How odour moves between garments in a wardrobe

Short answer: Odour molecules are volatile. They evaporate from one garment and settle in another, especially if the fabrics are dense and the wardrobe is closed. That is why a clean garment can take on the smell of a worn one lying beside it, and it often takes only a few hours.

The molecules travel through the air

The compounds that smell are small and light. They leave a garment by themselves and spread into the air around it. In a small, closed space the air cannot be renewed, so the concentration rises and the molecules quickly find a new surface to settle on.

Other fabrics absorb them

Fibres with a large surface or with fat residue bind the molecules. That is why a clean garment can take over the smell of a worn one. The more fat and moisture in the fibre, the easier the smell sticks and the harder it is to remove again. See bamboo footies for men.

That is why worn and clean must be kept apart

Never put a worn garment back among the clean ones. It takes a few hours to pass the smell to the neighbouring piece. If you have no room for a separate basket, hang worn items on a hanger outside the wardrobe until they are washed. See Nordic Weaving and bamboo tennis socks for men.

Dense fabrics hold on to smell

Tightly woven and thick fabrics have less air between the fibres and hold molecules longer. They also release them more slowly, so the smell can linger for days. An open, light fabric exchanges air faster but can also take up smell if it lies close to something that smells.

Moisture makes it worse

Damp garments release and take up smell faster than dry ones. Never hang a slightly damp sweater back in the wardrobe, and let clothes be completely dry before they are folded. If the wardrobe is in a room with high humidity, it can be hard to keep smell away.

What you can do in the wardrobe

Keep good space between the hangers so the air can move. Avoid stuffing drawers and shelves, and air the wardrobe when you can. A small opening at the doors gives better air exchange than a fully closed wardrobe, especially in summer.

Wash, do not hide

If a garment has taken on smell from another, washing it again often helps. Wash at the temperature printed on the garment and let it dry fully before it goes back. Do not use a strong scent to cover it, because it sits on top and does not remove the source.

Sort by use

Divide the wardrobe into a part for clean clothes and one for clothes worn once that only need airing. That way you do not move smell from one to the other, and you always know what is ready to put on.

Check the wardrobe now and then

Take everything out of the wardrobe a couple of times a year. Wipe shelves and bases, air it out and look for something that has lain too long or been forgotten. Often the source is one single garment nobody remembered, which gives smell to all the others.