How do you deodorize a load of laundry?

Author: Isaac Gaylord  |  Last update: Friday, February 20, 2026

Now that you know why your laundry has that lingering stinky smell, let's dive into a few simple ways to eliminate it!
  1. Use baking soda and white vinegar to get rid of smells.
  2. Hang your clothes outside.
  3. Check your washing machine for a buildup of mildew.
  4. Don't add too much laundry detergent.
  5. Use vinegar as fabric softener.

How do you get rid of a strong smell in laundry?

To get the smell out of your clothes, add a cup of apple cider vinegar and washing soda crystals, along with bio detergent, directly into the drum with the clothes. For extreme smells, you might need to add two cups of vinegar.

What is the best odor eliminator for laundry?

For our best value option, we suggest OxiClean Odor Blasters Stain & Odor Remover. Because it's hypoallergenic and sensitive-skin friendly, it'll clean your load effectively without sacrificing your skin to harmful ingredients.

How do you get body odor out of laundry?

White vinegar helps neutralize odors on the underarm areas of most fabrics. Always consult your garments' care labels for cleaning instructions before undertaking any treatment yourself. For machine-safe garments, put them in your wash, start the cycle, and once the drum has filled, add 1/3 cup of white vinegar.

How do you get the funky smell out of clothes?

Vinegar: Add one cup of vinegar to a bucket of cold water and soak your smelly clothes for up to 30 minutes. Baking Soda: Add one cup of baking soda to your wash load with your detergent and wash in cold water. Lemon Juice: Squeeze the juice of one lemon into your wash load to extinguish odor-causing bacteria.

5 Ways to Remove Sweat Odor From Clothes (Step-by-step)

How to eliminate bad odor?

The following suggestions may help:
  1. Bathe daily. Regular bathing, especially with an antibacterial soap, reduces the growth of bacteria on your skin.
  2. Choose clothing to suit your activity. For daily wear, choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk. ...
  3. Try relaxation techniques. ...
  4. Change your diet.

How do I get rid of the smell in my funky washing machine?

Use Vinegar to Deodorize a Washing Machine

You can also use vinegar to get rid of washer smell. Simply add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar into your washer's detergent dispenser and run a cycle on your machine's hottest setting and longest cycle.

How do people get their laundry to smell so good?

Using Fabric Softener:

Fabric softeners are specially designed to add a soft, pleasant scent to your clothes while reducing static and making them feel cozy. Simply add fabric softener to your laundry during the rinse cycle and let it work its magic.

When to put baking soda in laundry?

You can use baking soda to balance the pH levels of your wash water to help keep clothing, towels, linens and other fabrics fresh, bright and soft, without relying on fabric softeners or dryer sheets. It may even help soften items if you have hard water.

What detergent removes body odor?

Equipped with innovative, odor-removal technology, Tide PODS® Plus Febreze 4in1 Sport Odor Defense™ pacs are designed to eliminate even week-old smells, providing your clothes with a freshness that lasts three times longer compared to Tide Original.

What is the absolute best odor eliminator?

11 Best Odor Eliminators of 2024, Tested and Reviewed by Cleaning Experts
  • Best Overall. Clorox Disinfecting Mist. Read more.
  • Best Value. Febreze Odor-Fighting Air Freshener. Read more.
  • Best for Bathroom Odors. Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray. Read more.

What is a natural deodorizer for laundry?

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and brightener, and it's probably already in your pantry. To make your laundry detergent work harder, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle of your washing machine.

What do hospitals use to remove urine smell?

Hospitals, nursing homes, health care clinics, and other facilities have relied on ZORBX® as the guaranteed odor remover for urine, bile, human waste and other body fluids.

Where to put vinegar in a washing machine?

Using vinegar in laundry is simple. You can add it to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine or pour it in during the final rinse cycle. When adding vinegar towards the end of the cycle, manually pause your machine right before the final rinse cycle and add a 1/2 cup of diluted white vinegar to the load.

Does OxiClean get rid of odor?

Body odor and musty smells can be tough to get out of your clothes. No need to sweat more when doing your laundry. It's easy to get rid of body odor and remove sweat stains from your clothing. OxiClean™ products are powerful odor removers to get rid of smells effectively.

Does vinegar remove odors in laundry?

Vinegar works as a natural fabric softener. Unlike commercial fabric softeners, it's cheap and doesn't rely on harsh chemicals. Distilled white vinegar can also neutralize odors, giving your clothes a fresh scent by removing odor-causing buildup.

What happens if you use vinegar and laundry detergent together?

Adding vinegar directly to the wash with your laundry detergent may compromise its cleaning performance. Laundry detergents are formulated for specific pH levels, which may be disrupted by the acidity of vinegar, leading to less effective cleaning. It's best to avoid mixing them to ensure optimal results.

Is vinegar or baking soda better for laundry?

Vinegar's main component is acetic acid, which helps make it an option to perform small laundry tasks. Baking soda can control overflowing suds and revitalize aged linens.

Is it OK to mix baking soda and laundry detergent?

To help whiten white and light-colored items like clothing, sheets and towels, you can use baking soda instead of bleach for a natural laundry boost. Adding baking soda along with your detergent can also help brighten colorful fabrics and may prevent white garments from yellowing.

How do I make my laundry less smelly?

Before washing, soak clothes in a solution of water and white vinegar or water and baking soda. For instance, to help remove tough food odors, you can soak your item in a mixture of one cup of baking soda and four cups of hot water for around four hours to pretreat the smell.

How much baking soda to add to laundry?

Add ½ cup baking soda with your detergent to freshen your laundry and help liquid detergents work harder. Use baking soda instead of fabric softener. Add 1/2 cup at the rinse cycle. Add 1/2 cup baking soda (only 1/4 cup for front-loading machines) with the usual amount of bleach to increase whitening power.

How do hotels laundry smell so good?

The Science behind the Scent:

Hotels typically use high-quality detergents that contain a blend of gentle fragrances and powerful cleaning agents. These detergents have been carefully chosen to provide an optimal balance between cleanliness and freshness.

What is the best washing machine deodorizer?

Our top choice for the best washing machine cleaner is OxiClean Washing Machine Cleaner With Odor Blasters for its fresh scent, inexpensive price, and overall cleaning power. If you prefer a powder cleaner with eco-friendly ingredients, we recommend Lemi Shine Washing Machine Cleaner.

Is bleach or vinegar better to clean a washing machine?

“For removing odors, I would say vinegar.” Some people, however, prefer white vinegar because it's not as harsh as bleach. Unless, of course, your washing machine has been completely neglected, and is now a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, and you want a power cleaner.

How to deodorise a washing machine?

Pour two cups of white vinegar straight into the drum. Run a hot cycle to flush out bacteria and break down odors. Wipe the inside of the drum with a microfiber cloth to catch any lingering grime.

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