How Do You Remove Odor from Clothes: Settings, Products, and Timing
How Do You Remove Odor from Clothes: Settings, Products, and Timing
Your clothes smell musty even after washing. Or your workout shirt still smells like sweat after a regular wash. Odors in clothes are caused by bacteria, body oils, and trapped moisture that regular detergent doesn’t fully remove. The smell clings to the fabric and gets worse over time. But with the right products, settings, and timing, you can remove odors from clothes. Here’s how.
Odor in clothes is caused by bacteria, body oils, and trapped moisture that bond with fabric fibers. Regular detergent alone may not remove these odors, especially in cold water. Removing odor requires killing the bacteria, breaking down the oils, and removing the trapped moisture.
To remove odor from clothes, wash with enzyme detergent and baking soda in hot water, add vinegar to the rinse, use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer for bacteria, and dry completely. For stubborn odors, soak in oxygen bleach before washing. Don’t use fabric softener, don’t use cold water for odors, and don’t leave clothes in the washer.
Products That Remove Odor
Enzyme Detergent
Tide Free and Gentle contains enzymes that break down body oils and organic matter that cause odors.
Baking Soda
Arm and Hammer Baking Soda neutralizes odors and softens water. Add half a cup to the wash.
White Vinegar
White vinegar kills bacteria and removes detergent residue. Add half a cup to the rinse cycle.
Oxygen Bleach
Oxygen bleach kills bacteria and removes organic stains. Add 1 scoop for heavily odored loads.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer kills bacteria that cause odors. Add to the rinse cycle.
OxiClean Max Force Spray
OxiClean Max Force Spray contains enzymes that break down odor-causing organic matter.
Settings for Odor Removal
| Odor Type | Water Temp | Cycle | Extra Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musty | Hot | Normal | Baking soda, vinegar, oxygen bleach |
| Sweat | Hot | Normal | Enzyme detergent, baking soda, Lysol |
| Food | Hot | Normal | Enzyme detergent, OxiClean |
| Smoke | Warm | Normal | Baking soda, vinegar |
| Pet | Hot | Heavy duty | Enzyme detergent, baking soda, Lysol |
| Mildew | Hot | Normal | Vinegar, oxygen bleach |
Timing for Odor Removal
When to Treat
Treat odors as soon as you notice them. The longer odors sit, the harder they are to remove.
How Long to Soak
For stubborn odors, soak before washing:
- Light odors: No soak needed
- Moderate odors: Soak in oxygen bleach for 30 minutes
- Heavy odors: Soak in oxygen bleach for 1 to 2 hours
- Mildew odors: Soak in vinegar solution for 30 minutes
When to Wash
Wash odored clothes separately from fresh clothes to prevent odor transfer.
When to Dry
Dry completely. Don’t leave damp clothes sitting, as moisture causes bacteria growth and odors return.
Step-by-Step: Removing Odor from Clothes
Step 1: Sort Odored Clothes
Sort by fabric type. Wash heavily odored items separately.
Step 2: Pre-Soak for Stubborn Odors
Fill a tub with warm water, add 2 scoops of oxygen bleach, and soak for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Step 3: Add Detergent and Baking Soda
Add 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle and half a cup of baking soda to the washer.
Step 4: Wash in Hot Water
Hot water kills bacteria and dissolves oils better than cold water.
Step 5: Add Vinegar to the Rinse
Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.
Step 6: Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
For bacteria-caused odors (sweat, mildew), add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse.
Step 7: Dry Completely
Dry in the dryer on medium to high heat or in the sun. Make sure clothes are completely dry before storing.
Monthly: Clean the Machine
Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly. A dirty machine causes odors.
What Not to Do
Don’t use cold water for odors. Cold water doesn’t kill bacteria or dissolve oils as well as hot water.
Don’t use fabric softener. It coats fibers and traps odors.
Don’t leave clothes in the washer. Wet clothes grow bacteria within hours.
Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that traps odors.
Don’t wash odored clothes with fresh clothes. Odors can transfer.
Don’t close the washer door between washes. Leave it open to let the drum dry.
FAQ
How do you remove odor from clothes? Wash with Tide Free and Gentle and half a cup of baking soda in hot water, add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse, use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer for bacteria, and dry completely. For stubborn odors, soak in oxygen bleach before washing.
Does baking soda remove odor from clothes? Yes. Baking soda neutralizes odors. Add half a cup to the wash with your detergent. For best results, also add vinegar to the rinse.
Does vinegar remove odor from clothes? Yes. White vinegar kills bacteria and removes detergent residue that traps odors. Add half a cup to the rinse cycle.
Why do clothes smell after washing? Clothes smell after washing because of bacteria and oils that regular detergent doesn’t fully remove, using cold water, using too much detergent, using fabric softener, leaving clothes in the washer, or a dirty machine.
How do you remove musty smell from clothes? Wash with enzyme detergent and baking soda in hot water, add vinegar to the rinse, use oxygen bleach, and dry completely. For stubborn musty smells, soak in oxygen bleach for 1 to 2 hours before washing. Clean the machine monthly.
References
- Tide. “How to Remove Odor from Clothes.” tide.com.
- The Spruce. “How to Get Smells Out of Clothes.” thespruce.com.
- Good Housekeeping. “Odor Removal Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
- Lysol. “Laundry Sanitizer Guide.” lysol.com.
