Doing the laundry is a task that not many people enjoy and it’s made even worse once the colder weather starts to set in.
The shorter and darker days in autumn not only mean there’s fewer daylight hours to make the most of for drying clothes, but the chillier temperatures also means the whole process takes a lot longer. The damp air and often rainy conditions mean clothes often end up having to be hung up to dry indoors and without that lovely outdoor breeze, laundry can wind up smelling a bit musty, even after being freshly washed.
But according to experts, this problem can be easily avoided by following a simple 30 minute laundry rule to keep your clothes smelling fresher for longer this autumn.
Laundry starts to smell bad due to a build-up of bacteria on your clothes after washing and when left damp for too long, these bacteria multiply which causes an unpleasant odour.
As such, laundry experts say it’s important to remove your clothes from the washing machine within 30 minutes of the cycle finishing to minimise the amount of bacteria and fend off nasty smells.
Adam Norris, Senior Product Manager, Laundry at Hotpoint, explains: “One of the simplest ways to keep laundry fresh is by preventing moisture from lingering. Damp conditions allow bacteria to thrive, which can leave clothes smelling musty.
“The freshness countdown begins as soon as your cycle ends. Leaving wet clothes in the drum creates the perfect breeding ground for odour-causing bacteria. Even just thirty minutes can affect your laundry and allow mildew to form.
“Set reminders on your phone or use your machine’s end-of-cycle alert to remove clothes promptly. And when drying, make sure clothes are completely dry before folding or storing.”
The quicker laundry is taken out of the machine, the less time mould and mildew have to form which will help to fend off those musty smells and keep your laundry fresher.
Not only that, removing clothes within 30 minutes of the washing cycle ending will also help to minimise creases and save you the hassle of having to iron your laundry once dry.
Landry experts at Rinenna add: “When washing is finished, remove it from the washing machine as soon as possible. This is really important.
“If you leave washed clothes in the washing machine and it stays damp, bacteria will grow inside the washing machine and mold will form.
“Washing machines that are supposed to be clean often end up being breeding grounds for bacteria. Please take out the laundry as soon as it is finished washing.
“Don’t forget to dry the inside of the washing machine after taking out the laundry. Please leave the door open so that the inside of the tank can dry, or use a drying function if available.”