Why do clothes hanging in the air have a foul odor?, Shanghai is getting wet and humid again, with the plum rain | Microorganisms | Shanghai

Shanghai has once again ushered in the rainy season. What makes people uncomfortable is not only the hot and humid weather, but also the clothes that always don't dry. Many citizens have found that clothes that are being hung up can produce a foul odor, even after repeated cleaning, which still exists. What exactly is going on?

Strictly speaking, it's really because it wasn't washed clean

For clothes that smell, many citizens feel that it has nothing to do with the cleaning method - the same cleaning method will not smell in non Huangmei days, but in Huangmei days, it will inexplicably smell.

But in fact, this unpleasant smell is really because it hasn't been washed clean. However, it cannot be washed clean either.

Usually, there will be residual sebum and dandruff secreted by the human body, various microorganisms in the environment, and various stains on clothing. In daily cleaning, even with careful cleaning, although stains can be removed, it is impossible to completely remove sebum, dandruff, and microorganisms. On dry and clear days, the water in the clothes quickly evaporates after washing, and the residual microorganisms do not grow exponentially, so it is less likely to produce odors. Moreover, some fabrics, after being exposed to sunlight, will produce organic compounds such as aldehydes, which possess a pleasant special aroma, commonly known as the "sun flavor".

But in the hot and humid rainy weather, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms left on clothing have an excellent breeding environment, and sebum and dandruff are their "food". They reproduce in large quantities, producing acidic and odorous substances such as propionic acid, which can cause clothing to smell.

Moreover, observant citizens have noticed that there are differences in the probability and degree of odor from clothes made of different materials. This is determined by the fiber of clothing. Overall, natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool have more textures and are more prone to accumulating dirt, making them more prone to producing unpleasant odors in Huangmeitian; The structure of artificial fibers is relatively smooth, with less residue, so there will be less odor.

This can reduce the odor

The cause has been identified, and targeted medication can alleviate the odor. In terms of daily life, there are four ways that are more feasible.

One is to wash and change frequently.

Wearing clothes for a long time without changing can lead to the accumulation of residual sebum, dandruff, and microorganisms, which not only increases the difficulty of washing, but also increases the probability of clothing producing odors. In addition, even clothes that have only been worn once but have been left unused for a long time may still have a foul odor in rainy weather due to residual microorganisms.

It should be noted that the odor people smell is mostly small molecule organic matter, which will slowly penetrate into the interior of the fibers. If not cleaned in time, it may be difficult to remove over time. So, Huang Meitian must wash clothes in a timely manner.

The second is to use bactericidal and antibacterial detergents.

Conventional detergents only have the ability to remove stains, while the cause of odor is microbial growth. At present, there are many washing products on the market that have bactericidal and antibacterial ingredients. In rainy weather, moderate use of such products can slow down microbial growth and reduce odor.

Thirdly, consumers with conditions can use a dryer.

The high temperature of the dryer can effectively kill bacteria and fungi, significantly shorten the drying time of clothes during the rainy season, and reduce the incidence of odor.

The fourth is to open the cover and ventilate the washing machine after use.

Many consumers overlook a detail: the washing machine is not ventilated after washing clothes.

You should know that the interior of the washing machine is very humid. If the back cover of the machine is tightly closed after washing clothes, the high temperature environment makes the inner cylinder of the machine almost become a culture dish for residual microorganisms. Imagine using a washing machine full of bacteria and fungi to wash clothes, can the clothes be washed clean? And the washing machine itself can also produce odors due to microbial growth.

So, in addition to regularly cleaning the washing machine, opening the washing machine cover after each wash and allowing the inner cylinder to air dry naturally is also an effective way to reduce microbial growth.

What to do with clothes that have already smelled?

Many citizens have found that even if they wash and air dry clothes that have already smelled, they cannot remove them. This is because acidic substances with unpleasant odors have penetrated into the fibers, and conventional washing methods are powerless against them.

At this time, washing agents such as soda ash and low concentration oxygen bleach can be mixed with warm water, soaked in clothes for a period of time, and then cleaned. Generally, they can be removed.

However, this method is not suitable for clothing such as wool, cashmere, real silk, copper ammonia fiber, vinegar fiber fabrics, etc., and it is also important to be careful of oxygen bleaching agents that may cause some colored clothing to fade. For this type of clothing, it is recommended to use professional cleaning methods according to the washing label.