How to Make Clothes Smell Good in Dryer
Nothing gives all-day comfort like the smell of freshly laundered clothes. But the washing machine alone isn't enough to achieve a feel-good fragrance that lingers all day.
Follow our tips and tricks and learn how to make clothes smell good, stay fresh and feel great for longer, so you can enjoy clean smelling clothes every day.
How to make washing smell nice: Top tips for great smelling laundry
Wash your clothes with the best scent
If you want to know how to make your clothes smell good, detergent and fabric conditioner are one of the biggest factors. They need to be high quality and long-lasting so their fragrance lingers days after the wash - we like Persil and Comfort.
There are lots of fragrances to choose from in a laundry detergent and fabric conditioner and it's a good idea to use a concentrated formula, like Comfort Intense, for extra oomph. If you prefer a less powerful scent, you could add a few drops of essential oils to the final rinse cycle or try a milder formula like Comfort Pure.
Using a high-quality fabric conditioner from Comfort can help make your clothes super soft after drying, but it's not suitable for all fabrics. If your garment's care label suggests you can't use it then you can try to learn how to make DIY fabric softeners instead.
Dry your clothes correctly for ultimate freshness
It's important to make sure that your laundry doesn't sit around when wet. If machine drying, try adding a fabric softener sheet to the programme and take it out of the dryer as soon as it's done, before folding and putting away.
If it's a nice day and you can hang your washing up outside, that's even better. Air drying clothes after washing is a great way of making clothes smell good, giving them added freshness, and helping to remove any lingering odours.
Whatever drying method you choose, always check that the clothes are completely dry before putting them back in your wardrobe or drawers.
Store your clothes correctly
Not sure how to keep clothes smelling fresh after washing? How you store your clothes is key in achieving that freshly laundered smell that lasts. From the moment you take your clothes out of the machine, there are a few steps you need to follow:
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Make sure your clothes are completely dry before putting them away.
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Don't fold or leave laundry sitting in a room with strong smells, like the kitchen.
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Check that there's nothing strong-smelling in your drawers or wardrobe before you put your clothes away.
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Give your clothing room to breathe. Try not to pack out your wardrobe too tightly or cram it into your drawers if you want to know how to keep clothes smelling fresh.
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Put your clothing away as soon after drying as you can.
Look after your washer and dryer
It's important you maintain these appliances, which are a breeding ground for bacteria and mould – both things that can transfer bad smells to clothes. We recommend you clean your washing machine every couple of months. Simply set the empty cycle on the hottest setting, add 500ml of vinegar to the drum and 50g of baking soda to the drawer and press 'Start'.
With the dryer, make sure the lint trap is emptied after each cycle, as well as around the door, to avoid any lint build-up transferring odours to your clothes. If it smells musty, you can deodorise the dryer by wiping a cloth dipped in distilled white vinegar around the inside. Close the door once the vinegar smell has gone.
Use DIY scent pouches
For an extra boost, a perfumed pouch is easy to make and will get your clothes smelling great in no time. You will need:
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Two cups of rice
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Essential oil
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Two cups of lavender
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One cup of rosemary
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Small net bags or cotton pouches
Pour two cups of rice in a bowl and drop in 40 drops or so of essential oils, making sure all the rice is covered and shiny. Let the rice dry for about five minutes and add two cups of lavender and one of rosemary and mix together. Put a few scoops into each of your pouches, seal the top and put in your drawers or corners of your wardrobe. This is one of our favourite solutions for learning how to make laundry smell good naturally.
Your top questions on how to make clothes smell good
Why don't my clothes smell good after washing them?
There are several reasons why washing clothes can sometimes also introduce odours. If the wash temperature is too low, the wash cycle too short, or the drum overloaded, it won't fully clean the clothes.
Also, if the clothes were stored for a long time or put away while damp, bacteria and fungi can grow slowly on fabrics in these conditions – particularly if humidity is high. For more advice, why not read or guide on how to stop clothes smelling after washing?
What causes clothes to smell bad?
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Secretions and sweat
The transfer of body odour from skin to clothes causes clothes to smell unpleasant. Fresh sweat doesn't actually smell – but it does contain some molecules that are broken down by enzymes and bacteria to produce the odours we're all familiar with. Luckily,
removing sweat smells from clothes is easy if you read our guide.
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Bacteria on the skin
Bacteria that live on the skin can also cause smells by converting any 'food' (that's things like skin secretions, dead skin cells, food, makeup and laundry products) into energy so they can grow. This process produces smelly compounds as a waste product and can transfer to our clothes.
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Bacteria on the clothes
Dirt on clothes is another reason for clothes to smell. Things like body fluids can introduce other odours and bacteria to the mix. Particularly dirty garments may contaminate the rest of the load though, so it's always best to wash them separately.
Do certain fabrics retain odours?
Yes, some textiles are more prone to retaining odours than others. Due to their molecular structure, materials like lycra and polyester can retain smells in and on the fibres. This is because they're hydrophobic which means they dislike water, so odours stick to them.
Lycra is designed to be a bit like a sponge, meaning it traps bad smells. Cotton, on the other hand, is hydrophilic, which means it likes water and this helps fight odours.
How can I make my laundry smell good naturally?
Essential oils are a really good way of keeping your clothes smelling fresh without using harsh chemicals. If you want to know how to make laundry smell good naturally, simply put a few drops of your chosen oil on a cotton ball or paper towel and put in the corner of your drawers or wardrobe.
Or, after washing, mix a few drops of lavender essential oil with water and spritz over your laundry before putting it into the dryer or hanging out to dry.
You could also try placing some perfumed soap bars wrapped in cloth into your drawers to dispense a lovely smelling scent on to your clothes, with a long-lasting aroma. Or try our DIY perfume pouch suggestion above!
How can I make my wardrobe smell nice?
Scented drawer liners can be put in the bottom of your wardrobe and in any of its drawers, or try putting a small air freshener in the corner and letting the scent fill the space.
Using scented hangers in your wardrobe is another easy way to get your closet, and the clothes in it, smelling divine. If you don't have any scented hangers, you can make your own by spritzing some of your favourite perfume on the top of a wooden hanger and leaving it to dry before using.
How do I make clothes smell good, fast?
Want to know how to make your laundry smell good without investing lots of time into the process? The quickest way to enjoy fresh-smelling clothes is to use a high-quality fabric softener like Comfort in your laundry and dry clothes thoroughly before storing them.
A quick spritz of a perfume spray made with essential oils and distilled water can also help refresh clothes in between wears but it won't have the same fabric care properties of a quality clothes conditioner. Comfort conditioner does more than just add a nice scent to your laundry - it helps look after the fibres of the fabric too, can make ironing easier, and is a quick way to learn how to make clothes smell good.
Read other articles from the Clothing Care category
How to Make Clothes Smell Good in Dryer
Source: https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/clothing-care/make-clothes-smell-good.html