A fresh and pleasant-smelling laundry is what we all look forward to after washing clothes. Therefore, finding ways to “to make laundry smell good” is important. There are multiple ways to add a fresh aroma to the laundry. Let’s dive deep into making the laundry smell good and keeping body odour away from the clothes. This blog highlights the different options to make laundry smell good.
Different Ways to Make Laundry Smell Fresh
1. Clean Your Machine
A dirty washing machine could be the reason for a bad odour in your laundry. Hence, check the washing machine and see if it needs cleaning. Also, read the use and care guide of the machine before cleaning. The best way to maintain the cleanliness of the machine is to clean it monthly or after every 30 cycles. This will reduce the soil and detergent buildup in the washer.
2. Avoid Full Load Washing
Full load undoubtedly saves water, energy and time, but loading more clothes in the machine than its capacity affects the quality of washing. Therefore, it’s advisable to wash smaller loads and leave some space at the top of the machine for clothes to move freely during the washing cycle.
3. Deodorise the Machine With Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used as a booster to deodorise your laundry. Baking soda minimises the use of detergent for washing and makes the washing more effective. It neutralises the pH level and removes the scent of vomit, smoke and sweat. If you want to remove oil from the laundry, which may cause odour, let baking soda sit on the clothes for a day before washing them. Here are two ways to use baking soda:
-
Pour half a cup of baking soda into the washing machine and add detergent. Then, run the washer as usual.
-
When you want to replace detergent with baking soda, pour a full cup of soda on the laundry or sprinkle half a cup of it in the wash cycle and half in the rinse cycle.
4. Select a Detergent Formulated to Handle Tough Odours
Use a detergent made to fight tough odours for fresh-smelling clothes. Some detergents help get rid of body odour, sweat, towel odours and even smelly socks.
5. Don’t Let Wet Clothes Remain in the Washer for Long
We tend to forget about the washed clothes in the washer among the daily chores. Any wet clothes, be it cotton or linen, left in the washer for prolonged periods, lead to a musty smell and odour. The best way to keep track of the washing cycle is to set a timer on your phone before the cycle ends. Also, ensure the laundry is completely dry to avoid odour when storing it in the closet or dresser. All these will add freshness to your laundry.
6. Use of Fabric Softener
Fabric softener is a great way to add a fresh smell. You can either buy a fabric softener or add a few drops of essential oil to a homemade fabric softener. It adds an element of freshness and softness to the laundry and also fights wrinkles.
7. Pre-Treat Stains
Any stain that sets in on clothes gets difficult to remove. Therefore, as soon as you notice a stain, apply stain remover or detergent on the stain and let it rest for 10 minutes. You should also remember that different stain removers target different stains, so select the right stain remover. Pre-treating stains gives you fresh-smelling clothes.
8. Dry Clothes Outdoors
Hang clothes outside because exposing laundry to fresh air removes unpleasant smells from clothes and adds freshness. Any clothes with a strong odour should be washed in detergent and dried outdoors in sunlight or in an area with enough airflow.
9. Proper Storage of Clothes
It’s not always necessary that clothes pick up odour only during washing. On several occasions, improper storage also leads to odour. The best way to maintain a fresh smell is to add dryer sheets or lavender sachets in closets or drawers and avoid overcrowding clothes.
10. Keep Sweaty Gymwear Separately
Keep smelly and sweaty gymwear in a separate breathable hamper to ensure bad odour does not escape from the clothes. Afterwards, you can wash it along with other synthetic clothes in the machine or handwash it separately, if no other synthetic clothes are piled up for washing.
11. Store Washed or Used Clothes in a Laundry Basket With Holes
One of the natural and functional ways to avoid odour and add a fresh smell to clothes is to store clothes in a laundry basket with holes. Clothes piled up for washing contain an unpleasant odour, but holes in the laundry baskets allow the smell to dissipate.
Conclusion
Adding a fresh smell to laundry is an essential part of daily chores because wearing fresh-smelling clothes gives a pleasant feel. Among all the different ways to add a pop of freshness to laundry, choose the one based on your priority and the family size. This is because when there are more clothes to wash, you may have to find distinct ways to deal with odour and add freshness.
