Clothes smell musty after drying indoors in humid weather: causes and fixes

Quick answer: clothes dried indoors smell mainly because they stay damp for too long. To stop the smell, hang them as soon as the wash finishes, spin them well, space them out and add airflow or a dehumidifier. Clothes that already smell should be washed again and dried completely before putting away.

Why do clothes dried indoors smell?

In northern Vietnam’s humid spring season (known as nồm, roughly February to April), the air is almost saturated, so clothes dry very slowly. Fabric that stays damp for hours lets mould and microorganisms grow, producing a musty smell. It gets worse when:

• Washed clothes sit in the machine before being hung.
• They are not spun enough and hold a lot of water.
• They hang close together with no airflow.
• They are put away before they are fully dry.

Washing and drying to avoid the smell

1. Hang clothes as soon as the cycle ends. Don’t leave wet laundry in the drum overnight.
2. Spin harder than usual: choose a higher spin speed or an extra spin (for fabrics that allow it).
3. Space them out: one item per hanger with gaps between. Turn thick items like jeans and sweatshirts inside out and hang them in the airiest spot.
4. Add airflow and dry the air: point a fan at the drying area. If you have a dehumidifier or an air conditioner with a Dry mode, close the room so it works efficiently.
5. Close windows on very humid days. Opening them only lets more moisture in.
6. Use a dryer for underwear, towels and baby clothes if you have one.
7. Keep the machine clean: wipe the door seal, rinse the detergent drawer and leave the door ajar after washing.

Choosing laundry products for humid weather

• Detergent with odour control: SPY Deep Clean Plus is a 2-in-1 detergent with Tinosan HP100 to help remove odours. Good for clothes worn all day and sportswear.
• Everyday 2-in-1 for the whole family: SPY Ultra Clean Plus is a concentrated formula that cleans and helps remove odours from clothes, washing and softening in one step.
• Softener with mildew protection: SPY 5-in-1 Fabric Softener uses scent beads, softens fabric and helps protect clothes dried indoors on damp days from mildew. Use 50–100ml for 5–7kg in the final rinse.
• Fabric spray for dry clothes that still smell damp: SPY Fabric Spray, sprayed on dry fabric from about 20–30cm away.

What to do with clothes that already smell

• Wash them again at the right dose, then dry them as above until completely dry.
• Don’t spray fragrance on damp clothes to cover the smell. It comes back when the scent fades.
• Towels and cleaning cloths hold smells most. Wash them separately and dry them where there is airflow.
• Wardrobes: use moisture absorbers and only store clothes that are fully dry.

FAQ

Will more fabric softener stop the smell? No. Softener softens and adds scent, but if clothes stay damp, the smell comes back. Drying them quickly matters most.

Is it OK to dry clothes in the bedroom? Lots of wet laundry in a closed room makes it damper. If you must, run a fan or dehumidifier and open the door when the weather is less humid.