How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Clothes for Good

You’ve washed your clothes three times and they still smell musty. You’ve used more detergent, different cycles, and fabric softener. Nothing works. The smell isn’t dirt or sweat. It’s mold spores that have grown on the fabric, probably because the clothes sat damp for too long. Regular detergent cleans dirt but doesn’t kill mold spores. The spores keep growing and producing the musty odor no matter how many times you wash. To get rid of mildew smell for good, you need to kill the spores, remove the odor compounds, and prevent the problem from coming back.

Mildew smell in clothes is a musty odor caused by mold spores growing on fabric in damp conditions. The smell persists after regular washing because detergent doesn’t kill mold spores. The spores continue to grow and produce odor compounds even after washing.

To get rid of mildew smell in clothes, wash with 1 cup of white vinegar and enzyme detergent in hot water, add half a cup of baking soda for extra deodorizing, and dry in the sun. For stubborn smells, repeat the vinegar wash or use oxygen bleach. To prevent recurrence, don’t leave wet clothes in the washer, dry clothes completely before storing, and clean your washing machine monthly.

The Best Treatment: Vinegar and Baking Soda

White vinegar kills mold spores. Baking soda absorbs odors. Together, they remove mildew smell from clothes more effectively than any other home treatment.

Step 1: Load the clothes. Put the mildew-smelling clothes in the washing machine without other clothes.

Step 2: Add 1 cup of white vinegar. Pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar directly into the drum.

Step 3: Add half a cup of baking soda. Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda directly to the drum. The baking soda absorbs odors and helps neutralize the pH.

Step 4: Add enzyme detergent. Add 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle to the dispenser. The enzymes break down organic matter that feeds the mold.

Step 5: Wash in hot water. Hot water helps kill the spores and flush away the odor compounds. Use the hottest water safe for the fabric.

Step 6: Check the smell. After the wash, smell the clothes. If the musty odor is gone, dry as usual. If it remains, repeat.

Step 7: Dry in the sun if possible. Sunlight is a natural mold killer. UV rays kill remaining spores and freshen the fabric.

For Stubborn Mildew Smell

If the vinegar and baking soda wash doesn’t fully remove the smell, try these additional treatments:

Repeat the vinegar wash. Some mildew smells need two or three vinegar washes. Wash again with 1 cup of vinegar, hot water, and enzyme detergent.

Oxygen bleach. Add oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) to the wash cycle. Oxygen bleach kills mold spores and removes odors without the harshness of chlorine bleach. Safe for most colored fabrics.

Borax. Add half a cup of borax to the wash cycle. Borax is a natural mineral that kills mold and removes odors.

Enzyme soak. Soak the clothes in warm water with enzyme detergent for 1 hour before washing. The enzymes break down the organic matter that feeds the mold.

Vinegar soak. Soak the clothes in a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and cold water for 30 minutes before washing. This gives the vinegar more time to kill the spores.

Where Mildew Smell Comes From

Mildew smell in clothes comes from mold spores that grow in damp, warm conditions. The most common causes:

Leaving wet clothes in the washer. The most common cause. When wet clothes sit in the washer for more than a few hours, mold spores begin to grow.

Storing damp clothes. Even slightly damp clothes will grow mold in storage. Always dry clothes completely before putting them away.

A dirty washing machine. If your washing machine has mold or residue buildup, it transfers the smell to your clothes. Clean your machine monthly with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner.

Humid storage areas. Storing clothes in basements, garages, or other humid areas promotes mold growth.

Airtight storage. Storing clothes in airtight plastic containers traps moisture and promotes mold. Use breathable storage for natural fibers.

How to Prevent Mildew Smell

Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer. Transfer to the dryer or a drying rack within 2 hours.

Dry clothes completely before storing. Even slightly damp clothes will mold.

Don’t store in damp areas. Use climate-controlled storage.

Clean your washing machine monthly. Run a cleaning cycle with affresh to remove mold and residue.

Leave the washer door open. After each wash, leave the door open to let the drum dry.

Use the right amount of detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that feeds mold. Use 2 tablespoons per load.

Don’t use fabric softener on towels. Fabric softener coats fibers and traps moisture, which promotes mold. Use vinegar instead.

What Not to Do

Don’t use fabric softener. It coats fibers and traps the musty smell.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored fabrics. It strips color. Use oxygen bleach instead.

Don’t put mildew-smelling clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat can set the musty smell permanently.

Don’t use cold water. Cold water doesn’t kill mold spores. Use hot water.

Don’t ignore the washing machine. A dirty machine transfers mold to clothes.

FAQ

How do you get rid of mildew smell in clothes? Wash with 1 cup of white vinegar, half a cup of baking soda, and enzyme detergent in hot water. Dry in the sun if possible. For stubborn smells, repeat the vinegar wash or use oxygen bleach.

Does vinegar kill mildew smell in clothes? Yes. White vinegar kills mold spores and neutralizes the odor compounds that cause the musty smell. Add 1 cup to the wash cycle and wash in hot water with enzyme detergent.

Does baking soda remove mildew smell from clothes? Yes. Baking soda absorbs odors and helps neutralize the pH. Add half a cup to the wash cycle along with vinegar and detergent for extra deodorizing.

Why do my clothes smell musty after washing? Clothes smell musty because mold spores have grown on the fabric. Regular detergent doesn’t kill mold spores, so the smell persists. Wash with vinegar in hot water to kill the spores.

Can you put mildew-smelling clothes in the dryer? Don’t put mildew-smelling clothes in the dryer until the smell is gone. Dryer heat can set the musty odor permanently. Always air dry and check the smell first.

How do you prevent mildew smell in clothes? Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer, dry clothes completely before storing, don’t store in damp areas, clean your washing machine monthly, leave the washer door open after each wash, and use the right amount of detergent.

Does hot water kill mildew in clothes? Yes. Hot water helps kill mold spores and flush away odor compounds. Use the hottest water safe for the fabric when washing mildew-smelling clothes.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Mildew Smell from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Get Musty Smell Out of Clothes.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “How to Remove Mildew Odor.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. CDC. “Mold Cleanup Guide.” cdc.gov.