How to Get Rid of Musty Smell in Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

Your clothes smell musty. Maybe they were left in the washer too long, stored in a damp closet, or came out of a smelly machine. Musty smell is caused by mold and bacteria growing on fabric fibers. Regular washing doesn’t always remove it because the mold and bacteria bond with the fibers. But musty smell can be removed. Here’s how to get rid of musty smell in clothes without damage.

Musty smell in clothes is caused by mold and bacteria growing on fabric fibers in damp conditions. Musty smell comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by mold and bacteria. Removing musty smell requires killing the mold and bacteria, removing the VOCs, and preventing regrowth.

To get rid of musty smell in clothes, soak in vinegar and water for 30 minutes, wash with enzyme detergent in hot water, add baking soda to the wash, add vinegar to the rinse, and dry in the sun. Don’t use fabric softener, don’t use cold water, and don’t put musty clothes in the dryer until the smell is gone.

Step-by-Step: Removing Musty Smell from Clothes

Step 1: Soak in Vinegar

Fill a tub with warm water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Submerge the clothes and soak for 30 minutes. Vinegar kills mold and bacteria and neutralizes the VOCs that cause musty smell.

Step 2: Add Baking Soda to the Wash

Add half a cup to 1 cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the drum. Baking soda neutralizes acids and absorbs odors.

Step 3: Add Enzyme Detergent

Add 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle to the detergent dispenser. The enzymes break down the organic matter that feeds mold and bacteria.

Step 4: Wash in Hot Water

Wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Hot water kills mold and bacteria.

Step 5: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. Vinegar removes residue and neutralizes odors.

Step 6: Add Lysol for Bacteria

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for heavily musty loads. It kills bacteria that cause odors.

Step 7: Dry in the Sun

Dry the clothes in direct sunlight. UV rays kill remaining mold and bacteria and remove odors naturally.

Step 8: Check Before Storing

Sniff the clothes before storing. If any musty smell remains, treat again.

For Stubborn Musty Smell

Method: Oxygen Bleach Soak

Step 1: Fill a tub with warm water.

Step 2: Add oxygen bleach. Add 2 scoops of oxygen bleach and stir to dissolve.

Step 3: Soak clothes. Submerge the clothes and soak for 1 to 2 hours.

Step 4: Wash. Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add baking soda and vinegar.

Step 5: Dry in the sun.

Method: Baking Soda Soak

Step 1: Fill a tub with warm water.

Step 2: Add baking soda. Add 1 cup of baking soda and stir to dissolve.

Step 3: Soak clothes. Soak for 1 to 2 hours.

Step 4: Wash. Wash with enzyme detergent in hot water.

Step 5: Dry in the sun.

What Not to Do

Don’t use fabric softener. Fabric softener coats fibers with a waxy film that traps odors and feeds bacteria. Use vinegar instead.

Don’t use cold water. Cold water doesn’t kill mold or bacteria. Use hot water for musty loads.

Don’t put musty clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat can set the musty smell. Dry in the sun instead.

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that feeds bacteria. Use 2 tablespoons per load.

Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer. Leaving wet clothes in the washer for more than 30 minutes causes musty smell. Transfer immediately.

Don’t store damp clothes. Damp clothes grow mold and bacteria. Always dry completely before storing.

Don’t use fragrance to mask the smell. Fragrance masks the smell temporarily but doesn’t remove the cause. Use vinegar and baking soda instead.

Don’t mix vinegar and chlorine bleach. Mixing them creates toxic chlorine gas.

How to Prevent Musty Smell in Clothes

Transfer clothes immediately. Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer for more than 30 minutes.

Dry completely before storing. Even slightly damp clothes can grow mold.

Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid damp basements and hot attics.

Use breathable storage. Use fabric storage boxes, not plastic bins.

Add cedar or lavender. Cedar blocks and lavender sachets absorb moisture and repel pests.

Clean the machine monthly. Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly. A dirty machine transfers odors to clothes.

Use hot water for at least one load per week. Hot water kills bacteria in the machine.

Use OxiClean Max Force Spray for stains. Food and sweat residue feed bacteria.

FAQ

How do you get rid of musty smell in clothes? Soak in vinegar and water for 30 minutes, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, add baking soda to the wash, add vinegar to the rinse, and dry in the sun. For stubborn smells, use an oxygen bleach soak.

Does vinegar remove musty smell from clothes? Yes. White vinegar kills mold and bacteria and neutralizes the VOCs that cause musty smell. Soak clothes in warm water with 1 cup of vinegar for 30 minutes, then wash with enzyme detergent in hot water.

Does baking soda remove musty smell from clothes? Yes. Baking soda neutralizes acids and absorbs odors. Add half a cup to 1 cup to the wash, or soak clothes in warm water with 1 cup of baking soda for 1 to 2 hours.

Why do my clothes smell musty after washing? Common causes: leaving wet clothes in the washer too long, using cold water, using fabric softener, using too much detergent, or a dirty machine. Transfer clothes immediately, use hot water, and clean the machine monthly with affresh.

Can you put musty clothes in the dryer? Don’t put musty clothes in the dryer until the smell is gone. Dryer heat can set the musty smell. Dry in the sun instead, as UV rays kill remaining mold and bacteria.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Musty Smell from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Musty Smell Removal Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Odor Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Lysol. “Laundry Sanitizer Guide.” lysol.com.