Written by Andrea Reviewed by Daniel

The One Laundry Mistake That Makes Your Clothes Smell Weird (And How To Fix It!)

Let’s face it: there’s nothing worse than pulling freshly washed clothes from the dryer only to discover they still smell a bit off. For caregivers juggling laundry for multiple family members, this problem can be particularly frustrating. You’ve spent precious time washing those clothes, and yet that musty smell persists.

What if we told you there’s one common mistake most people make that’s causing those strange odours? Even better, the solution is surprisingly simple and won’t cost you a fortune in fancy products.

Table of Contents

The Culprit: Overloading Your Washing Machine

Yes, that’s right. The biggest laundry mistake that leads to smelly clothes is cramming too many items into your washing machine at once.

When your machine is stuffed to capacity, water and detergent simply can’t circulate properly between the fabrics. This means dirt, bacteria and body oils aren’t completely washed away, becoming trapped in the fibres and causing that peculiar smell that lingers even after drying.

For caregivers managing laundry for multiple people, the temptation to shove in as much as possible to save time is completely understandable. However, this time saving tactic is actually creating more work for you in the long run.

Why Overloading Is Such A Problem

When you overload your washing machine, several things happen:

Poor water circulation
Clothes need to move freely in water to get properly clean. When packed too tightly, some items might barely get wet.
Inadequate detergent distribution
Your detergent can’t reach all parts of all garments when they’re squashed together.
Ineffective rinsing
Even if the wash cycle manages to clean your clothes, rinse cycles won’t be able to remove all the detergent if clothes can’t move freely.
Trapped moisture
Tightly packed clothes often remain damp in spots, creating perfect conditions for bacteria and mould growth.

This problem is particularly noticeable with towels, bedding, and sports clothes: items that caregivers frequently handle in large quantities!

How To Tell If You’re Overloading

Not sure if you’re guilty of overloading? Here’s a simple test: after adding your laundry to the machine, stick your hand into the drum. You should be able to fit your entire hand above the clothes with room to spare. If you can’t fit your hand or it feels tightly packed, you’ve got too much in there.

For front loading machines, your laundry should fill the drum no more than three-quarters full. For top loaders, stop adding clothes when they reach just below the agitator (the central column).

The Simple Fix: The One-Third Rule

Forget filling your machine to capacity. Instead, follow the one-third rule for consistently fresh smelling laundry:

Fill your washing machine only one-third full, especially for heavily soiled items or larger pieces like towels and bedding.
Use the correct amount of detergent for smaller loads (less than the full recommended amount).
Allow proper airflow by giving your clothes room to move during the wash cycle.

For caregivers who need to process multiple loads, this might initially seem time consuming. However, properly washed clothes won’t need to be rewashed due to lingering odours, saving you time and energy in the long run!

Additional Tips For Persistently Fresh Laundry

While avoiding overloading is the main solution, here are some extra tips to ensure your family’s laundry always smells fresh:

1. Separate By Soil Level

When caring for multiple family members, you’ll encounter varying levels of dirtiness. Don’t mix lightly soiled clothes with heavily soiled ones. Instead, sort laundry not just by colour but also by how dirty items are. This prevents relatively clean items from picking up odours from very dirty ones.

2. Don’t Let Wet Laundry Sit

We’ve all been there: you wash a load but get distracted by other caregiving duties. Hours later, you remember the forgotten wet laundry. This creates a perfect environment for mildew and bacteria to grow, causing that familiar musty smell.

Set a timer on your phone to remind you when the wash cycle finishes. If you can’t move the clothes to the dryer immediately, at least open the washing machine door to allow airflow until you can.

3. Clean Your Washing Machine Regularly

Your washing machine needs care too! Run a hot empty cycle with two cups of white vinegar monthly to eliminate soap scum and bacteria buildup that can transfer to your clothes. Pay special attention to the rubber gasket and detergent drawer, common places for mould to grow.

4. Use Vinegar As A Natural Fabric Softener

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment during the rinse cycle. Vinegar helps remove detergent residue that can trap odours, and don’t worry, the vinegar smell doesn’t linger on your clothes.

5. Pre Treat Particularly Smelly Items

For sports clothes or items with persistent odours, soak them in a solution of one part white vinegar to four parts water for 30 minutes before washing. This pretreatment breaks down the compounds causing the smell.

A Special Note For Caregivers

When you’re looking after others, laundry can feel like an endless chore. Creating an efficient system makes a huge difference:

Designate specific laundry days for different family members or types of items.
Consider washing certain heavily used items (like towels) more frequently.
Teach older family members to sort their own laundry into appropriate bins, saving you time.
Keep a small mesh bag in the bathroom for collecting small items like socks that might otherwise get lost.

Taking Back Control Of Your Laundry

By avoiding the common mistake of overloading your washing machine and implementing these additional tips, you’ll notice a significant improvement in how fresh your family’s laundry smells. Not only will clothes be properly cleaned the first time, but you’ll also extend the life of your garments and your washing machine.

Remember, as a caregiver, your time is precious. Sometimes doing things properly the first time, even if it seems less efficient, actually saves time and frustration later on.

Have you found this helpful? Share it with your friends who might be struggling with the same laundry issues!

Also, follow us on Pinterest ...