How to Get Mildew Smell Out of Clothes

There’s nothing quite as disappointing as that telltale musty smell when you take a clean garment out of the closet. Chances are, something has gone wrong during the laundering or drying process, leaving your clothing vulnerable to mold and mildew.

A foul mildew odor on your clothes is something you can treat at home. However, it’s vital to know which products to use and what the process is; otherwise, you’ll make it worse.

This article provides everything you need to know about the correct washing and drying techniques to eliminate a mildew smell from your clothes.

Understand Mildew, Mold, and Odor: What They Are and How They Affect Laundry

Mold and mildew are both fungi that can grow in your machine and on your clothes. On surfaces in your home, mold may be green, black, or brown. Mildew looks white or light grey in appearance.

The first clue that your clothes may be mildewy is a musty odor. Mold tends to have a more pungent smell, but neither fungi may be visible on the fabric.

Mold and mildew require two things to thrive: moisture and a lack of airflow. Humid and damp environments are ideal locations for mold and mildew, which is why you often find them in bathrooms and basements. Mold can develop in as little as 24 to 48 hours.

Bad laundry routines can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. These include overloading your washer, leaving washing to sit in the machine, and insufficient airflow during the drying process.

Clean and Sanitize: Washing, Drying, and Washer Care to Keep Clothes Fresh

If your clothes have that telltale odor, you’ll need to keep them away from other garments and address the problem separately.

Try Distilled White Vinegar

Soak clothes that smell musty or moldy in distilled white vinegar before laundering. Use one part white vinegar to two parts water. Soak the garment in a bowl, or if it’s just one item, spray the solution onto the areas where the odor is most pungent.

White vinegar contains acetic acid, which is commonly used for household cleaning and is known to help break down odor-causing buildup.

Soak for about 30 minutes to allow the clothing to absorb the vinegar, then rinse and launder on a hot wash. Always check the care label, as white vinegar can be harsh on delicate fabrics.

Add Baking Soda

After pre-soaking, you can add half a cup of baking soda to the washer. Baking soda can help reduce mildew odors. Always spot test garments first by mixing baking soda with water to check if it’s safe on your fabrics.

Use Bleach or Oxygen Bleach

Oxygen or chlorine-free bleach can help remove stubborn odors. Oxygen bleach is made from sodium percarbonate and is often used as a cleaning agent.

Oxygen bleach is gentler than chlorine bleach, making it a good choice for delicate fabrics if you prefer not to use white vinegar or baking soda. It will also remove stains and generally brighten pale garments, as opposed to fading them, which can happen with chlorine bleach.

Anti-Odor Detergents & Laundry Sheets

There are proprietary laundry disinfectants and sanitizers that clean using enzymes or probiotics. Some of these contain oxygen bleach.

At Freddie, our focus is on offering a simple laundry format made without unnecessary additives. Our laundry sheet ingredients are absent dyes, parabens, and brighteners; they also come in recyclable packaging.

You can use our laundry detergent sheets as part of your pre-soak routine before washing, even at cold temperatures.

And when it comes to fragrance? Our laundry sheets offer two beautiful scents, but did you know you can also add essential oils to your washing?

That said, essential oils won’t remove mildew odors—you’ll need to do that first. However, essential oils keep your garments fragrant, allowing you to personalize your scent choice for things like bed linen.

Dry Thoroughly

Drying outside can help remove a residual musty smell if you can dry in sunlight, as the UV rays help eliminate any remaining bacteria.

Always ensure the garment is thoroughly dry before storing it; otherwise, the problem will recur. If you can only dry indoors, the room must be well-ventilated.

Store Clothing Correctly

Clothes and linen should be stored in a clean, dry location, especially if you’re keeping items for an extended period without wearing and washing them.

Clean your Machine Regularly

Cleaning your washer regularly helps kill bacteria and fungi that thrive in warm, moist conditions and accumulate inside your machine. Refer to the washer’s instruction manual for cleaning instructions.

Clean the drum, detergent dispenser, and rubber seals. Always leave the washer door open after every wash until the drum is dry inside.

Preventive Practices: Light, Heat, and Ventilation to Stop Future Mildew

• Don’t overload your machine. This impacts the ratio of clothing to water and affects how the detergent dissolves and how saturated each garment is. Too many items mean they can’t wash properly, and this can contribute to unpleasant odors after drying.
• Choose the right detergent. Our laundry sheets are designed to dissolve in hot and cold water and work with standard and HE washers. They’re available in fragranced and fragrance-free options.
• Ensure you always empty the washer once the program is finished. Damp laundry left in the enclosed space of your machine for several hours is the perfect environment for mildew to thrive. Never dry and rewash, as drying locks the smell in.
• Adequate airflow is vital to protect clothes from mildew, especially when they’re drying. Use heat to dry clothes more quickly.
• Avoid crammed closets, packed drawers, and plastic storage bags. Limited airflow, even with a tiny amount of residual moisture, helps mildew thrive.

Professional Help and Special Cases: When Mold Requires Expert Cleaning

Clothing stored unknowingly in a damp environment, items that cannot be machine-washed, or garments salvaged from a flood-damaged property, all require expert cleaning. Severe mold or mildew growth cannot usually be removed with home cleaning methods.

If you have household members with health conditions exacerbated by mold spores and mildew, you may be better off taking your items to a dry cleaner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Mildew Smell Be Washed Out of Clothes?

You can remove the mildew smell from clothing, but you’ll need to use cleaning products that are suitable for those fabrics. Remember, removing mildew is not just about washing, but also about how you dry and then store your garments. Always remember to treat your washer afterwards.

What Kills Mildew Smell?

Appropriate treatment and washing in your machine will eliminate the mildew smell from your clothes. You’ll also need to dry the garments correctly, preferably outdoors in sunlight. If you need to dry inside, the area must be well-ventilated.

Will Mildew Smell Go Away Once Dry?

If you don’t treat the mildew adequately by pre-treatments, pre-soaking, and washing, then the odor will return when the clothes are dry. Damp, humid conditions create a mildew smell, but just drying the clothes won’t remove it.

Try Freddie’s Laundry Sheets to Simplify Laundry Day

Freddie laundry sheets make wash day simple, with a convenient alternative to traditional liquid detergents, pods, and plastic packaging. Now you can simplify laundry day with a convenient alternative to traditional liquids, pods, and plastic packaging.