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Jun 28, 2024 · Once you can smell mildew, it may already be too late to fix it with a normal wash cycle. Instead, you may need to try vinegar, borax, and even vodka to freshen the scent of your clothes. Here are some quick and easy ways to get rid of the terrible odor mildew leaves behind.
- Overview
- What is that musty smell on clothes?
- Why won’t that smell go away?
- How do I get rid of that musty smell?
- Why do my clothes smell after they’re dry and clean?
- Why do my clothes smell after drying?
- What can I do if I just can’t get the must out?
- Is it OK to wear clothes that smell like mildew?
1 What is that musty smell on clothes?
2 Why won’t that smell go away?
3 How do I get rid of that musty smell?
If you’ve ever forgotten to bring a change of clothes with you to the gym or you’ve accidentally left a load of damp clothes in the washing machine overnight (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?) then you know that musty smell. This stale, damp odor is often mildew, which is caused by a combination of bacteria, sweat, and moisture. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can
get rid of that smell
, and the odds are high that once you fix the underlying problem, this shouldn’t come up in the future.
It’s usually a combination of bacteria, sweat, and oil.
Anyone who hits the gym regularly might recognize this odor on their workout gear, even after they’ve washed it. Your clothes pick up any sweat and natural body oils, so when you work out, your clothes absorb a ton of microbes and odors. If given enough time, all of that stuff in your clothing’s fiber will create a musty odor.
This kind of musty odor will typically come out after a wash, but if you don’t wash your clothes fast enough or your washing machine isn’t clean, it can settle into the fabric and become much harder to get out.
If your fresh laundry smells musty after it dries, that’s mildew.
Your washing machine could be harboring the odor-causing bacteria.
Open your washing machine when it’s dry and empty, and take a sniff. Does it have a damp, moldy odor? If so, your machine is to blame.
If your machine has a self-clean function, try that first. If not (or if the self-clean doesn’t do the trick), run an empty cycle with warm water and pour in 2 cups (470 mL) of distilled white vinegar. If that doesn’t work, scrub the drum by hand with vinegar and water using a sponge.
You may need to do this multiple times to fully get rid of the bacteria and fungus causing that smell.
Your dryer could be harboring the bacteria as well, although it’s typically the washing machine to blame on this one.
Your hamper could be keeping that mustiness around.
Re-wash your clothes with vinegar.
Load your clothes in the washing machine, add a standard amount of mild detergent, and turn the dial to the hot water setting. Add 1–2 tsp (4.9–9.9 ml) of white vinegar to the detergent drawer to deodorize your clothes and run the cycle.
The hotter the water, the faster that bacteria and sweat will dissolve out of the clothing fiber.
Musty smells in clothing come from mold and mildew. Wash items with detergent containing enzymes to break down odors. For extra odor-fighting power, add vinegar or lemon juice. Dry completely, as leftover moisture lets smells persist. If odors linger, hang clothes in sun or freeze overnight to kill mold. With effort to scrub away remaining spores, you can banish that stubborn musty smell.
Dry your clothes immediately once you’re done re-washing.
After the wash cycle is over, line dry your clothes outside to completely prevent that smell from developing. If this isn’t practical, get your clothes in the dryer
You probably aren’t taking them out of the machine fast enough.
The longer your damp clothes sit in the washing machine, the more time mildew has to develop in your clothing. When you start a wash cycle, set a timer on your phone that matches the length of the wash cycle so you don’t forget. That way, you can transfer your clothes to the dryer immediately.
Your dryer may be dirty, so
to remove any residual odors.
Your dryer can pick up any lingering scents from the washing machine, so cleaning the drum may solve this! Unplug the dryer to avoid shocking yourself. Dip a cloth in some soapy water and thoroughly wipe down the drum of your machine. Let it air dry with the door open for a few hours before plugging your dryer back in.
This may keep your next load of laundry from coming out musty.
Line-drying your clothes should keep mildew from developing.
The dryer locks a lot of humidity and moisture into your clothes early on in the dry cycle, but air drying your clothes outside will prevent any mustiness from developing.
Get your clothes dry cleaned if you want to permanently solve the problem.
If mildew is caked into an item of clothing and it just seems like it won’t go away regardless of what you do, take your clothes to the dry cleaner. The chemicals and methods used for dry cleaning will give your clothes a fresh start and keep that mustiness from sticking around.
It may not be the end of the world, but it’s certainly not good for you.
Mildew is a type of mold, and the negative health impacts of mold are well-documented.
While wearing a slightly musty shirt once or twice probably isn’t going to cause any serious health issues, prolonged exposure can lead to congestion, sneezing, coughing, or respiratory infections.
Mildew is especially problematic if you have a weakened immune system, allergies, asthma, or any kind of chronic lung condition.
How can I get a mildew stain out of clothing?
Use a solution of Tile laundry detergent and hot water. Let it soak for a minute or two and then use a toothbrush to brush the stain away.
- 162.1K
Aug 8, 2024 · Plain white vinegar is a safe and natural method to remove bad odors from your laundry, including the smell of mildew. In addition to killing the bacteria that cause odor, vinegar strips away most of the product buildup that could be trapping odor in your clothes.
- 2M
Mar 1, 2024 · Follow our expert laundry guide on how to get mildew smells out of clothes, what causes them, and how to prevent musty odors in the first place.
- Tamara Gane
- 43 sec
Dec 12, 2023 · Here are four ways to get your clothes smelling fresh after they've fallen prey to mildew. 1. Table Salt and Lemon. Perhaps the easiest way to remove mildew stains is to use what's available in your own kitchen pantry — namely table salt and a lemon. Combine lemon juice and salt to make a thick paste.
- Potential health risks do exist with mildew. According to FEMA, these health risks include respiratory problems such as sinus and nasal congestion,...
- Mildew has a damp, pungent, and musty smell, often resembling the smell of rotting wood or dirty socks. These uncomfortable smells originate from m...
- Mix one part bleach to three parts water. Next, dampen a sponge with the solution and apply it to areas infected with mildew. Make sure to always w...
- Vinegar is safe for humans and toxic to mildew. You can dampen a sponge with full-strength vinegar and apply it to mildew to kill it. Let the solut...
- Exposure to mildew is rarely deadly to healthy people. However, mildew is extremely lethal to people who have a compromised immune system and preex...
- Musty-smelling clothes can be a result of mildew growth, which is common when clothes are left damp for too long. This can happen if they are not d...
- While fabric softener can make clothes smell fresh, it does not have properties to specifically prevent or remove mildew smell. Keeping clothes com...
- Using a laundry detergent that is effective against mildew can help. Some detergents are formulated to combat odors and might include ingredients t...
- In humid environments, preventing musty smells involves reducing moisture levels. Use dehumidifiers, ensure good air circulation and dry clothes th...
This article delves into the challenges associated with the presence of a mildew smell in clothing, offering insights into practical methods for its elimination. Furthermore, it examines the root causes of this issue and provides proactive measures to prevent the recurrence of mildew odors in clothes.
Oct 22, 2024 · Whether your clothes smell musty from mold and mildew spores or from simply being damp, we’ll show you how to deodorize and sanitize them in the washer or by using non-washer solutions, like baking soda, lemon juice, or vodka.
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Now you can clean set-in stains, remove odor, brighten whites and boost colors. Boosts the color of your clothes and brightens your whites without the addition of bleach.
