Odor Removing Laundry Detergent: A Repeatable Care Routine

You want to remove odors from clothes with the right detergent. Maybe your clothes smell musty, sweaty, or like mildew, and regular detergent isn’t enough. Odor removing laundry detergent is designed to eliminate tough smells at the source. Here’s a guide to odor removing laundry detergent and a repeatable care routine.

Odor removing laundry detergent is a detergent formulated to break down and eliminate odor-causing bacteria, mold, and body oils that regular detergents may leave behind. Odors in clothes are caused by bacteria feeding on sweat and body oils, mold growing in damp conditions, or residue trapping smells. The key to removing odors is using the right detergent, the right boosters, and the right washing method.

To remove odors from clothes, use Tide Free and Gentle with baking soda and OxiClean, pre-treat with Dawn dish soap for grease-based odors, wash in hot water, 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.

The Repeatable Care Routine

Daily: Laundry Habits

Step 1: Sort clothes by color and fabric. Separate heavily soiled and odor-heavy items.

Step 2: Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per load.

Step 3: Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the wash. Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors.

Step 4: Add 1 scoop of OxiClean to the wash. OxiClean breaks down odor-causing compounds.

Step 5: Pre-treat grease-based odors with Dawn Ultra Dish Soap.

Step 6: Pre-treat stains with OxiClean Max Force Spray or Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam.

Step 7: Wash in hot water (or the hottest water safe for the fabric). Hot water kills odor-causing bacteria.

Step 8: Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for disinfecting.

Step 9: Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for the rinse. Vinegar deodorizes and removes detergent residue.

Step 10: Dry completely. Don’t store damp clothes.

Monthly: Machine Maintenance

Step 1: Place one tablet of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner in the washer drum.

Step 2: Set to the hottest water and longest cycle.

Step 3: Run the cycle.

Step 4: Wipe the rubber seal, dispenser, and drum.

Step 5: Leave the door open to dry.

Weekly: Quick Maintenance

Step 1: Wipe the rubber seal with a dry cloth.

Step 2: Check the dispenser for buildup.

Step 3: Leave the door open between loads.

Odor Types and Solutions

Odor Type	Cause	Best Treatment	Water Temp
Sweat	Bacteria on body oils	Tide, baking soda, Lysol	Hot
Mildew	Mold from damp clothes	Vinegar soak, Tide, OxiClean	Hot
Cooking	Oil and food particles	Dawn, Tide, baking soda	Warm
Smoke	Particles trapped in fibers	Tide, baking soda, vinegar	Hot
Pet	Oils and dander	Tide, baking soda, Lysol	Hot
Gasoline	Petroleum residue	Dawn, baking soda (hand wash)	Warm
Perfume	Fragrance residue	Tide, vinegar rinse	Warm

For Stubborn Odors

Soak in Vinegar

Soak clothes in white vinegar for 30 minutes before washing. Vinegar kills mold spores and breaks down odor compounds.

Soak in Baking Soda

Soak clothes in a solution of baking soda and water for 30 minutes before washing. Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors.

Use Amodex for Ink Mixed with Odor

If the odor area has ink stains, use Amodex Ink and Stain Remover.

Run Two Wash Cycles

For severe odors, run two wash cycles. Use vinegar and baking soda for the first and Tide Free and Gentle with OxiClean for the second.

Dry in the Sun

Dry clothes in direct sunlight if possible. UV rays kill odor-causing bacteria and remove smells.

How to Prevent Odors in Clothes

Remove Clothes Promptly

Remove clothes from the washer as soon as the cycle ends. Don’t leave wet clothes sitting.

Dry Clothes Completely

Make sure clothes are completely dry before storing. Damp clothes grow mold.

Store in a Dry Place

Store clothes in a cool, dry place. Don’t store in damp basements or humid areas.

Use Moisture Absorbers

Place baking soda or silica gel in storage areas to reduce humidity.

Clean the Machine Monthly

Clean the washer monthly with affresh to prevent mold from growing in the machine and spreading to clothes.

Add Lysol to Damp Loads

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to loads that might stay damp, like towels and gym clothes.

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

What is the best odor removing laundry detergent? Tide Free and Gentle is one of the best odor removing detergents. It’s free of dyes and perfumes, cleans well in all water temperatures, and works with baking soda and OxiClean for maximum odor removal.

How do you remove odors from clothes? Use Tide Free and Gentle with baking soda and OxiClean, pre-treat with Dawn dish soap for grease-based odors, wash in hot water, add Lysol to the rinse, add vinegar to the rinse, and dry completely.

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 causes odors in clothes? Odors in clothes are caused by bacteria feeding on sweat and body oils, mold growing in damp conditions, or detergent residue trapping smells.

References

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