Smells Like Teen Spirit—A Model to Generate Laundry-Associated Malodour In Vitro

• Main Authors: Marc-Kevin Zinn, Marco Singer, Dirk Bockmühl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: malodour; GC; sensors; <i>Micrococcus luteus</i>; <i>Staphylococcus hominis</i>; <i>Corynebacterium jeikeium</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/5/974

Although malodour formation on textiles and in washing machines has been reported to be a very relevant problem in domestic laundry, the processes leading to bad odours have not been studied intensively. In particular, the smell often described as “wet-and-dirty-dustcloth-like malodour” had not been reproduced previously. We developed a lab model based on a bacterial mixture of <i>Micrococcus</i><i> </i><i>luteus</i>, <i>Staphylococcus</i><i> </i><i>hominis</i>, and <i>Corynebacterium</i><i> </i><i>jeikeium</i>, which can produce this odour type and which might allow the detailed investigation of this problem and the development of counteractions. The model uses bacterial strains that have been isolated from malodourous textiles. We could also show that the three volatile compounds dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, and indole contribute considerably to the “wet-fabric-like” malodour. These substances were not only found to be formed in the malodour model but have already been identified in the literature as relevant malodourous substances.