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> in Canada it isn't feasible to hang them out in the sun to dry Collapsible drying racks are a thing. IKEA sells them for cheap. Just leave them by your windo

> in Canada it isn't feasible to hang them out in the sun to dry Collapsible drying racks are a thing. IKEA sells them for cheap. Just leave them by your window, vent or fan. > I stopped buying expensive exercise clothing many years ago because they only last a season before they smell too bad I'm very confused. It still smells despite washing with laundry detergent after each use? My gym clothing has zero smell & I've had them for >5 years, with weekly use for each piece.

petesergeant 3y ago
Once the smell gets in, it’s very hard to get it out again, ime. If I’m always able to wash the stuff ASAP after wearing and with hot water, it’s fine, but if I’ve only got access to cold water washers and air drying for a month or so, they’ll never be the same again, even if I boil wash them.
- Broken_Hippo 3y ago
  Drying doesn't remove smells, though: As long as you wash them properly, air drying shouldn't be an issue at all.
  - petesergeant 3y ago
    Right, but staying damp over a period of time because they’re air-drying in a humid country presumably allows the bacteria a more hospitable environment? I’ve found clothes can smell musty from air-drying unless you’re able to get them in the sun very quickly
    - Broken_Hippo 3y ago
      Where I live, it is common to air-dry clothes on dryer racks. It isn't as common for folks to have dryers inside the house. The catch: I'm in Norway, and can promise you these clothes aren't seeing sun for most of the year. People don't stink - and it isn't due to being used to the smell. Folks didn't stink when I moved here a decade ago either. Clothes don't stink more in the winter, even though they take more time to dry due to colder house temperatures. You can't leave them for hours in the washer, but that's true even if you are using a dryer. Of course, there are exceptions. You really should hang them up soon after you take them out of the washer.
      - Eisenstein 3y ago
        > even though they take more time to dry due to colder house temperatures. However when it is very cold the air is much drier. Contrast that to a temperate but humid climate where everything sits at 20C - 25C w/80% - 100% humidity. Practically a microbial incubator.
        atchoo 3y ago
        That's basically the UK and I haven't experienced a problem with indoor air drying. I would give some basic guidelines though. It's the sort of things that you don't think you need to tell people until you see what they do... - ideally machine washed with a significant spin to remove water. Air drying hand washed items that are sopping wet is a lot harder - might take 4x longer - hang in a room with decent ventilation and some active air flow. Trying to air dry in the equivalent of a cupboard would be doomed - hang fully spread out with decent space between the clothes. Drying time will be significantly extended if densely scrunched together with pieces touching. Buy multiple racks to get enough hanging space. - don't put used wet gym clothes in a laundry bin to fester. If you aren't washing them immediately, hang them up to dry first and put them in the bin later
        Broken_Hippo 3y ago
        I've done the second for a few years when I lived in the US - Indiana, to be exact, which is quite humid. I couldn't really afford the driers at the laudromat, so I brought stuff home to dry inside. No issues, summer or winter. Drying time here (Norway) in winter is about the same as high humidity was in the US. Summer is the dry season here - there is often a forest fire watch and a ban on open flames/fires. In general, as long as there is air flow, you are fine. It'll take longer/shorter depending on humidity and air temperature.
Broken_Hippo 3y ago
Collapsible drying racks are a thing. IKEA sells them for cheap. Just leave them by your window, vent or fan. I live in a cold climate - Norway - and this is the common drying method. Dryers aren't common in homes. Folks will put the rack on a balcony on nice days, and wherever they will fit in when it isn't.
cassianoleal 3y ago
> My gym clothing has zero smell & I've had them for >5 years I don't understand this either. I've been seeing loads of articles and posts about smelly gym clothes but I have both gym and outdoors clothes that have been going strong for much longer than 5 years and none of them smell after a wash. In fact, most can be worn for multiple sweaty sessions before they even start to smell.

petesergeant 3y ago

Once the smell gets in, it’s very hard to get it out again, ime. If I’m always able to wash the stuff ASAP after wearing and with hot water, it’s fine, but if I’ve only got access to cold water washers and air drying for a month or so, they’ll never be the same again, even if I boil wash them.

Broken_Hippo 3y ago
Drying doesn't remove smells, though: As long as you wash them properly, air drying shouldn't be an issue at all.
- petesergeant 3y ago
  Right, but staying damp over a period of time because they’re air-drying in a humid country presumably allows the bacteria a more hospitable environment? I’ve found clothes can smell musty from air-drying unless you’re able to get them in the sun very quickly
  - Broken_Hippo 3y ago
    Where I live, it is common to air-dry clothes on dryer racks. It isn't as common for folks to have dryers inside the house. The catch: I'm in Norway, and can promise you these clothes aren't seeing sun for most of the year. People don't stink - and it isn't due to being used to the smell. Folks didn't stink when I moved here a decade ago either. Clothes don't stink more in the winter, even though they take more time to dry due to colder house temperatures. You can't leave them for hours in the washer, but that's true even if you are using a dryer. Of course, there are exceptions. You really should hang them up soon after you take them out of the washer.
    - Eisenstein 3y ago
      > even though they take more time to dry due to colder house temperatures. However when it is very cold the air is much drier. Contrast that to a temperate but humid climate where everything sits at 20C - 25C w/80% - 100% humidity. Practically a microbial incubator.
      - atchoo 3y ago
        That's basically the UK and I haven't experienced a problem with indoor air drying. I would give some basic guidelines though. It's the sort of things that you don't think you need to tell people until you see what they do... - ideally machine washed with a significant spin to remove water. Air drying hand washed items that are sopping wet is a lot harder - might take 4x longer - hang in a room with decent ventilation and some active air flow. Trying to air dry in the equivalent of a cupboard would be doomed - hang fully spread out with decent space between the clothes. Drying time will be significantly extended if densely scrunched together with pieces touching. Buy multiple racks to get enough hanging space. - don't put used wet gym clothes in a laundry bin to fester. If you aren't washing them immediately, hang them up to dry first and put them in the bin later
      - Broken_Hippo 3y ago
        I've done the second for a few years when I lived in the US - Indiana, to be exact, which is quite humid. I couldn't really afford the driers at the laudromat, so I brought stuff home to dry inside. No issues, summer or winter. Drying time here (Norway) in winter is about the same as high humidity was in the US. Summer is the dry season here - there is often a forest fire watch and a ban on open flames/fires. In general, as long as there is air flow, you are fine. It'll take longer/shorter depending on humidity and air temperature.

Broken_Hippo 3y ago

Collapsible drying racks are a thing. IKEA sells them for cheap. Just leave them by your window, vent or fan. I live in a cold climate - Norway - and this is the common drying method. Dryers aren't common in homes. Folks will put the rack on a balcony on nice days, and wherever they will fit in when it isn't.

cassianoleal 3y ago

> My gym clothing has zero smell & I've had them for >5 years I don't understand this either. I've been seeing loads of articles and posts about smelly gym clothes but I have both gym and outdoors clothes that have been going strong for much longer than 5 years and none of them smell after a wash. In fact, most can be worn for multiple sweaty sessions before they even start to smell.