If you’ve ever used laundry services before, you’ll know that the clothes come back smelling fresh and fragrant, with the scent lasting for days. On the other hand, clothes washed at home tend to lose their scent more quickly. Why is that? Well, a laundry shop owner with over 20 years of experience has pointed out some common mistakes that people make, which can lead to less-than-fresh-smelling clothes. Let’s explore these reasons and find out how we can improve our laundry game!
1 Why Aren’t My Clothes Getting Clean Enough?
The first and most important step to having fragrant clothes is to ensure they are thoroughly washed. If your clothes aren’t clean, they won’t smell fresh no matter what. Here are some reasons why your clothes might not be getting clean:
Waiting Too Long to Wash Dirty Clothes
If your clothes are dirty, it’s best to wash them as soon as possible. For heavily soiled items, consider pre-treating them by scrubbing the dirty areas, such as the cuffs, collars, and hems, before putting them in the washing machine. This will help improve the overall cleaning effectiveness. Additionally, it’s important to allow enough time for the washing cycle. The longer the cycle, the more likely it is that stubborn stains will be removed.
Don’t wait too long to wash dirty clothes
Not Sorting Laundry
To get your clothes cleaner, it’s important to sort them before washing. Don’t just throw everything into the washing machine together! Mixing light-colored and dark-colored clothes can cause the colors to bleed, making your light-colored clothes look dull and old. It’s best to separate your laundry into two loads: one for light-colored, less soiled clothes, and another for dark-colored, heavily soiled items. This will help prevent the transfer of odors and stains, resulting in fresher-smelling clothes.
Sort your laundry to prevent color bleeding
2 Why Doesn’t the Fragrance Last?
So, you’ve washed your clothes, but they don’t seem to retain that fresh scent after drying or ironing. Why is that? Let’s find out!
Using Scented Detergent and Fabric Softener Together
It’s important to note that if you’re using a fabric softener with a pleasant fragrance, you should avoid using a scented detergent or a 2-in-1 detergent with built-in softener. Combining these products will not make your clothes smell better; instead, the fragrances may clash, resulting in an odd or non-existent scent.
Choose either scented detergent or scented fabric softener, not both
Our recommendation is to choose one or the other. If you opt for a scented fabric softener, go for an unscented detergent, and vice versa. This will ensure that your clothes retain a pleasant fragrance for a longer period after drying or ironing.
Choosing the Right Fabric Softener
The laundry shop owner also emphasizes the importance of selecting a high-quality fabric softener. There are many reputable brands on the market, such as , , , , and supermarket chains’ private labels. Experiment with different brands to find the one that leaves the most lasting fragrance on your clothes.
Choose a high-quality fabric softener for longer-lasting fragrance
Overusing Fabric Softener
If your washing machine has weak water pressure, the fabric softener may not rinse out completely and can build up on your clothes, causing stains that are difficult to remove. To avoid this, pour the fabric softener into the area of the drum with the most water, rather than directly onto your clothes. Alternatively, you can dilute the fabric softener with water before adding it to the drum.
Dilute fabric softener with water before adding to the drum
Not Hanging Clothes to Dry Immediately
Sometimes, due to our busy schedules, we may wash clothes in the evening and leave them in the closed washing machine drum overnight, only hanging them to dry the next morning. However, this can cause the clothes to lose their fresh scent and even develop an unpleasant odor.
Hang clothes to dry immediately after washing
This unpleasant odor is caused by the moisture trapped inside the closed drum. Additionally, if you don’t regularly clean your washing machine, bacteria and dirt can build up in its nooks and crannies, transferring to your clothes and causing them to smell bad.
Regularly clean your washing machine to prevent bacteria and dirt buildup
To avoid this issue, it’s best to hang your clothes to dry as soon as they’re washed. Combine this with regular cleaning of your washing machine using specialized cleaning products, and you’ll notice a significant improvement in the freshness of your laundry.
Hang clothes to dry immediately after washing
We hope that these tips from a seasoned laundry shop owner will help you improve your at-home laundry routine and keep your clothes smelling fresh and clean!