How to Remove Odors from Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric
How to Remove Odors from Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric
Your clothes smell bad and you want to fix it. Maybe they smell musty, sweaty, like cooking, or like smoke, and regular detergent isn’t enough. Odors in clothes are caused by bacteria, mold, and trapped oils that regular washing may not remove. Here’s how to remove odors from clothes without damaging the fabric.
Odors in clothes are caused by bacteria feeding on sweat and body oils, mold growing in damp conditions, cooking oils trapping food particles, smoke particles getting trapped in fibers, or detergent residue trapping smells. The key to removing odors is killing the bacteria and mold (hot water, vinegar, Lysol), neutralizing the odor (baking soda), and removing the source (Dawn dish soap for oils, OxiClean for organic matter).
To remove odors from clothes, identify the odor type, pre-treat with Dawn for grease-based odors, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water with baking soda and OxiClean, add Lysol to the rinse, add vinegar to the rinse, and dry completely. Don’t use cold water for odor removal, don’t use fabric softener, and don’t leave wet clothes sitting.
For Sweat and Body Odor
Step 1: Pre-Treat with Baking Soda
Make a paste of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda and water. Apply to the underarm area. Let sit for 30 minutes. Baking soda neutralizes odor compounds.
Step 2: Apply White Vinegar
Apply white vinegar full strength to the underarm area. Let sit for 15 minutes. Vinegar kills odor-causing bacteria.
Step 3: Apply Dish Soap
Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap to the underarm area. Let sit for 15 minutes. Dawn breaks down body oils.
Step 4: Wash in Hot Water
Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add half a cup of baking soda and 1 scoop of OxiClean to the wash.
Step 5: Add Lysol to the Rinse
Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for disinfecting.
Step 6: Add Vinegar to the Rinse
Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for the rinse.
Step 7: Dry Completely
Dry completely. Don’t store damp clothes.
For Mildew and Musty Smell
Step 1: Take Clothes Outside
Take musty clothes outside to shake off loose spores.
Step 2: Soak in Vinegar
Soak the clothes in white vinegar for 30 minutes. Vinegar kills mold spores.
Step 3: Apply Baking Soda Paste
Apply baking soda paste to visible mold stains. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush.
Step 4: Wash in Hot Water
Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add baking soda and OxiClean to the wash.
Step 5: Add Lysol to the Rinse
Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for killing remaining mold spores.
Step 6: Add Vinegar to the Rinse
Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.
Step 7: Dry in the Sun
Dry in direct sunlight if possible. UV rays kill mold and remove odors.
For Cooking Odors
Step 1: Apply Dish Soap
Apply Dawn dish soap to areas with cooking oil residue. Let sit for 15 minutes. Dawn breaks down cooking oils.
Step 2: Apply Baking Soda
Add half a cup of baking soda to the wash. Baking soda absorbs cooking odors.
Step 3: Wash in Warm Water
Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in warm water. Add OxiClean to the wash.
Step 4: Add Vinegar to the Rinse
Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.
Step 5: Dry Completely
Dry completely. Don’t store damp clothes.
For Smoke Odor
Step 1: Air Out
Hang the clothes outside in fresh air for several hours. Fresh air helps remove smoke particles.
Step 2: Soak in Vinegar
Soak the clothes in a solution of 1 cup vinegar and water for 30 minutes. Vinegar neutralizes smoke odor.
Step 3: Add Baking Soda
Add half a cup of baking soda to the wash.
Step 4: Wash in Hot Water
Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add OxiClean to the wash.
Step 5: Add Vinegar to the Rinse
Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.
Step 6: Dry in the Sun
Dry in direct sunlight if possible. UV rays help remove smoke odor.
For Pet Odor
Step 1: Pre-Treat with Dish Soap
Apply Dawn dish soap to areas with pet oils. Let sit for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Add Baking Soda
Add half a cup of baking soda to the wash. Baking soda neutralizes pet odors.
Step 3: Wash in Hot Water
Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add OxiClean to the wash.
Step 4: Add Lysol to the Rinse
Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for disinfecting.
Step 5: Add Vinegar to the Rinse
Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.
Step 6: Dry Completely
Dry completely. Don’t store damp clothes.
Additional Products for Odor Removal
Use OxiClean Spray for Stains Mixed with Odor
Pre-treat stains with OxiClean Max Force Spray. Let sit for 15 minutes.
Use Shout Foam for Food Stains
Apply Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam to food stains. Let sit for 15 minutes.
Use Amodex for Ink Stains
Use Amodex Ink and Stain Remover for ink stains.
Clean the Machine Monthly
Clean the washer monthly with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to prevent mold from spreading to clothes.
Odor Removal Guide
| Odor Type | Cause | Best Treatment | Water Temp | Extra Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweat | Bacteria on body oils | Baking soda, vinegar, Dawn | Hot | Lysol |
| Mildew | Mold from damp | Vinegar soak, OxiClean | Hot | Lysol |
| Cooking | Oil and food | Dawn, baking soda | Warm | OxiClean |
| Smoke | Particles in fibers | Vinegar soak, baking soda | Hot | OxiClean |
| Pet | Oils and dander | Dawn, baking soda, Lysol | Hot | Lysol |
| Perfume | Fragrance residue | Vinegar rinse | Warm | None |
What Not to Do
Don’t use cold water for odor removal. Cold water doesn’t kill odor-causing bacteria. Use hot water for most fabrics.
Don’t use fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves residue that traps odors and feeds mold. Use white vinegar instead.
Don’t leave wet clothes sitting. Leaving wet clothes causes mildew and odors. Remove promptly.
Don’t store damp clothes. Damp clothes grow mold. Always dry completely before storing.
Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that traps odors. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons per load.
Don’t close the door between loads. Closing the door traps moisture and causes mold. Leave the door open.
FAQ
How do you remove odors from clothes? Identify the odor type, pre-treat with Dawn for grease-based odors, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water with baking soda and OxiClean, add Lysol to the rinse, add vinegar to the rinse, and dry completely.
What causes odors in clothes? Odors in clothes are caused by bacteria feeding on sweat and body oils, mold growing in damp conditions, cooking oils trapping food particles, smoke particles getting trapped in fibers, or detergent residue trapping smells.
Does baking soda remove odors from clothes? Yes. Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors. Add half a cup to the wash or soak clothes in a baking soda solution for 30 minutes before washing.
Does vinegar remove odors from clothes? Yes. White vinegar deodorizes and removes detergent residue. Add half a cup to the rinse or soak clothes in vinegar for 30 minutes before washing.
What water temperature should you use for odor removal? Use hot water for most odor removal. Hot water kills odor-causing bacteria and mold. Use warm water for fabrics that can’t handle hot water.
References
- Tide. “Odor Removal Guide.” tide.com.
- The Spruce. “How to Remove Odors from Clothes.” thespruce.com.
- Good Housekeeping. “Odor Removal Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
- Lysol. “Laundry Sanitizer Guide.” lysol.com.
