How to get the mildew smell out of clothes that have been washed and dried?

Author: Callie Jacobs  |  Last update: Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Baking Soda Repeat the wash cycle on the hottest setting. Baking soda is alkaline, which will help neutralize any remaining odors. A baking soda vinegar mix also works. Use 1/4 to ½ cups of baking soda per load, then run a rinse cycle with white vinegar.

How do you get mildew smell out of clothes that have been dried?

Soak your clothes in warm water with vinegar and baking soda. 24 hours or so ideally. Then Wash them regularly.

Why do my clothes smell like mildew after washing and drying?

If clothing is stored slightly damp -- it will likely catch mildew and gain the smell. If clothing is allowed to sit in the washer wet or damp for more than 1 to 2 hours before drying, it will likely grow mildew. Placing the clothing in a heated dryer, will not remove the smell -- it's already growing in the fabric.

How to get mildew smell out of clothes that sat in the washer too long?

How To Get Mildew Smell Out of Clothes
  1. Wash Your Clothes With White Distilled Vinegar. ...
  2. Wash With Baking Soda. ...
  3. Let the Clothes Air Dry. ...
  4. Washing With Oxygen Bleach. ...
  5. Use an Enzyme Odor Remover. ...
  6. Use Lemon Juice as a Natural Mildew Remover. ...
  7. Remove Mildew Smell From Indoor Air.

Is mildew smell permanent on clothes?

  • Most to all of the smell will go away once dry.
  • That is until you put them on and sweat in them a little. Then they start smelling moldy again.
  • This will happen even in the winter as you always sweat a little.
  • The only way to get rid of the mold smell is to rewash the clothes.

How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Clothes

Will OxiClean remove mildew smell from clothes?

OxiClean Laundry and Home Sanitizer

If the garments smell just a little musty and/or you see small patch of mildew forming, a standard washing might be enough to reverse the damage. Add a scoop of OxiClean to your washing machine along with your normal detergent.

What detergent gets mildew smell out of clothes?

Simple Steps to Remove Musty Smells

Achieve the best results with Tide Ultra Oxi Power Pods with Odor Eliminators as an in-wash booster. Simply add it to your wash along with Tide PODS® laundry detergent in either standard or high-efficiency washers. Use Downy Unstopables for freshness.

How long to soak clothes in vinegar to remove mildew smell?

White Vinegar

You can add a few drops of essential oil to the mix to eliminate the vinegar smell or air the clothes out for a few minutes to eliminate the smell. Alternatively, fill a basin or tub with warm water and a cup of vinegar. Soak the affected clothes for about 30 minutes and hang them to dry.

What happens if you soak clothes for too long?

A good soaking is generally helpful for removing stubborn stains, but too long a soaking and your clothes will eventually fall apart. If you're using any kind of chemicals to wash clothes, follow the manufacturer's instructions for using them as incorrect use can cause a lot of damage.

Can you just wash mildew out of clothes?

Wash at the highest temperature possible. Mildew likes a little warmth, but usually can't survive a very hot wash. Check your garment care label to find out what the maximum wash temperature is, and then pop it in the machine with a high-quality stain-removing detergent, like Persil liquid. Line dry.

How do I make my laundry not smell like mildew?

In most cases, washing as usual with a quality heavy-duty detergent will remove the mildew smell. You can also add 5 cups of vinegar directly to the drum with your laundry detergent, but Zinna says this is more effective for removing smells than it is for removing stains.

Should you throw away clothes that smell like mold?

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. You risk contaminating the other clothes if you wash moldy clothes with them.

How do you fix moldy smell on clothes?

Water and Vinegar

Water and vinegar is another simple way to rid clothing of mildew. Use equal parts white vinegar and water, and soak the solution on soiled areas to remove mild stains. For tougher stains, try full-strength vinegar instead.

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.

How to get musty smell out of vintage clothes?

Tips for Getting Rid of Vintage Clothes Smell
  1. Use Baking Soda. Baking soda is an excellent item to have in your kitchen cupboard as, aside from its obvious primary use, it's fantastic for removing all kinds of odors. ...
  2. Use Newspaper. ...
  3. Use Vinegar. ...
  4. Use a Laundry Odor Eliminating Booster.

Will OxiClean damage clothes?

Don't use OxiClean on wool, silk, or other off-limits fabrics. OxiClean's manufacturer suggests that it should not be used on the following fabrics: wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, or on fabrics labeled dry-clean only.

How to get smell out of clothes left in the washer?

If you left clothes in the washer overnight, you may need to freshen them up before drying. A quick rewash may be all you need. Or, for a more thorough refresh of your laundry, run the same load on another full cycle and try adding a presoak option to help combat stubborn odors.

Can I leave clothes soaking in OxiClean overnight?

For set-in stains, allow the spray to penetrate overnight or up to a week. For fabrics prone to color change, do not let stand longer than 5 minutes. Do not treat the garment while wearing it.

How to get mildew smell out of clothes that have been dried?

To remove mildew from dried clothes, soak the garments in a solution of one part white vinegar per two parts of water for at least 30 minutes. Then, wash them in the hottest water safe for the fabric, adding an oxygen-based bleach or detergent with odor/mildew remover.

What is the best detergent to get rid of mildew smell?

Nothing smells worse than musty, damp laundry. But OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Powder or Liquid can help you get musty smells out of clothes, towels and other fabric.

Will soaking clothes in vinegar make them smell like vinegar?

Don't be concerned about your laundry smelling like vinegar. The odor will dissipate during the wash or rinse cycle. To mask the acrid odor and leave a bit of fragrance in your laundry, make DIY-scented vinegar by adding a few drops of essential oil.

Why do my clothes still smell like mildew after washing?

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.

What can I spray on my clothes for mildew smell?

Spray worn clothing or used towels with OdoBan® before tossing in the hamper. Mildew can grow quickly in the right environment, and this will help halt mildew growth and the resulting musty smell. Wash your clothes and towels more often.

How do you get old mildew out of clothes?

To effectively remove mold from your clothes, you can use either Borax or white vinegar in the washing machine for a thorough cleaning. Check the instructions on your laundry detergent and set the washing machine to a hot water cycle as directed.

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