How to Remove Clothes Smell Without Damaging the Fabric
How to Remove Clothes Smell Without Damaging the Fabric
Your clothes smell even after washing. Maybe it’s a musty smell from sitting in the washer too long. Maybe it’s a sweat smell that won’t come out of your workout clothes. Maybe it’s a food smell that clings to your jacket. Clothes smell is 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 and methods, you can remove clothes smell. Here’s how.
Clothes smell 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 clothes smell requires killing the bacteria, breaking down the oils, and removing the trapped moisture.
To remove clothes smell, 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 smells, 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 Clothes Smell
Enzyme Detergent
Tide Free and Gentle contains enzymes that break down body oils and organic matter that cause smells.
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 matter. Add 1 scoop for heavily odored loads.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer kills bacteria that cause smells. Add to the rinse cycle.
Step-by-Step: Removing Clothes Smell
Step 1: Sort Smelly Clothes
Sort by fabric type. Wash heavily odored items separately.
Step 2: Pre-Soak for Stubborn Smells
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 smells (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 smells.
Smell Types and Treatments
| Smell Type | Cause | Best Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Musty | Mold, mildew | Vinegar, oxygen bleach, hot water |
| Sweat | Bacteria, body oils | Enzyme detergent, baking soda, Lysol |
| Food | Food oils | Enzyme detergent, OxiClean |
| Smoke | Smoke particles | Baking soda, vinegar, fresh air |
| Pet | Bacteria, oils | Enzyme detergent, baking soda, Lysol |
| Mildew | Mold | Vinegar, oxygen bleach |
What Not to Do
Don’t use cold water for smells. Cold water doesn’t kill bacteria or dissolve oils.
Don’t use fabric softener. It coats fibers and traps smells.
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 smells.
Don’t wash smelly clothes with fresh clothes. Smells can transfer.
Don’t close the washer door between washes. Leave it open to let the drum dry.
FAQ
How do you remove smell 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 smells, soak in oxygen bleach before washing.
Does baking soda remove smell 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 smell from clothes? Yes. White vinegar kills bacteria and removes detergent residue that traps smells. 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.
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.
