Washing clothes is meant to leave them fresh and clean, but many people find their laundry comes out of the machine with an unpleasant, musty smell. Experts say the problem is often caused by a simple and very common mistake.

Cleaning specialist Lynsey Crombie has explained that using too much fabric softener can stop clothes from smelling fresh. Many households rely on softener to give laundry a pleasant scent, but overdoing it can have the opposite effect.

She said: "Ever wondered why your clothes still smell even after washing? The answer could be too much fabric softener."

Crombie explained that excess product does not actually freshen fabrics. Instead, it creates a build-up that traps moisture and bacteria. "Excess fabric conditioner creates build-up instead of freshening clothes," she said. "Less is more, avoid overuse for the best results."

Some people who followed her advice have already noticed improvements.

One person said: "I used to use too much, now I don't anymore."

Another added: "Don't know that, thanks for the info."

A third commented: "You are absolutely right."

Cleaning expert Ann Russell also warns against overusing fabric softener. She said clothes can smell fine at first but develop a sour odour after being stored.

"You put them away and you open the drawer and two days later it smells sour, that's fabric softener," she said. "It builds up on clothes and when you've got it your clothes feel floppy, heavy, and greasy."

Russell added that frequent use can make the problem worse over time. "If you use it generously in every wash you will find that your clothes get dirtier quickly, it smells funky and sour, and you can end up with weird patches on your clothes."

She also cautioned against using fabric softener for purposes it was not designed for.

"That is why I do not recommend using fabric softener for applications which it wasn't intended for," she said, referring to people using it on upholstery.

Experts agree that the easiest way to avoid musty laundry is to reduce the amount of fabric softener used or skip it altogether. Modern detergents are often strong enough to clean clothes without additional products, and using the correct amount can help prevent odours.

A small change in routine can make a noticeable difference. By avoiding this common mistake, clothes, towels and bedding are far more likely to come out of the wash smelling properly fresh.