How to Dry Clothes in the Rainy Season Without the Musty Smell

Clothes can dry indoors without developing a musty smell. The problem is when they stay damp for too long. In the monsoon, humid air can slow drying, so spin out as much water as possible, space clothes apart and keep air moving. You don't need sunlight.

These tips work wherever rainy or cold weather keeps laundry indoors. This guide covers why clothes smell musty, how to dry them indoors, how to wash so less is left on the fabric, and how to rescue clothes that already smell.

Why clothes smell musty in the monsoon

Musty laundry odour develops when microbes on damp fabric break down sweat and other material left on the cloth. They reach clothes from your skin and from the washing machine. Body oils and sweat that remain in the fabric give microbes material to break down; when clothes stay wet for hours, odour compounds build up.

Laundry researchers have documented malodour when clothes are hung to dry indoors and when dry clothes are stored in damp conditions. The monsoon makes both more likely. (Zinn, Singer and Bockmühl, 2021)

How to dry clothes indoors in the rainy season

What matters is how quickly water leaves the fabric. Spinning, a dryer, airflow and dry air all help.

1. Spin twice. Run the highest spin your fabric care label allows, then add a second spin-only cycle for sturdy items. The more water the machine removes, the less the room has to remove.
2. Press thick items in a dry towel. Roll jeans or a wet towel inside a dry one and press down to absorb extra water.
3. Use a tumble dryer if you have one. Check each garment's care label, don't overload the drum, and use the recommended setting. Clean the lint filter as directed and take clothes out when they're dry.
4. Hang with gaps. Put shirts on hangers and spread everything else on a rack. Leave space between pieces so air can circulate.
5. Put a fan on the rack. Moving air over the fabric helps it dry faster.
6. Dry the air. In a warm, humid climate, run the AC, in dry mode if it has one, or use a dehumidifier in the room where the clothes hang. Keep windows and doors closed while the AC or dehumidifier is running.
7. Wash smaller loads, earlier. A small morning load has more room on the rack and more time to dry.

Should the window be open or closed?

 

What you're using	What to do
AC or dehumidifier	Keep windows closed while it runs, so it can remove moisture from the room.
Fan in warm, humid weather	Ventilate when the outdoor air is drier than the room, for example when the rain stops for a while.
Fan in cold weather	Briefly ventilate or use an extractor to let damp indoor air out. Cold outdoor air can help remove moisture once it warms indoors, even when its relative humidity is high. (WHO indoor-air guidance)

I

n a warm, rainy climate, outside air may add moisture, so rely on an AC or dehumidifier with the windows closed. In a cold, rainy climate, short periods of ventilation can help. Keep the room warm enough to dry clothes and watch for condensation on cold walls or windows.

Wash so less is left on the fabric

Drying is most of the answer. Washing well is the rest, because whatever stays in the fabric gives microbes more to break down.

• Measure the detergent. More is not cleaner. Excess detergent can stay in the fabric as residue. Our post on detergent residue explains what it does.
• Skip the softener. Softeners coat the fibres, which is one more layer left on the cloth. Our Fabric Detergent rinses clean, so fabric comes out soft without one. For more on soft towels, see our towel guide.
• Wash smaller loads. A drum with room in it rinses and spins properly.
• Empty the machine straight away. Wet clothes left in the drum overnight can pick up odour from the machine and stay damp for too long.
• Keep the machine clean and dry. Bacteria settle in the door seal and detergent drawer. Leave both open between washes, and clean them regularly. Our front-loader guide covers the cleaning.

Where our detergent fits

Our Fabric Detergent works in both hot and cold water. It has no added softeners or optical brighteners and is tested for low residue, so it leaves less on the fabric. It is also NABL-lab tested to kill 99.99% of germs. That helps, but it can't replace drying. Germs that survive any wash regrow on damp fabric, and clothes left damp for a day will smell whatever they were washed in.

Store clothes so the smell doesn't come back

• Put away only what is fully dry. Dry clothes stored somewhere damp can develop the same smell.
• Give the cupboard air. Don't pack shelves tight, and open the doors on dry days.
• Keep damp things out of the hamper. Hang used towels and sweaty clothes to dry before they go in.

How to fix clothes that already smell

1. Rewash them. Drying a smelly item further, or covering it with fragrance, leaves the cause in the fabric.
2. Dry them fast, using the steps above.
3. Check the machine. If the smell returns every time the item gets damp, clean the washing machine and wash once more.

Frequently asked questions

Why do my clothes smell even after washing?

Usually because they dried too slowly, or because the washing machine is adding the smell back. Washing lowers the bacteria on fabric but leaves some behind, and they multiply while the clothes are wet. Our post on why socks still smell after washing goes deeper.

Do clothes need sunlight to dry properly?

No. Sunlight can speed up drying, but airflow and dry indoor air can dry clothes without it.

Can I dry clothes under a fan overnight?

Yes, if the pieces are spaced apart. A fan keeps air moving across the fabric; an AC or dehumidifier helps remove moisture from the room. If you only have a fan, ventilate according to the weather and climate. In a cold climate, brief ventilation can help even when outdoor relative humidity is high. A fan in a closed, humid room just moves the damp air around.

How long can wet clothes stay in the washing machine?

As short a time as you can manage. Take them out when the cycle ends. If they sat overnight and smell when you open the door, wash them again.

Should I use fabric softener in the monsoon?

It's the season to skip it. Softener coats the fibres, and in damp weather you want as little left on the fabric as possible.

The monsoon brings more than damp laundry. For the mosquito side of the season, see our dengue prevention checklist.

Sources

• Zinn, Singer and Bockmühl: A Model to Generate Laundry-Associated Malodour In Vitro, Microorganisms, 2021. Laundry odour, indoor drying and damp storage.
• WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould. Moisture control and ventilation.