Clothes that smell musty after storage
Short answer: The musty smell comes from moisture in a closed wardrobe or box. Air the clothes for a day and wash them if the smell stays. Store them dry and in fabric, and you avoid it next time.
Air them first
Hang the clothes freely for a day, ideally outdoors in the shade or by an open window. Fresh air removes the musty smell in most cases, without the fabric needing a wash. Turn the clothes a few times so both sides get air. It is the gentlest solution.
Wash if that does not help
If the smell is still there after a day, wash the clothes at 40 degrees without fabric softener. Softener can trap the smell in the fibres instead of removing it. Let the clothes dry fully before putting them back. The remaining rules are in the washing guide.
The cause
Clothes packed away slightly damp develop a smell over a season. They do not need to be wet, as a little moisture from a cool basement or a freshly washed item that was not fully dry is enough. Only pack away fully dry clothes. See how to store seasonal clothes without smell and moths.
The wardrobe
A wardrobe that is never opened turns musty, because the air stands still. Leave the door open now and then, especially in damp periods. Avoid placing it right against a cold outer wall if you can, as moisture gathers more easily there. A wardrobe with some space between clothes also smells less.
No airtight plastic
Plastic boxes and vacuum bags hold on to the moisture already in the clothes. That gives the smell good conditions over a long season. A fabric bag or a box with a little air is better, because the moisture can escape. Lay the clothes loosely rather than pressed together.
Where you store them
A dry room with an even temperature is the best place. Basements and lofts often vary in moisture and temperature, which causes condensation in the boxes. If the basement is your only option, open the boxes a few times during the season and check that the clothes are dry.
See the range
Underwear often lies in a drawer for a long time if there are many pairs to rotate. Drawers smell less when they are not overfilled and when the underwear is fully dry before it goes in. See the basics in bamboo underwear for women.
See also
A smell after storage is different from a smell that stays in clothes after wear and does not disappear in the wash. The latter is often caused by residue in the fibres and needs another solution. More on the topic in smell in clothes that will not go away.
Bedding from the cupboard
Bedding that has been stored for a long time has the clearest musty smell, because a lot of fabric is gathered in one place. Shake it out and leave it out for an hour before making the bed, ideally by an open window. See bamboo bedding.
Avoid it next time
Wash the clothes before packing them away and let them dry fully. Use fabric bags rather than plastic, and open the wardrobe or box now and then. When the season changes, air the clothes for a day before wearing them. Then the smell is rarely a problem.
Frequently asked questions
Why do clothes from the wardrobe smell?
Because they absorbed moisture while packed away, or because the wardrobe is rarely aired. Even a little moisture is enough to give a musty smell over a whole season.
Can you air the smell away?
Often yes. Hang the clothes freely for a day, ideally outdoors in the shade or by an open window. If that does not help, wash them at 40 degrees without softener and let them dry fully.
How do I store clothes without a smell?
Only pack away fully dry clothes, use fabric bags rather than airtight plastic and keep them in a dry room. Open the boxes now and then during the season and check that the clothes are dry.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
