Hanging Clothes to Dry

Some clothes will be hard, such as jeans and towels. To prevent this you can try a fabric softener, or leave them outside until almost dry and then put them in the dryer for 5 to 10 minutes.

I've never had a problem with clothes smelling bad.

I hang them out in both sun and shade, depends on the time of day and the time of year.

Actually you should hang them in the sun. Remember quite a few years back when everything was antibacterial including laundry detergent. One of those news shows (20/20) did a report, clothes hung out in the sun had the least amount of germs.

Are you using fabric softener? You can add a little white vinegar to the rinse cycle (they won't smell bad like the vinegar). This will help soften them and give a nice odor. You should hang them in the sun (which is a natural bleach) but don't leave the colors out too long.

I have had to hang dry stuff and it was usually the jeans that would stand on their own, lol. I do like bed sheets that were hung to dry, they would end up nice and crisp with no wrinkles.

The smell might be coming from your washing machine.
I use to hang clothes, some fabrics get stiffer than others and it also makes a big difference if there is a breeze. When they can flap in the breeze they come out much softer. I always hung mine in the sun tho, unless it was something delicate. If you leave them on the line for days at a time, fading would be an issue.

The smell could be just from the organics around your environment as well.

Where are you hanging it to dry?
Outside?
Inside?
In a room with no ventilation?

Sure if hanging clothes out to dry, outside in the sun, it can get stiff or crisp. But it is dry. But it softens up.
But if hanging it out to dry, in an area where it does NOT dry quickly... then the stale smell will happen.
The longer wet clothes sit.... it will smell.

I hang some clothes out to dry... in a covered outside area. Thus it gets lots of air movement.
It dries quickly, and does not get stiff and does not smell.
I do not use any sort of fabric softener.

I don't line dry but I do know the smell you're referring to and I agree that it might be the washer. They do have a tendency to gunk up. I recently ran a short cycle on hot with no clothes and white vinegar instead of detergent. Cleaned the washer and no more odor.

The smell is from the washer - you have to handle that there - try adding lemon juice to the wash. I air dry until they are nearly dry then put them in the dryer on low/delicate to soften them with a softner sheet.

I wash and use a liquid fabric softener. I never have stiff clothes. Some fabrics come out stiff but that is the fabric not the process.

The smell on the other hand, it is best to hang in the morning or evening. For some reason the heat of the day makes for a funky smell.

I hang everything inside my laundry room. My husband only wears button down shirts to work, and I’m not about to iron them. After washing, I hang them on a hanger, button the top, and smooth down the entire shirt and seams with my hands so everything is flat.

I never have a problem with smell or stiffness and I always use a liquid fabric softener. I don’t put anything in the dryer but towels, undies, undershirts and socks. All the kid’s clothes get hung to dry. It’s great because they last longer, always look new, stains never set and there is no folding or sorting – just pull it from the laundry room to their closets!

I hang to dry all the time.... I do use a fabric softener, however.

Yes, the clothes are stiff, but that goes away fairly quickly.

I hang mine in the shade to keep from having them fade. (I have 2 lines strung under my porch.)

I don't know what to suggest about the smell..... are you sure you aren't leaving them in the washer too long, and having them get a mildewy smell that way?

if they smell, it's because they aren't clean and previously it was being covered up by your dryer sheets.....Or, your washing machine smells and again the dryer sheets were covering it up. the other thought would be there's some underlying odors in the area you're hanging them in (freeway nearby, dog poop, etc). Try spraying them w/vinegar after you hang them out - I've found that as a great way to get all kinds of odors out without having to rewash.

sun vs shade shouldn't matter except they will dry faster in the sun.

for hard - they will be somewhat, no matter what you do. but if they are really crunchy, you've been using too much detergent. try using less and doing a double rinse. also, I put mine in the dryer for 5 minutes and then hang them out. they actually come out softer (and I don't have to worry about them getting all the way dry before I remember to go get them) than doing hang first, dryer second.

Keep trying - think how much you're saving on air conditioning too - not just the dryer costs! In CO, I haven't had to run the AC since I quit using the dryer in the summer - it makes that big of a difference!

good luck!

I air dry inside mostly as tree pollen around here is horrid certain times of the year. But weather it is dry in the house or outside, I put it in the dryer on air fluff and it makes the clothes softer.

S.

They will be stiff whether in sun or shade. Fabric softener helps some but they will be stiff and fold them and it should get better. I know people used to iron everything which helps some but I love the smell of freshly washed and line dried clothes.