When the temperature drops and the winter chill sets in, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to hang clothes to dry outside after doing the laundry. With this, drying clothes indoors becomes unavoidable for most UK households, which can, in turn, bring with it a musty smell that seems to settle into every room and onto your clothes.
People often reach for scented fabric softeners or add extra detergent to combat the problem, but these solutions only temporarily mask the smell. According to Leanna Spektor, Co-Founder and Style Expert at Brand House Direct, there’s a far more effective approach that costs less than £1.
She says: “Winter laundry can be challenging, but the solution doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. The key is addressing the root cause rather than covering it up with fragrance.”
Instead of reaching for scented products, Leanna advises using white vinegar. When diluted with water and used as a spray, this kitchen staple neutralises the odour-causing bacteria before clothes finish drying.
To create this solution, mix one part white vinegar with three parts water in a clean spray bottle. Then, lightly spritz each item as you hang it up to dry.
Explaining just why this works, and how it won’t leave your clothes smelling of vinegar, Leanna continued: “White vinegar is naturally antibacterial and breaks down the microbes responsible for that musty smell.
“You might worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar, but that scent evaporates completely as the fabric dries. You’re left with genuinely fresh laundry, not just masked odours.”
And with a bottle of white vinegar costing as little as £1, this is a cheap and effective way to keep your clothes smelling fresh all winter.
Leanna finished: “Beyond the vinegar spray, there are several ways to prevent damp smells from developing in the first place. Position your drying rack in the room with the best airflow, ideally near a window you can crack open for 10 minutes daily, even in winter. Space items out properly so air circulates between them, as overcrowding creates pockets of trapped moisture where bacteria thrive.
“If you’re drying clothes on radiators, place them on a rack above rather than directly on the surface. This allows heat to rise through fabric whilst preventing shut-in dampness. Running a dehumidifier makes a noticeable difference, too, pulling excess moisture from the air and speeding up drying time.
“Finally, avoid leaving damp laundry sitting in the washing machine. The longer wet clothes sit bunched together, the more likely they’ll develop that musty smell before you’ve even hung them up.”
