Baking soda adds extra power to your wash because of its mild alkalinity. It can help remove musty smells and ensure your clothes are completely clean, and as a bonus, it gives the inside of your machine a wash, too.

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your load if you have a top loader, and 1/4 cup if you have a front loader. Alternatively, you can soak your clothes first in a baking soda solution as a prewash before putting them in the washing machine, if they really smell.

Rainy days limit the amount of space we can use to line-dry our clothes, so plan for smaller loads to ensure the drying rack doesn’t get overcrowded. It’s more efficient — and kinder to the environment — to have to do more frequent small loads than to have to wash the same load multiple times to get rid of the musty smell.

Static cling is the number one reason for inefficient dryer use — it causes clothes to cling together, so the hot air doesn’t reach those areas. Get rid of this by adding a dryer sheet to your load, and making sure that you don’t dry overly large items together with your clothes, like sheets or duvet covers for example (those tend to wrap around your clothes, resulting in a nice damp bundle).

No dryer sheets? Make your own by lightly spritzing a clean dry cloth with white vinegar, and tossing it in together with the load. Don’t worry, the smell will be gone when the clothes are dry.

Alternatively, you can pause the dryer every fifteen minutes, reach in and toss the items within — lo hei style — so you can ensure they’re not clinging together.

Make sure the service yard and other areas you’re using to dry your clothes are properly vented, and switch on the fan if necessary. Dehumidifers are also a great way to suck moisture from the air — leave rock salt in bowls around the drying area for a natural dehumidifer method, or baking soda.

Sometimes, the smell could be a result of your washer and/or dryer not working efficiently. Ensure your washing machine is squeaky clean by cleaning the detergent dispenser, wiping down the door gaskets, and sanitising the drum. You can do this by adding two cups of white vinegar to the dispenser and running the machine through a full cycle on the hottest possible temperature. Afterwards, wipe the inside clean with a dry cloth.

Likewise, for the dryer, make sure you remove the lint from the lint trap regularly. You can also vacuum the inside of the dryer, as well as the opening that connects to the vent hose, to remove any trapped debris.

Text: Melody Bay/Home and Decor

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