How to Get Sour Smell Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

Your clothes smell sour. Maybe you left them in the washer too long, or they sat damp in a pile. Sour smell is caused by bacteria growing on damp fabric. Regular washing doesn’t always remove it because the bacteria bond with the fibers. But sour smell can be removed. Here’s how to get sour smell out of clothes without damage.

Sour smell in clothes is caused by bacteria growing on damp fabric fibers. Bacteria feed on organic matter (sweat, food, dirt) trapped in fabric and produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cause the sour smell. Removing sour smell requires killing the bacteria, removing the VOCs, and preventing regrowth.

To get sour smell out of 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, add Lysol for bacteria, and dry in the sun. Don’t use fabric softener, don’t use cold water, and don’t put sour-smelling clothes in the dryer until the smell is gone.

Step-by-Step: Removing Sour 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 bacteria and neutralizes the VOCs that cause sour 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 bacteria.

Step 4: Wash in Hot Water

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

Step 5: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.

Step 6: Add Lysol for Bacteria

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

Step 7: Dry in the Sun

Dry in direct sunlight. UV rays kill remaining bacteria and remove odors.

Step 8: Check Before Storing

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

For Stubborn Sour Smell

Method: Oxygen Bleach Soak

Step 1: Fill a tub with warm water.

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

Step 3: Soak clothes. 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 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 bacteria. Use hot water for sour-smelling loads.

Don’t put sour-smelling clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat can set the sour 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 sour smell. Transfer immediately.

Don’t store damp clothes. Damp clothes grow 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 Sour 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 bacteria.

Use hot water weekly. Run at least one hot water load per week to kill bacteria.

Use less detergent. Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per load.

Don’t use fabric softener. Use vinegar in the rinse instead.

Clean the machine monthly. Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

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

Use Dawn Ultra Dish Soap for food stains. Remove food residue that feeds bacteria.

FAQ

How do you get sour smell out of 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, add Lysol for bacteria, and dry in the sun. Don’t use fabric softener or cold water.

Why do my clothes smell sour 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.

Does vinegar remove sour smell from clothes? Yes. White vinegar kills bacteria and neutralizes the VOCs that cause sour 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 sour 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.

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

References

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