Anyone know how to get rid of 'water' smell on clothes washed with Scrubba?

Gear Question
1

I travel a lot and always bring my Scrubba XL to wash clothes on the road, while camping, etc.

But lately, no matter what laundry soap or washing method I use, my clothes end up smelling ‘musty,’ like stale water. Even after they’re fully dry, the smell sticks around, and if I wear them, it actually seems to get worse over time.

Is there a trick to fixing this? Should I try filtering the wash water with something like my Survivor Filter Pro X or Sawyer? Or maybe add something to the rinse water after washing?

Would love any tips—thanks in advance!

2

For me, it’s often about the fabric. I have an OR sun hoodie that starts to smell after a couple of hours of hiking, almost like it’s reactivating any old sweat smells. But my Patagonia sun hoodie and my merino wool layers seem to resist odors much better, even on multi-day hikes.

Are you making sure everything is fully dry before wearing it again?

3

@Bailey
Exactly! A musty smell can mean things didn’t dry fast enough.

Merino wool’s great for staying fresh. Polypropylene tends to smell less than polyester. For synthetics, I sometimes soak them in hot water with vinegar for 20 minutes, then wash with baking soda. Works wonders for tough smells.

4

Try using a laundry disinfectant and adding OxiClean to your wash. Drying clothes in direct sunlight whenever possible also helps. Synthetics can hold onto smells a lot, while natural fibers like cotton, linen, and wool handle it better but take longer to dry.

5

I’d suggest an enzyme-based detergent specifically for activewear. Regular detergent doesn’t always work as well with these kinds of fabrics.

6

The smell is likely due to the drying process. If they don’t dry fast enough, they start to stink.

7

Fallon said:
The smell is likely due to the drying process. If they don’t dry fast enough, they start to stink.

‘Drying quickly’ might be the missing piece here. If clothes are left to air dry in a controlled indoor setting, they might take too long to dry fully.

I’m in a hotel now, so I’ll try using a hair dryer from a distance to create airflow and speed up the drying. Last time, they were hung up for 3 days until they were totally dry, but the smell was still there.

8

I always filter my wash water and have never had any odor issues.

9

Sounds like mildew from incomplete drying. Try vinegar in the rinse water and borax in the wash water. Also, don’t pack clothes up until they’re absolutely dry.

10

Nico said:
Sounds like mildew from incomplete drying. Try vinegar in the rinse water and borax in the wash water. Also, don’t pack clothes up until they’re absolutely dry.

I left them hanging for 3 days in the hotel room until they were bone dry, yet they still smell like ‘old water’ (not exactly mildew, but close).

I’ll try the hair dryer method this time to speed things up.

11

Make sure the Scrubba itself is completely clean and dry before storing it. Any moisture left inside will create a musty smell that could transfer to your clothes.

After using mine, I dry it inside and give it a quick spray with cleaner, or a bit of dish soap to prevent any lingering odor. Once dry, it’s ready for the next wash.

12

I don’t know about the Scrubba, but I use Lysol laundry disinfectant (unscented) in my washing machine, and it’s completely gotten rid of any musty smell.