How to Remove Stink From Moldy Clothes
Wearing wet jeans is not fun because they are uncomfortable. Wearing jeans that used to be wet is no fun because they stink. Fabrics that are particularly moldy—because you didn’t hang them up to dry fast enough or left them in the basket for too long—may continue to smell even after washing. However, you can easily remove that nasty wet smell from your shirts, trousers, and towels so you can wear your clothes without smelling them.
Why Your Clothes Got Smelly in the First Place
Clothes often smell bad because they’ve been left in the washer for too long or the dryer didn’t do its job well enough. Or your clothes may be smelly and damp for one of the following reasons:
- You sweated while wearing them and they dried out before you washed them, locking in the bad smell.
- You hung an item to dry, but it was too damp for it to dry to mold.
- You live in a humid climate and your clothes, towels or other fabrics get stuck in a vicious cycle: they get slightly damp and dry out on their own.
- Your closet is poorly ventilated and dark, which encourages mold growth.
- You re-wear clothes too often or reuse towels without washing them.
- Your clothes are made from synthetic fabrics that trap odors.
- Your washing machine is old and has a musty smell that leaves that smell on everything you clean.
If possible, first determine what is causing your clothes to stink. Drain your home , clean your washing machine periodically, and stick to a schedule when it comes to washing sportswear or outdoor summer clothes. You don’t have to completely change your lifestyle or cut out synthetic fabrics – the best way to deal with a smelly hoodie is to prevent it from getting smelly. But if that doesn’t work…
How to get mildew smell out of fabric
You have several options for getting the smell out of your clothes. The most widely advertised use is white vinegar. According to Kelly’s Dry Cleaners , you can easily replace fabric softener with white vinegar during the rinse cycle. Just add one cup per load for top loading washing machines and 1/4 to 1/2 cup for front loading washing machines. For severe odors, try washing moldy fabrics in hot water with a full glass of white vinegar and no detergents.
Try these approaches too:
- Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda into your washing machine before washing clothes, then rinse with the aforementioned white vinegar.
- Pretreat moldy fabrics with borax by soaking them in a bath of hot water and 1/2 cup borax for an hour before the normal wash cycle.
- Try washing with a laundry detergent like Bio Laundry Booster or Thornell Ordorcide Laundry Odor Eliminator Concentrate .
When you line dry clothes, towels, or other previously moldy fabrics, try to place them in direct sunlight. This advice comes from Apartment Therapy , who notes that UV rays have disinfectant properties of their own that can help kill mold. Plus, it will help your clothes smell fresher, especially compared to the burnt smell you can sometimes get from a dryer.
If outdoor drying is not an option, follow the drying instructions for the type of fabric you are working with and simply double check that it is completely dry before putting it away.