Latest news with #NathanKilah
ABC News
01-08-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Experts share advice on combating musty laundry smell
Part way through folding your freshly washed — and now dried — laundry, you notice it. You catch a whiff of that sour, musty, mildew funk. It's all through your washing. Have you ever wondered what causes that dreaded smell and what you can do to tackle it? We asked some experts. This was what they had to say. Nathan Kilah, a senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of Tasmania in Lutruwita, says "musty smells are caused by microbes". Microbes can reproduce in damp or soiled clothing, where they can create microbial volatile organic compounds (or MVOCs), Dr Kilah says. "[These compounds] have certain characteristic smells that we can pick up at quite low thresholds" as "we're very sensitive to smelling them". It can present as a rotting or sour smell, Dr Kilah says, and your washing is most at risk when it's left in a washing machine or in a washing basket. "If [it's] wet then that will be the perfect environment for microbes to grow." Warm weather can help the microbes along, he says, and so it's likely to be a more pronounced problem during summer or if you live somewhere hot. Maryam Naebe, who researches fibre science and technology at Deakin University on Wadawurrung country, she says some fibres are more likely to retain odour than others. Dr Naebe says wool is less likely to be an offender because of its structure, but polyester — which repels water and traps body oil — is an alluring candidate for MVOCs. And cotton "takes a long time to dry", giving microbes "more chance to grow". To get rid of the smell, textile expert Rebecca Van Amber says washing the offending laundry is critical. A senior lecturer at the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University in Naarm/Melbourne, she says: "There's no way to get rid of that musty smell except to wash them again." She finds adding a bit borax powder can help, "especially for towels", and says putting a tablespoon of white vinegar in the fabric softener drawer is "really useful for getting rid of bad smells". Dr Kilah says vinegar is often recommended for combating smelly washes or machines, but he advises checking the manufacturer's instructions for your machine first. Dr Van Amber says if you really want to avoid rewashing, you can try hanging things outside in the sun, which may help reduce the odour. When it comes to avoiding the issue altogether, Dr Kilah says "ventilation is number one". He recommends emptying the washing machine and hanging up your load as soon as possible: "Get them out and get them dry." Dr Naebe says ensure your laundry dries completely, particularly in humid conditions. Dr Kilah says the cleanliness of your washing machine can also be a factor. The different soaps and products we add to our washing machines can leave behind a residue that can enable microbes to form a biofilm. "They sort of grow and inhabit the surfaces of the washing machine," he says. It's more likely to be an issue if you use fabric softeners (as they leave more residue behind), only cold wash or only use liquid detergents. "Cold-cycle washes are less likely to kill the microbes", according to Dr Kilah, and many powdered detergents contain "a peroxide source which is able to actually kill some of the microbes." He recommends running a hot wash cycle occasionally and says switching to a powdered detergent may help battle a persistent laundry odour. Products designed to clean washing machines can also help "dissolve soap scum", but he advises only using them about every three months. Unpleasant-smelling laundry might have you reaching for scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners but Dr Kilah says that while they might mask the smell, they won't tackle the underlying cause. Scents and perfumes come down to personal preference, Dr Van Amber says, "but a lot of people are actually really sensitive to these strong smells". A strongly scented laundry detergent may be just as offensive as a musty smell, and "it can actually make some of the smells worse".
ABC News
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
How to defrost and defog your car windscreen quickly when it's cold and icy
If defrosting an icy windscreen has become part of your morning routine, we're here to help. There are several dos and don'ts to making sure you safely defrost the glass, and get to work or school on time. We also share the fastest way to defog your windscreen once in the car. The easiest and most accessible way to defrost a windscreen is by pouring regular tap water over the affected area. If the water temperature is above freezing, that will melt the ice. You could use a water bottle or nearby hose, for example. Be warned, using hot or boiling water is a mistake. Rapid temperature changes can crack the windscreen's laminated glass. If you prefer, a bank card or other plastic card can be used to scratch away at the frost. You can also buy purpose-built scrapers (if you're fancy like that). There are products on the market that involve various alcohols designed to quickly melt ice. "There are ones for windscreens that involve various alcohols, things like propylene glycol," says Nathan Kilah, senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of Tasmania in Lutruwita. Along with de-icer sprays, a solution of vinegar and water is a method of windscreen defrosting that is another example of this. Dr Kilah is personally not a fan, though. He says the products can be corrosive and may end up causing problems. If you dread the defrost chore on a cold winter's morning, you can prevent the icy windscreen in the first place. Leaving a blanket, towel or cardboard on the windscreen is effective. Experts say this means you can just "peel off" any ice crystals that have formed due to the temperature dropping off. Our readers shared some of their more novel ways of defrosting their car windscreen, including parking a car "nudged" into some bushes. One reader parks their car so it faces east to get the morning sun, while another pops a hot water bottle on the dash (not touching the glass) "before breakfast". For electric vehicles, one reader suggests using the app to turn on heater before you brush your teeth. And apparently half a potato does a good job of scraping off frost without scratching the glass! To defog a windscreen from the inside, you can either heat up the surface to evaporate the water, or cool down the inside of the car, so it equilibrates. While some people will opt for the latter by blasting cool air, Dr Kilah prefers to "turn on the heater and warm up the surface so that fog won't form". If you don't have an air conditioner in the car, an anti-fog wipe or spray could be an option. It's to be used ahead of time, before fogging occurs. "These products leave a thin film of material on the glass that somewhat prevents the formation of water droplets," Dr Kilah says. "But the products can require frequent reapplication or need pre-cleaning for them to work well." You can also try opening the windows to lower the temperature of the air inside the car, though Dr Kilah warns "it won't be very comfortable."
