This one simple trick will make your clothes smell amazing
- Replies 1
We all want our clothes to look and smell amazing, but sometimes no matter how often we wash them, that 'fresh laundry smell' seems to disappear pretty quickly. Plus, we all know regular washing speeds up the signs of wear.
Or even worse, the clothes come out smelling nice, but there’s a faint, musty undertone to their scent that you can’t help but notice.
If you're looking for ways to make your beloved items smell fresher for longer then you'll love these tips from mum-of-two Chantel Mila, who posts online as 'Mama Mila'.
She has shared many of her cleaning hacks with us, and recently, she gave her top three tips to make the 'fresh laundry smell' last longer – and they're so simple, you'll wish you'd thought of them sooner!
Remove your washing machine’s detergent tray and give it a soak
The detergent tray of our washing machines isn’t the first thing you’d think of when it comes to culprits of musty smells in your laundry, but Mama Mila highlighted it as her first tip.
‘Remove the tray from your washing machine and soak it to remove all that hidden buildup that makes clothes smell musty.’ she said.
Under running water and using a toothbrush, she scrubbed the tray until it was spotless.
You could also use a small bottle-cleaning brush if you want to reach those tight nooks and crannies a toothbrush can’t.
We advise checking your washing machine’s manual or looking for an electronic copy of it online to help out too!
Empty your washing machine’s drain filter
Washing machines’ drain filters are a more common cause of headaches for owners because leaving them unchecked for months on end can lead to serious problems, including too-wet laundry from backed-up water inside the drain.
Luckily, Mama Mila also advises cleaning filters regularly to avoid musty-smelling clothes caused by stagnant water.
‘Clean the filter, because you’ll never know what you’ll find in there,’ she added.
More on that oddly ominous note from Mama Mila, lint is a common thing that ends up clogging drain filters, so be on the lookout for even the slightest sign it’s present in drain filters.
Popular how-to website WikiHow recommends drain filters be cleaned every 3 or 4 months, or roughly 4 times yearly.
Baking soda is a popular cleaning agent found in almost everyone’s homes. Aside from the use its name suggests, it’s most often added to tasks that involve scrubbing services clean.
For Mama Mila though, she recommends mixing about half a cup (60g or about 8 tablespoons) of it with five drops of tea tree oil, then adding it to your usual laundry load.
She said it helps ‘deodorise and soften clothes’, and it ‘helps remove stains’ as well.
Mama Mila’s post was a hit with many users, with around 20,000 hearts (likes) and comments quickly coming in.
Some expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm with her tips.
‘Well I know what I’m trying tomorrow,’ one said in excitement.
Another added: ‘I need to try this!’
Some even added their own tips, to the delight of Mama Mila.
A user pointed out: ‘You should be emptying that filter on your washer and dryer often to prevent fires too.’
Others shared an important reminder for the third tip, especially for pet owners.
‘Tea Tree Oil is toxic to a lot of pets and can cause respiratory issues. Just the smell of it in the air can do this, for your information,’ a concerned user wrote.
Exposure to pure forms of the extract are said to cause serious side effects in pets, including tremors, lethargy, and comatose.
Maybe give alternatives like lavender and chamomile a try, then?
For more laundry-related tips, check this story out on the effectiveness of a classic laundry technique, or these hacks one mum swears by.
So, what do you think of these tips from Mama Mila? Do you have any other ways to keep laundry smelling fresh for longer?
Share them in the comments section below!
Source: TikTok/@mama_mila_
Or even worse, the clothes come out smelling nice, but there’s a faint, musty undertone to their scent that you can’t help but notice.
If you're looking for ways to make your beloved items smell fresher for longer then you'll love these tips from mum-of-two Chantel Mila, who posts online as 'Mama Mila'.
She has shared many of her cleaning hacks with us, and recently, she gave her top three tips to make the 'fresh laundry smell' last longer – and they're so simple, you'll wish you'd thought of them sooner!
Remove your washing machine’s detergent tray and give it a soak
Not even detergent trays in washing machines are safe from dirt buildup. Credit: TikTok/@mama_mila_
The detergent tray of our washing machines isn’t the first thing you’d think of when it comes to culprits of musty smells in your laundry, but Mama Mila highlighted it as her first tip.
‘Remove the tray from your washing machine and soak it to remove all that hidden buildup that makes clothes smell musty.’ she said.
Under running water and using a toothbrush, she scrubbed the tray until it was spotless.
You could also use a small bottle-cleaning brush if you want to reach those tight nooks and crannies a toothbrush can’t.
We advise checking your washing machine’s manual or looking for an electronic copy of it online to help out too!
Empty your washing machine’s drain filter
Washing machine drains are often overlooked. Credit: TikTok/@mama_mila_
Washing machines’ drain filters are a more common cause of headaches for owners because leaving them unchecked for months on end can lead to serious problems, including too-wet laundry from backed-up water inside the drain.
Luckily, Mama Mila also advises cleaning filters regularly to avoid musty-smelling clothes caused by stagnant water.
‘Clean the filter, because you’ll never know what you’ll find in there,’ she added.
More on that oddly ominous note from Mama Mila, lint is a common thing that ends up clogging drain filters, so be on the lookout for even the slightest sign it’s present in drain filters.
Popular how-to website WikiHow recommends drain filters be cleaned every 3 or 4 months, or roughly 4 times yearly.
Include baking soda and tea tree oil in your laundry routine
Tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties which make it a great laundry additive. Credit: TikTok/@mama_mila_
Baking soda is a popular cleaning agent found in almost everyone’s homes. Aside from the use its name suggests, it’s most often added to tasks that involve scrubbing services clean.
For Mama Mila though, she recommends mixing about half a cup (60g or about 8 tablespoons) of it with five drops of tea tree oil, then adding it to your usual laundry load.
She said it helps ‘deodorise and soften clothes’, and it ‘helps remove stains’ as well.
Mama Mila’s post was a hit with many users, with around 20,000 hearts (likes) and comments quickly coming in.
Some expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm with her tips.
‘Well I know what I’m trying tomorrow,’ one said in excitement.
Another added: ‘I need to try this!’
Some even added their own tips, to the delight of Mama Mila.
A user pointed out: ‘You should be emptying that filter on your washer and dryer often to prevent fires too.’
Unchecked lint buildup in washing machine filters can lead to mould and mildew growth. Credit: YouTube/LG DIY Service
‘Tea Tree Oil is toxic to a lot of pets and can cause respiratory issues. Just the smell of it in the air can do this, for your information,’ a concerned user wrote.
Exposure to pure forms of the extract are said to cause serious side effects in pets, including tremors, lethargy, and comatose.
Maybe give alternatives like lavender and chamomile a try, then?
For more laundry-related tips, check this story out on the effectiveness of a classic laundry technique, or these hacks one mum swears by.
So, what do you think of these tips from Mama Mila? Do you have any other ways to keep laundry smelling fresh for longer?
Share them in the comments section below!
Source: TikTok/@mama_mila_
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