A laundry expert has shared the common mistake many people make when washing clothes, which leaves them remaining dirty and smelly despite having gone through a full cycle
If you’ve ever noticed your laundry emerging dirtier or smellier than when you loaded it into your washing machine, an expert has shared guidance on where you might be wrong. Speaking on TikTok, Kelli, who works for Splash ‘Em Out, highlighted the “number one mistake” that many people make.
“Too much detergent,” she explained, “laundry is not a soap show.” Kelli went on to share what she called a “gross fact”, warning: “Extra detergent doesn’t rinse out – it sticks to your fabric and traps sweat and bacteria.” The odour that returns once clothes have dried is caused by bacteria feeding on residual soap, she disclosed.
“Over-soaping re-deposits dirty water right back on to your clothes,” Kelli noted.
She concluded with a final tip: “Big machine does not mean big detergent.”
Responding to the video, one TikTok user commented: “Fabric softener is waxy and makes the fibres waterproof so the more you add the less clean water can penetrate.”
Another person offered their own advice: “Always use a cup of vinegar right before your rinse cycle, the vinegar will remove the soap that’s left over. You can also use vinegar as a fabric softener.”
A third viewer observed: “They add lines in the cup for a reason to tell you how much to use based off load size. Add laundry detergent and vinegar to keep bacteria and odour out.”
While a fourth TikTok user revealed their method, saying: “We exclusively use Vanish and nothing else. It’s incredibly clean. We absolutely detest detergent and softener strong smell. And how bad is that on a bathroom towel used once. Eek. And for the love of God people, stop drying your clothes in the kitchen when is not raining outside.”
Meanwhile, another laundry expert, Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap has shared his favourite tip for eliminating that damp musty smell – and all you need is a clean towel and an iron.
He advised: “In order to prevent any damp or musty smells from clinging to your clothing as they dry, you can initially heat them up before hanging on your drying rack. Place each washed item on a flat surface and cover with a clean towel, before quickly running an iron over its surface.”
This technique works because it removes the initial moisture from the garments before you hang them up, meaning they’re likely to dry quicker. Once you’ve run the iron over your clothing, hang it on a laundry rack indoors.
Avoid positioning it too close to walls, as this can lead to problems with dampness. Instead, you want it to hang in a well-ventilated space, without being too cramped together. This means air can circulate properly and dry your clothing faster.
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