Tips

Start by ruling things out. If the smell hits you the moment you open the dryer, it's musty or mildewy, and moisture is the problem somewhere in the process. If it's more sour or stale, especially on towels, bacteria survived the wash and are still in the fabric. If...

Pull a uniform off the rack three months in and you can usually tell exactly how it's been treated. The collar has lost its shape. The logo is starting to crack. The color sits a shade lighter than the new uniforms still in the box. The fabric feels thinner between...