed and smell could remain or develop due to this.
• Dirty washing machine: When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine? Remember that this appliance, like all others, requires continuous maintenance and it is a good idea to do a cleaning cycle once a month with an empty load.
• Humid drum: finally, one of the main causes of the development of bad smells is a drum which is kept closed at the end of the washing cycle. Even if you can't hang the laundry up straight away, be sure to open the drum immediately when the wash is finished; in this way, the water vapor will be able to escape and you will avoid the development of a stagnant water smell.

Prevention

We now suggest some tips to prevent the development of bad smells:

• Remember to clean your washing machine at least once a month using baking soda and vinegar.
• Avoid using too much detergent and softener and chose natural products, such as Marseille soap or citric acid as fabric softeners.
• Try to hang up the laundry as soon as possible after the wash is finished and leave the door of the washing machine open between washes.
• Add a cup of vinegar or baking soda to each wash: this will help remove stains more effectively and prevent the formation of bad smells.
• At the end of each wash, pass a clean cloth over the washing machine's seals and the inside of the drum, so that they do not stay damp.

Now, your laundry will always smell good!