Mildew Smell with Line Dry Only Clothes.

[SnowWtch]

I have a few pairs of pants that require me to line dry and I find they have a mildew smell after they've dried. I can't put a line outside b/c our complex doesn't allow it so I hang them in the laundry room. Any ideas on how to get the smell out without throwing them in the dryer?

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

Try adding vinegar or baking soda to the wash. I have that problem even with clothes that I dry from time to time. I have come to the conclusion that it is either our water or something in the washer causing it. I started adding baking soda to the wash - then just changed to using the Arm & Hammer detergent with baking soda in it and it worked. I have heard that vinegar will work too and vinegar will help clean out any mildew that may be in the washing machine.

 

[Gigi22]

Do you have an electric fan? You can position the fan so that it blows air over your air drying clothing. Make sure you keep the fan away from all water sources, of course!

 

[irishtigger]

thanks for the tips. That smell drives me crazy and there are clothes that just can't go in the dryer. This really helps me.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Are you washing in cold water? If so it may be bacteria that the cold water does not kill. Try washing in warm water and see if that does the trick. I almost always wash in cold water, but then I toss things in the drier. I found that those things I washed in cold and then air dried still did not smell fresh. That's when I tried the warm water. The drier also kills bacteria because it is so hot.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

OP itry putting the pants in a plastic bag with one or two bounce sheets, that might help. I also get a mildewy smell when I line dry so last wash I poured in a little bit of pine-fresh liquid that I had laying around and now the clothes smelled much better.