The last round of washing your clothes is wasted if clean clothes smell bad. Usually, mold is a common cause of odors in clothes, but there are other things you can do to reduce or prevent musty odors from laundry. Handle dirty clothes that smell bad from the start with care so they smell fresh after washing them. After cleaning, there are several other steps you can take to keep your laundry smelling fresh after the last wash cycle.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Scenting Laundry
Step 1. Spray essential oil on soiled clothes
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a small spray bottle. Fill the bottle with water and shake it. Spray soiled clothes with the mixture before putting them in the washing machine.
Step 2. Use a scented laundry detergent or soap
Usually, laundry detergent is available in several different scents, so you can choose the product that best suits your taste. However, keep in mind that unscented detergents leave more residue than unscented detergents, and these detergent residues can lead to the development of mold in the washing machine. As an alternative, you can use a detergent with natural fragrance, without the addition of other chemicals such as Peppermint Laundry Soap from Dr. Bonner's.
Step 3. Make your own scented dryer sheet
Choose a piece of fabric that you want to use (eg an unused hand towel, bed sheet, or shirt). Soak under running water until wet. After that, wring the cloth to remove any remaining water. Pour 6 drops of essential oil with the scent you like on the fabric. Put the cloth in the dryer tube for the last ten minutes of the drying cycle to scent the clothes.
- You can reuse the dryer sheet several times without having to wet and wring it out before using it. Smell the cloth after use to judge the strength of the fragrance. If the scent is no longer visible or undetectable, wash the fabric along with other clothing, then add a few drops of essential oil to the fabric afterward.
- Alternatively, you can use dryer wool balls in place of scraps of cloth if available.
Step 4. Dry the clothes thoroughly
Either after drying or drying in a tumble dryer, make sure the clothes are not damp before folding and storing. Keep in mind that mold can take advantage of any remaining moisture, regardless of the intensity of the moisture. Keep the clothes dry or run the next drying cycle if the clothes still feel wet.
Method 2 of 4: Getting Rid of Mildew Smell
Step 1. Immediately wash wet clothes
Keep in mind that mold begins to thrive in humid conditions. Be aware that damp, soiled clothes will start to smell bad before you put them in the washing machine, even if they don't smell musty when you take them off. Wet clothes are a good reason to wash your clothes immediately after they are removed.
If that's not possible, don't roll up your wet clothes and put them in the dirty clothes basket. Dry wet clothes on hangers, drying racks, or outdoor clotheslines before washing them with other dirty clothes
Step 2. Rewash any clean clothes left in the washing machine
If you forget that there is still laundry left, wash the clothes again to get rid of the musty odor that has developed. Use the highest temperature setting that is still safe for clothing or fabrics. Instead of detergent, add bleach that is safe for colored clothes or chlorine to kill mold and eliminate musty odors. If you don't want to use a chemical product, use white vinegar.
They have such a strong odor that you may need to wash your clothes a third time using detergent to remove any residual bleach, chlorine, or vinegar odors
Step 3. Prevent mold with lavender essential oil
If you frequently forget to leave your laundry in the washing machine, take the first precaution. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the laundry when you add the detergent at the beginning of the wash cycle. Use this antifungal product to protect clothes from the development of mold over a long period of time.
Lavender oil can prevent mold development for (at least) a few days
Step 4. Neutralize the odor in the washing machine
If the washing machine tub smells bad, fill the tub with hot water. Add 480 ml of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes. After that, run a wash cycle without clothes. Test the cleanliness of the canister by smelling it after handling is complete, and repeating the cleaning steps if necessary.
Step 5. Air the washing machine after use
Remember that mushrooms love humidity and dark conditions. Therefore, do not install the washing machine cover or door after the drum has been emptied. Always open the door or tube cover to increase air circulation and the intensity of light entering the tube. If that's not possible, at least open the door or cover while the clothes are drying to aerate the jar before closing it again.
Step 6. Reduce the amount of detergent used
If the washing machine drum tends to smell bad, reduce the amount of liquid detergent or fabric softener you use. Keep in mind that both products are thicker than water and don't always dissolve completely in the wash cycle. This means there is residual product left in the machine and can be a breeding ground for mold.
Keep in mind that there are a lot of concentrated detergent products so you only need a small amount of product when washing. If detergent residue builds up in the washing machine drum, read the product user manual for the recommended amount of detergent
Method 3 of 4: Handling Bad Smelling Clothes
Step 1. Separate smelly clothes from other clothes
If you have clothes that smell bad, don't put them in the dirty laundry basket with other clothes. Store clothes separately before you wash them. Prevent other clothes from smelling bad.
Store clothes in airtight containers if you're afraid of the pungent smell of clothing spreading throughout the room
Step 2. Wash clothes in small loads
Do not fill the tube with clothes if you have clothing that smells bad. Keep clothes in contact with water and detergent by washing clothes in small loads. If you have several clothes that smell bad, wash all of them in one small load (or separate them into several smaller loads if you choose a lot of clothes). If you only have one or two pieces of clothing, you can:
- Wash them separately, without other dirty clothes.
- Wash them in small loads with other smaller items, such as socks.
Step 3. Soak the clothes in the dish soap mixture first
If the clothes absorb odors such as cigarette smoke or fish (and not odors coming from the stains on the clothes), add a few drops of dish soap to a container or bucket large enough to hold the clothes. Fill the bucket with warm water. Put the clothes in the bucket and soak for about 10 minutes. After that:
- Pour all the contents of the bucket (soap, water and clothes) into the washing machine. Stir by hand and let the clothes rest for another half hour.
- Add detergent and run an appropriate wash cycle, including a drying cycle. Use the hottest setting, according to the recommendations on the clothing care label.
Step 4. Treat smelly stains from the start
If the odor on your clothes is from an established stain (like the smell of a dirty diaper, for example), make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Prepare a tablespoon of baking soda in advance, depending on the size of the stain. Add enough water to moisten the baking soda without dissolving it so that the paste can be applied easily. After that:
- Coat the stain with the baking soda paste and allow the paste to soak into the fabric for about 10 minutes.
- Put the clothes (with the paste still on) in the washing machine, and pour in 240 ml of vinegar.
- Run an appropriate wash cycle (including a drying cycle) using the hottest water safe for the garment.
- Repeat the washing process if the smell is still there.
Method 4 of 4: Keeping the Smell of Clean Laundry
Step 1. Air out the wet clothes if possible
Dry the clothes by drying them outside after washing them. Refresh clothes with the intensity of sunlight and better air circulation than just drying them using a dryer. This step is suitable to follow, especially for clothes that already smell bad from the start.
Of course, this step is more suitable to be followed if the air conditions outside the house are fresh. If your neighbor is smoking meat for a barbecue or something like that, it's a good idea to use a tumble dryer
Step 2. Scent the drawers and wardrobe with soap
Choose a strong scented bar of soap to store with clean clothes to keep clothes smelling fresh and clean after washing. Place the soap in a cotton muslin bag or sew a light cloth to make a soap container so the aroma can spread. Keep one bag of soap for each drawer and wardrobe.
Step 3. Fill the bag with herbs
If you don't want to smell soap on your clothes, fill a cotton muslin bag with your favorite herbs. Store these bags in drawers and cupboards to scent clothes. In addition, you can also prepare cotton bags small enough to fit in the pockets of the clothes you wear the least and fill them with herbs to keep clothes smelling fresh for a longer period of time.
Step 4. Spray on fragrances and fabrics
Keep your clothes smell good and fresh with deodorizing sprays and fabric lubricants. You can use the products sold in supermarkets such as Kispray if it suits your taste. If you prefer, you can also make your own air freshener mixture by filling a spray bottle with water and adding a few drops of essential oil.
Some essential oils can stain white or light colored clothes. Before spraying the mixture all over a piece of clothing, test the mixture on another piece of clothing (as long as you don't mind getting damaged or discolored). This test is done to make sure the mixture doesn't damage or discolor the fabric
Step 5. Neutralize odors in wardrobe and drawers
If your wardrobe or drawer has a certain odor that shouldn't stick to your clothes, open a box of baking soda and store it in your cupboard or drawer to absorb the bad odor. Alternatively, fill a jar or container with ground coffee instead of baking soda. Regardless of the ingredients used, change the ingredients regularly (about once a month) because the absorption of baking soda and coffee is limited.
