Clothing smells 'musty' when not placed in dryer and left hanging to dry (inside)?

Question

I have a few articles of clothing which I can't place in the dryer because they fit very well right now, and they shrink a lot. (I made the mistake with the same pieces, just different style)

So, generally I just let them hang on my closet door, dresser, etc, to dry out. However, the thicker items like hoodies and sweaters develop a musty type smell to them if they aren't placed in the dryer to dry.

If I hang them on the line (not an option ATM) the smell usually isn't there, but, as I said, they develop a weird -- but unpleasant -- smell to them when I leave them hanging to dry.

Thanks a lot guys & gals!

Answer 1

That'll happen if they don't dry fast enough.  It's caused mostly by a little bit of mold starting to grow in the moisture (EWW!)

If they dry faster, it won't be such an issue.

Try hanging them in front of an open window, so they get more sunlight.

Try hanging them near a heater or AC vent, so the air moves around them.  The "blowing" should speed up the drying process.

Try getting one of those folding "delicates" drier racks.  If you've got a patio, or even a landing in a good enough neighborhood, you can hang them outside on that.

Try hanging them under a lightbulb (Like on a cieling fan that's turned off) even the light from that might help a little.

If they're really thick, it might be worth your time to try to wring them out before you hang them up.

You might try ironing them.  The heat could make them shrink though.

You might try putting them in the drier on fluff air for a bit.  No heat, so they won't shrink, but they probably won't dry much either.  IF you've already dried them, you could do this with a drier sheet to try to kill the odor.

And if all else fails, you can always get some febreeze.

Answer 2

Use the shower rod as a clothes line. Put the clothes on a hanger and hang over the rod or better get one of the over the tub clothes ;ines or just a tension pole.   Turn them after the 1stb 24 hrs if not fully dry.  For very thick hoodies and sweats ain a small fan in their direction to speed drying.  Unless of course your dryer has a totally no heat (fluff only) setting.    I have several things that I don't want to shrink that I dry this way.    You can really put up an inside line anywhere if the bath tub or shower is used too much but that is where it works best for me.   The clothes need air circulation to dry quickly enough to avoid that musty smell.

Answer 3

They need to be in a dry room with circulation.  They are not drying fast enough

Answer 4

the moisture in the clothing has not evaporated quick enough and this gives  it time to grow mildew which will have a smell to it

Answer 5

Use the air fluff setting on your dryer. Also reset the spin cycle on your washer to spin the water out of them a few times before putting them in the dryer on air fluff for about 15 minutes.

Answer 6

It sounds like the clothes like sweatshirts are not completely drying when hung up.  This is probably because they are thick and hold more water.  If you hang dry clothes you really have to make sure they get a lot of air or they will begin to build up mildew which will make them musty smelling.  Try to give the clothes as much air as possible.  Also maybe try spraying on a a little fabric softener on them.

Answer 7

You should probably add some fabric softner in your wash

water so your clothes wouldn't smell musky.

Answer 8

place them in the dryer for 5 mintues or so, and then take them out and shake them and hang them where there is open air, works great for me. also adding a little baking soda in the wash helps,

Answer 9

They probally hold a lot of water and the water does not evaporate because of little sun and/or because of little air mobement