The hidden ecosystem in your laundry: Why your washing machine might be making your clothes smelly |
Your washing machine, surprisingly, is a breeding ground for odour-causing microbes. Modern cold washes allow bacteria and oils to accumulate, forming resilient biofilms that cling to clothes. These biofilms metabolise residues, releasing unpleasant smells. It is a common modern frustration. You pull a fresh load of laundry out of the machine, expecting that crisp, sun-dried…