What makes clothes that are kept for too long without use develop that distinct “stored” odor?

Question

That distinct scent on clothes that haven’t been worn in a couple of years or more.

Same with fabrics on homes or cars, such as curtains and carpets.

In: 479

Answer 1

My understanding is that it’s dust mites, and what they excrete. Synthetic fabrics also take up sweat and bacteria, and it does not clean out as it accumulates over time.

Using eucalyptus oil, a few drops, in a load of laundry, kills the mites. That has really helped for cotton sheets and t-shirts. It doesn’t do much for synthetics that have picked up other odors over time.