Does Hard Water Make Your Laundry Smell? (& What to Do)
If you’ve ever pulled your freshly washed clothes out of the laundry, only to find that they still smell a bit funky, you’re not alone.
But what if we told you that the culprit behind this laundry mystery might just be your tap water? Yes, you read that right. Hard water, which contains an abundance of minerals, can be the reason why your clothes are smelling foul.
In this article, we’ll look into the connection between hard water and stinky laundry and offer practical solutions to help you enjoy fresher, cleaner clothes.
Is Hard Water Making Your Clothes Stinky in the Wash?
Hard water isn’t something you can easily spot with the naked eye, but its effects on your laundry can be all too apparent.
Essentially, hard water is water loaded with minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can leave behind a pesky residue known as “limescale”, which has a white, powdery appearance and has a knack for settling on your garments.
So, if you’ve recently moved to a new area or have been struggling with persistent laundry odours, hard water may very well be the culprit.
TIP: Want to know if you’re using hard water in your area? Use this site and input your postcode to check the hardness of your water.
Reasons Why Hard Water May Make Your Garments Smell
Before we go any further, it’s essential to clarify one thing: hard water itself doesn’t stink, nor does it directly cause bad smells in your laundry.
Instead, it’s the limescale or scale left behind on your clothes that’s causing the funk. Here’s why:
It Builds Up on the Fabrics of Your Clothing
When you wash your clothes with hard water, limescale can sneak its way into the fibres of your clothing. Unfortunately, this chalky substance on your clothes reduces the effectiveness of your detergent.
The soap and water solution struggles to clean the garments properly, leaving them still quite dirty after a wash. Plus, detergent may not rinse away thoroughly, resulting in that unpleasant sour smell.
It Causes Oil and Sweat to Build Up on Your Clothes
When your garments aren’t thoroughly cleaned due to hard water, traces of dead skin cells, oil, and sweat can linger on their fibres.
This creates the perfect environment for bacterial and fungal growth. Besides the foul smell, these germs can also irritate the skin, especially for those with conditions like eczema.
It Causes Blockages in Your Washing Machine
Limescale doesn’t stop at fouling up your clothes; it can also wreak havoc inside your washing machine.
The chalky substances can clog various parts of your appliance, including the drum and rubber seal. As a result, your machine won’t work as efficiently as it should, leading to poorly laundered clothes that probably won’t smell great after just one wear.
How to Get Rid of the Musty Smell on Your Clothes Due to Hard Water
While there’s not much you can do to change the hardness of your water, this does not mean that you’ll have to wear smelly clothes forever.
Here are some ways to remove the foul odour from your garments when washing with hard water:
Use Vinegar or Fabric Softener
Both white vinegar and fabric softener can work wonders in combating the bad smell caused by hard water.
Simply add a cup of white vinegar or a capful of fabric softener to your laundry during the rinse cycle. These products help break down the limescale residue, leaving your clothes smelling fresh and feeling soft.
Use More Detergent
Sometimes, it’s a matter of quantity. Using a bit more detergent than usual can help combat the effects of hard water.
Just be mindful not to overdo it, as excess detergent can lead to soap buildup in your clothes and machine.
Use Warm Water
Heat can be your ally in the battle against hard water odours.
Washing your clothes in warm water can help dissolve limescale more effectively, leaving your garments cleaner and fresher.
Use a Water Softener
Consider using water softeners like Calgon or other similar products designed to prevent limescale buildup in your washing machine and on your clothes.
These products prevent limescale from building up on your clothes and your washing machine, reducing odours in the long run
Clean Your Washing Machine Regularly
Don’t forget to show your washing machine some love.
Regularly cleaning it with products like white vinegar or baking soda can help remove limescale deposits and keep your machine running smoothly. This, in turn, will ensure your clothes come out smelling their best.
Want a More Permanent Solution? Install a Water Softening System
If you’re fed up with the constant battle against hard water, you might want to consider a more permanent solution: installing a water softening system in your home.
These systems remove the minerals that cause limescale from your water supply, ensuring that your laundry emerges fresh and clean every time.
Keep Your Clothes Clean And Smelling Fresh
In conclusion, hard water may indeed be the reason behind the unpleasant odours in your laundry. But with the knowledge of how it affects your clothes and the tips to combat it, you can enjoy the scent of freshly laundered garments once more.
Say goodbye to the musty smells in your laundry!
Frequently Asked Questions
When we wash clothes with hard water, minerals like calcium and magnesium can leave a chalky residue called limescale on the clothes. This can make them less clean and sometimes smelly.
To make laundry smell better with hard water, you can use white vinegar or fabric softener during the rinse cycle. These help break down limescale residue, leaving your clothes smelling fresher.
The best laundry detergent to use with hard water depends on your preference, but some folks find that a detergent made for hard water, like Calgon, can work well.
Powder and liquid detergents can both work in hard water, but some people find that powder detergents perform better because they contain water softening ingredients.
You can make your laundry smell fresh naturally by adding baking soda to your wash or using essential oils like lavender or lemon in your laundry. These can give your clothes a nice, natural scent. It’s also best to hang your clothes outside under the sun with the fresh air.
