It's not actually the damp you can smell. Here's what is.
Have you ever noticed your towels smell fine when they're dry, then like a wet dog the second you use them?
Or your washing comes off the airer smelling sour, even though it went in clean?
It's what the wash leaves behind.
Luckily it's pretty easy to fix. Here's how:
A wash gets your clothes clean, but it doesn't get them sterile.
A few bacteria always make it through, along with tiny traces of sweat and skin oil.
If your washing dries quickly, they don't get much of a chance to do anything.
But when it hangs damp for hours on a cold day, they break down what's left of that sweat and oil into smelly chemicals.
That's the sour, wet dog smell. Not the water, but what they make while it's wet.
And drying it doesn't get rid of them.
In one study, the bacteria behind that classic damp towel smell survived being dried out.
That's why a towel can smell fine on the rail, then the moment it's wet again, the smell comes straight back.
A load of washing holds a lot more water than you'd think.
As it dries, it can put roughly two litres of water into your room.
That's a big bottle of fizzy drink's worth, hanging in the air with nowhere to go.
So the air gets heavy, everything dries slower, and the water ends up as condensation on your cold windows.
And thick towels are the slowest of all, so they spend the longest damp.
Which is why the fix isn't just about washing. It's about where the water goes.
If the care label says 60 degrees, wash it at 60 with a biological detergent.
Biological just means it has enzymes in it, which break down the sweat and oil the smell comes from.
Use a full cycle, not a quick wash.
The heat and the time in the water do a lot of the work, and a quick wash just gives you the same smell back.
Stick to the dose on the pack, too. More doesn't clean better, it just leaves more behind.
If it still smells when it's wet, the source is still in there.
Give it one more wash before you try anything else, then dry it the way below.
Fill a sink or bowl with water at around 40 degrees, about as hot as a hot bath.
Stir in oxygen bleach at the dose on the tub until it's dissolved, then push the washing right under.
Give colours up to an hour and whites a few hours, but check the tub, as every brand's a bit different.
Then wash it as normal, at the hottest temperature the label allows.
✕ Not on wool or silk.
Oxygen bleach and bio detergent can damage the fibres.
Use the highest spin the label allows. Every drop the machine gets out is one less drop drying into your room.
Then take it out as soon as the cycle ends, as wet washing bunched up in a closed drum barely dries at all.
If you forget a load and it already smells, wash it again. Hanging it up won't fix it.
Leave gaps between each item, and open towels out rather than folding them double over one rail.
If it won't all fit spread out, wash a bit less at a time.
This is the step everyone skips.
Heating the room dries washing faster, but the water just goes into the air and stays in your home.
So open a window a crack, put the extractor fan on, or use a dehumidifier.
In one Which? test, a dehumidifier almost halved the drying time.
Wipe the gunk out of the drawer and the folds of the rubber seal, then dry them.
Run the cleaning programme, or the empty hot wash your manual suggests, and leave the door open after.
A clean-looking drum doesn't mean the rest of the machine is clean.
Don't make these 3 mistakes.
✕ Don't cover it up with more scent.
Perfume sits on top, and whatever's causing the smell is still there underneath.
✕ Don't dry it on radiators or heaters.
Radiators push all the water straight into your room, and clothes on an electric heater are a fire risk.
✕ Don't rely on vinegar.
There's little proof it works in the wash, some machine makers say it can wear the rubber seals, and mixed with bleach it gives off a harmful gas.
As you now know, perfume can't fix a smell. It just sits on top of it.
So here's the strange thing.
A lot of detergents are still sold on how they smell.
Spring fresh, cotton breeze, mountain air. All perfume, so washing smells clean the second it's out.
But if the wash hasn't shifted what's causing the smell, that perfume is just covering it up.
And it's made to stay in the fabric, not rinse away.
So your towels and sheets smell "fresh", with the old smell still hiding underneath.
Then it all comes back the second they get damp.
Once you know that, it's hard to unknow.
That's exactly the problem we wanted to fix.
So we made a detergent that does the cleaning, not the covering up.
Dip is plant-based and lower-impact, and every single ingredient is published for you to read.
No vague "fragrance" and no list you'd need a chemistry degree to decode.
So you know exactly what's going on your clothes.
Pick our light scent, or go Fragrance Free if you'd rather have nothing.
Either way, the clean comes from the wash, not from perfume sitting on top.
Most of what's in a big bottle of liquid detergent is water.
Dip leaves that out, so over 80% of what you're washing with is actually doing the cleaning.
It's a sheet the size of your hand, doing everything that heavy bottle does.
Dip is dermatologically tested, and it still shifts everyday stains and grime.
The gentleness comes from what's left out, not from cleaning any less.
Straight from real, verified customers
Real reviews, word for word, filterable by rating.
I like my washing to smell clean rather than of perfume but still like the cleaning power of bio... We have hard water so used a whole sheet and the clothes came out clean and fresh and stains that our standard non-bio detergent struggled with are gone.Charlie B25 Mar 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
So quick and easy to use, no plastic and they smell so good! I keep saying I can't believe how nice our clothes smell from a tiny piece of paper. We have 3 small kids too and they seem to wash everything with ease.Sarah Davy14 Apr 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
Lovely fresh smell and whites are bright after a wash. Stains came out of a white wash with bed linen... Detergents sheets dissolve in the machine and work well in our hard water area.Pauline Ryan8 Nov 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I love the fact these sheets clean my laundry without using nasty toxins - they are easy to store, smell great and clean all the clothes well, especially my husband's work clothes that are often covered in dust, concrete and mud - won't go back to nasty liquid detergents now!Sharon8 Dec 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
...delivery schedules are flexible to suit your individual needs. 30 sheets pack lasts me for around 4-5 months, mainly because I live alone, but also because half a sheet does most loads, thereby halving the cost.Mrs Debbie Begley12 Mar 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
My Samsung bubble washing machine didn't work well with laundry liquid pouch tabs, they'd dissolve a little bit, then it'd stick on an article of clothing for the remaining of the washing cycle... Dip is honestly my game changerCharlotte782 Jul 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
I've given 4 stars as I haven't yet tested Dip on stains... there are benefits in that there's no plastic and the ingredients are more eco friendly. Also it has a subtle pleasant fragrance.Margaret Airs12 Apr 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
The sheets dissolve and there is only the small cardboard container to recycle, no drips, no residual waste leftover AND the wash is EXCELLENT!... I was surprised how good it was on white towels and sheets and the fragrance is really fresh.GK3 Feb 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
My little boy has suffered with eczema his whole life... I've used dip sheets for over 2 months and he hasn't had a flare up and his skin is clear of eczema. I rarely leave reviews but hopefully this can help other mothers make the switch.Joshua Batch8 May 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I bought them for my two children who have eczema and get bad flare up's on their arms. I didn't like the thought of all those chemicals sitting on their sensitive arms all day... They smell fresh, without having a smell - if that even makes sense.Kara Haynes21 Apr 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I've been using these detergent sheets for about 3 years... The scent isn't overpowering and is hardly detected when dry. The sheets store easily in a plastic box that takes up about 1/4 of the space of a detergent powder box.Lesley Rickard14 Apr 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
These are the first eco laundry sheets I've tried which actually do a good job... they seem to be cleaning well, and our clothes can be pretty challenging (mud, sweat, pasta sauce...)! The sheets are easy to take on our travels, tooRoanscot18 Jun 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
The laundry sheets clean really well and you can even use a small piece as a concentrated stain remover. No plastic is the most amazing thing and no giant bottles in your cupboardAnne5 Oct 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I have now tried several laundry sheets from different manufacturers/ brands and have taken out a subscription to DIP. DIP beat the rest on stain removal and cool washes. I use two sheets for a heavier stained or larger load.Kim Douglas4 Jun 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I didn't know the tip of using a bit of a sheet to treat an area, but even with just a simple wash (sometimes two sheets), grime from kids clothes washes away effectively!Alison Craig7 Nov 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
Great wash sheets. Easy to store in the cupboard plus no need to carry heavy bottles back from the supermarket. Easy to pop in the machine drawer. Perfect result every time.Di Hill4 Sep 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I love this arrives in a lovely little box so no hardship for me to lift as I suffer from rheumatoid disease so lifting those heavy washing soap plastic bottles of the shelf is difficult as is opening them. With dip the box slide open and all I have to do is pour.Loraine15 Apr 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I've been using Dip laundry sheets for over 3 years now... my repeat order was left outside and unfortunately got rained on, turning the sheets to unusable mush. A quick email and some photos to Dip and within the same week I'd received replacements!Gill9 Nov 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
There was an issue with my order (which wasn't their fault at all), and they handled it perfectly. I got a response within 10 minutes, and they immediately arranged a replacement, no hassle, no delays.Mike6 May 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
I made a mistake ordering fragranced detergent sheets but the smell was not to my liking/too strong. Cancelled my subscription no questions asked and I was offered a try of a non-fragranced version for no charge.TL7 Apr 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
Not had a bad laundry wash yet and been using the Dip laundry sheets for a couple of months now... You can also set up a subscription style re-stock system, but it's flexible allowing you to pause if you don't need a new supply.S Almond2 Jul 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
I love the detergent sheets. They work and are so convenient when you are travelling, no more travel wash that leaks in your suitcase. I have these on subscription and are easy to manage, I order them when I need them.Littlemonkey13 Apr 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
I generally avoid subscriptions, but the laundry sheets from Dip are a worthy exception to my rule. They're compact and easy to store, clean my clothes beautifully with no nasties and no waste, and the price is great.Johannes1 Jul 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
Absolutely love these detergent sheets. No more huge plastic bottles and my plastic guilt has gone. They work very well and smell lovely.Claire27 Feb 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
Clean clothes, no icky dispenser draw... Less space used in storage. Not paying to deliver water so eco friendly too... Long live DIP laundry sheetsVanessa de Selincourt19 Dec 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
they're clean and tidy out of the machine, unlike big boxes of powder, they don't cause the problems with smelly machines and clogging that liquid and capsules seem to, and they do a super job of the wash, both whites and coloureds.DJS UZ15 Oct 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
It's so easy to use and doesn't leave mould in the machine like my previous products... I started using it for its eco credentials but would recommend it for its cleaning ability.Mrs Burton12 Apr 2026 Verified on Trustpilot
I wasn't sure if a sheet would work, but I gave it a go because of the environmental benefits. I've been really pleased with the results, clothes are clean and smell fresh. I'm a convert!Mrs GW14 May 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
...so far so good! The scent is lovely, and they seemed to do a decent job. However, I haven't yet put them to the test with toddler stains that are tougher to get out - so can't give 5 stars yet.Caroline4 Sep 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I don't get the gel remaining in the clothes after a wash cycle as these are sheets which dissolve completely in the wash cycle (even on a quick wash at low temperatures)... Some more fragrances to choose from would be a nice addition to the product.Julie Blakeney14 Jul 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
The laundry sheets leave the laundry smelling great. It's not too strong a scent though which is good. There's no bulky bottles or powder box which makes them easy to store. Price wise it is a bit on the expensive side compared to other detergents.R. Keyani14 Aug 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
Generally the dip sheets work well with moderately grubby washing. However if an item is stained, or very dirty then they do not work so well. Getting blood out of laundry is difficult I grant but dip failed miserably with this yesterday.Debbie14 Apr 2025 Verified on Trustpilot
I like that this product is natural and toxin free so will continue to use it, however I was disappointed at the scent on the clothes after washing... The sheets clean lightly soiled clothing well but unfortunately the stain removing properties aren't so good on my outdoor, mud loving 8 year olds clothes!
Hi Emma, thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear that our sheets didn't meet your expectations. Please may you send us an email at support@wearedip.co and I would be happy to assist you with our refund process. :)
Love that these sheets are so space-saving (as well as being better for our health)... So far, I've found that I have to use a whole sheet, and not one torn in half, for my 9kg loads in a hard-water area. Unfortunately, it makes laundry doubly as expensive as it otherwise might be
Hi Sandi, thank you for sharing your review of Dip! Please may you send us an email at support@wearedip.co and I would be happy to assist you with your order. :)
So I love the ethics of the company. The wash sheets are ok but for a freshen up load-they didn't get the stains out of white school uniform. The scent isn't strong at all but that's ok because of the benefits of using the sheets.
Hi there, thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear our sheets didn't meet your expectations. Please may you send us an email at support@wearedip.co and I would be happy to assist you with our refund process. :)
I actually took the time to read the ingredients of the fragrance free sheets and I was shocked to see 'Builder' and 'Fabric softener' on the back of the box. I have also seen on their list of ingredients that they have PVA which is a cause for concern as it enters the water courses as micro plastics.
Thanks for the feedback. The film is polyvinyl alcohol, and we name it on every ingredient list. It dissolves in water, and our laundry sheets are OECD 301B certified biodegradable. The packaging is recyclable card.
Sadly the laundry sheets just don't perform. Our laundry is fairly challenging, as we have 2 boys, a motocrosser and a lot of sports laundry!... I've now had to use 2 full sheets to get even half the cleaning performance of Fairy non bio that we were using before.
Hi Bryony, thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear that our sheets didn't meet your expectations. Please may you send us an email at support@wearedip.co and I would be happy to assist you with our refund process. :)
They smell beautiful as the dry sheets, but didn't have that same affect on the washing- says on the pack to used 3 sheets, I've had to use 4 of the detergent sheets and 4 of the fabric conditions sheets just to get the slightest hint of fresheness!
Hi Katie, thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear our sheets didn't meet your expectations. Please may you send us an email at support@wearedip.co and I would be happy to assist you with our refund process. :)
They smell lovely before you put them and that's why it gets two stars. After washing there is no scent, my clothes don't feel really clean and the stains don't come out at all.
Hi Tia, thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear that our sheets didn't meet your expectations. Please may you send us an email at support@wearedip.co and I would be happy to assist you with our refund process. :)
Sorry Dip I really wanted to love these products but the laundry sheets just don't work on even the simplest of stains, i've tried double, i've tried hotter & longer washes & the fab con sheets add absolutely nothing at all to the wash, nothing comes out soft.
Hi Kate, thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear our sheets didn't meet your expectations. Please may you send us an email at support@wearedip.co and I would be happy to assist you with our refund process. :)
Give them a proper wash with Dip, then dry them the way you now know how.
Then keep using it every wash after, for better ingredients on the towels and sheets that sit against your skin.
Over 100,000 families have already made the switch.
Right now we've got an offer on: 50% off your first subscription order.
Free delivery too, and a 90-day money-back guarantee if it's not for you.
