It can take as little as 8 hours (and up to 12 hours) to develop. If you notice wet clothes starting to smell it's likely that mildew has begun to take hold, so you should run another wash with an extra rinse cycle.
Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. They reproduce by spores - tiny, lightweight “seeds”- that travel through the air.
Surely you've forgotten about wet towels in your hamper, or you've left a load of clean, wet laundry in the washing machine too long and it's soured. Mold and mildew spores thrive in these dark humid environments, so it will start growing on wet clothes quickly.
Circulate the air
Poorly ventilated closets get damp and musty during continued wet weather, and articles stored in them are apt to mildew. Try to improve the air circulation by opening the closet doors or by installing a fan. In addition, hang the clothes loosely so that air can circulate around them.
It won't hurt to leave your clothes in the washer for up to 12 hours. However, according to Mold Busters, bacteria, mildew, and visible mold can grow on clothes in as little as 24 to 48 hours. When bacteria and mold grow unchecked, they create the distinct musty laundry odor we've all come to recognize.
You can try washing them again, but once mildew smells penetrate the fabric, it usually takes more than a regular wash cycle to remove them. This is a serious problem since mildew smells aren't only unpleasant, they wreak havoc on your sinuses and allergies.
How long can you leave wet washing for? If damp clothes or bedding have been left in the washing machine or a basket for more than 8-12 hours we recommend giving it another wash. If it's been over 12 hours it's a safe bet that they will need to be re-washed.
Don't allow your wet clothes to sit too long. The Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science's lead home economist, Lucinda Ottusch, gives a concrete guideline of 8-12 hours before odor, a sign of mildew, begins to occur. What to do if your clothes do smell off? Simply run the wash cycle again.
No. That's an invitation for mildew/mold to develop. Not only in the clothes but also in the bureau/closet.
Mildew is a surface fungi identified as a patch of gray or white fungus lying on the surface of a moist area. Mildew is easily treated with a store-bought cleaner and a scrubbing brush. Mold, on the other hand, can have colors that range from black to green and is often the result of a much larger infestation.
Mold spores on clothing fabrics can be eliminated by washing. Unfortunately, washing might not completely eradicate all mold spores. Mold can grow deep into the fibers of the cloth, making it difficult to totally remove.
Potential health risks do exist with mildew. According to FEMA, these health risks include respiratory problems such as sinus and nasal congestion, wheezing, throat irritation, and headaches. Prolonged exposure to mildew can lead to worse symptoms.
We've all been through it: You put a load of laundry into your washer only to forget about it until the next morning. When this happens, it's common for your clothes to develop a mildewy odor due to the growth of bacteria overnight.
It's best not to place soaking wet clothes directly into the dryer, since pooling water can damage the internal mechanisms of the dryer, and the extra water weight will increase the wear and tear on the machine. However, wringing out the clothes by hand will usually remove enough water to make the clothes dryable.
If it's just one wet piece of clothing, the dryer will probably be okay. However, if you're placing an entire, heavy load of soaking clothes in the dryer, then your dryer could take hours to dry the clothes. In addition to all this, if your clothes retain moisture, they can smell musty or even begin to develop mildew.
If left alone, the smells might fade over time, but likely won't completely go away on their own.
Martha Stewart, the queen of smart living, agrees, previously telling Today that it's usually alright to leave wet clothes in the washer overnight, just as long as the clothes don't smell.
To get rid of stubborn musty smells on clothes, you'll need to remove the mildew living on your fabric's surface. Typically, washing your towels and clothing can remove lingering mold particles. Before washing, check your washing machine for musty odors caused by mold.
Bleach. A very strong chemical, bleach can be very effective at killing mould and removing mildew stains. However, it will also fade any colours, so use bleach only on whites, or test your garment first on an inconspicuous part of your clothing (such as the inside hem).
You left your clothes in the washer too long.
A dark, wet environment like a washing machine is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew to thrive. These can build up in your clothing as time goes on, eventually leaving them with a permanent odor.
Mildew grows in moist areas like basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. It looks like white/grey powder on your clothing.
If you have a stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, shortness of breath, wheezing or other bothersome symptoms that persist, see your doctor.
It can take as little as 8 hours (and up to 12 hours) to develop. If you notice wet clothes starting to smell it's likely that mildew has begun to take hold, so you should run another wash with an extra rinse cycle.