Why do my clothes smell sour after washing? And how you can freshen them up again

Laundry room viewed from close to the floor. A white front loading washing machine and white wicker laundry basket full of clothing. A glass door in the background looks into a green yard.

Laundry should be straightforward. Put the clothes and linens in the drum, load it up with detergent, and press start. This means that when laundry comes out smelling musty, it can be hard to put a finger on why.

Luckily laundry experts have made their fair share of laundry mistakes resulting in lingering odors and sour smells.