Clean laundry shouldn't smell like a flooded basement. When damp towels or sweaty gym clothes develop that sour mildew funk, your ordinary detergent simply won’t cut it.
To eliminate musty laundry odors permanently, you need a method that tackles bacteria trapped deep in the fibers.
But before you start removing mildew smell out of clothes, figure out where the smell came from. Otherwise, you may wash the clothes three times and still end up with musty clothes.
Why do clothes smell like mildew?
Mildew and mold generally thrive in damp, poorly ventilated environments. Clothes left wet in a closed washer or laundry - stored before they dry completely - can create the conditions for musty odors.
Sometimes the clothes aren't even the original problem. A washer with buildup around the drum, detergent dispenser, or rubber gasket can develop an odor and transfer it to clean laundry.
So, before you start treating every shirt individually, check the machine and how you store the laundry.
First things first…
Before you start treating it, make sure a few basics are in place.
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Separate affected clothes from the unaffected ones: If only a few of your clothes smell musty, keep them separate from the rest of the laundry. This makes musty smell laundry removal easier and prevents the odor from spreading to other clothes.
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Check the care label: Know about the fabric of your garment before choosing a wash cycle. Not all clothes can handle hot water, and some specifically need to be dry cleaned.
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Visible mold growth can be dangerous: If you can literally see mold growing on the fabric, that's a different situation than a mildew odor. Mold-contaminated porous materials can be difficult to clean completely. If an item is heavily affected, you need to discard it.
Note: If the growth is substantial, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends taking appropriate precautions when cleaning mold.
Wash the clothes thoroughly
For ordinary musty-smelling laundry, start with a proper wash rather than trying to cover the smell with fragrance. The focus must be on removing the smell from its source, not simply adding another scent on top of it.
Use a good laundry detergent and choose the warmest water the care label allows. For towels and sturdy washable fabrics, warmer washing can be particularly useful for tackling persistent odors.
Don't cram the washer. Clothes need room to move through the wash. An overloaded drum can make it harder for water and detergent to reach the fabric properly.
Using vinegar… but cautiously
You might have come across this recommendation while looking for musty smell laundry removal, but aren’t sure if it works. Well, it does, but not for all fabrics.
Vinegar helps neutralize some odors, while baking soda helps freshen up the laundry. For pretreating mildew odors, soak your clothes in a mix of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar for about an hour. After that, rinse thoroughly and do a normal wash.
But there's a catch. Vinegar isn't suitable for every fabric and shouldn't become a routine laundry treatment. It can be harsh on some materials and elastic. Always check the care label first.
If you use vinegar, use it as a separate pretreatment and rinse it thoroughly before washing. Don't mix vinegar with other cleaning products.
How to fix the mold smell in towels
Towels are particularly good at holding onto moisture. They get wet often and spend time in a moist environment like a bathroom every day. That's a good recipe for a musty smell.
So, for the mold smell towel fix, wash it using the hottest temperature it can handle, then dry it completely afterward. The care label tells you how much heat your towel can handle.
What if the odor is stubborn? You can use an oxygen-based laundry additive. That’s a good option for a stuck-on odor situation. Again, make sure your towel care label allows it.
Helpful tip: Avoid folding towels if they're even slightly damp. Spread them out after use instead of leaving them bunched up. That simple habit can keep the musty odors away.
Can detergent help with mildew odors?
Yes, absolutely. A detergent that cleans effectively can help remove the sweat, oils, and everyday buildup that give odor-causing microbes something to cling to.
A gentle detergent such as Mozi Wash, which cleans up well, can be a good choice. Its enzyme-powered formula pulls out the residue buildup from deep into the fibers and rinses clean.
Mozi formula is free from hormone disruptors, ensuring it is safe for sensitive skin as well as clothes.
What if the smell keeps coming back?
This is exactly the problem where many people get stuck. You wash the clothes, and the smell disappears temporarily. But after a few days, it’s back.
If that sounds familiar, you need to check:
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Your washing machine: Sometimes, that’s what’s affecting your laundry. Clean the major parts like the drum, detergent dispenser, and that area under the rubber gasket thoroughly. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions while cleaning. Also, leaving the door open after each cycle helps the washer dry out.
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Your storage area: Check if you’ve left any wet gym gear in a closed hamper, or damp towels in a pile of clothes after a shower. Also make sure that you do not fold and store clothes until they are completely dry.
Fixing that itself can sometimes be a better damp clothes smell solution than washing them repeatedly.
How to prevent mildew smell in clothes
Once you’ve successfully managed to get rid of the mildew smell, the tough part is over. Now all you need to do is follow a few simple habits that prevent it from coming back.
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Don't leave wet laundry in the washer: Move it to the dryer or drying rack as soon as possible.
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Let your towels breathe: Hang them up after use rather than leaving them in a heap.
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Don't overuse detergent: Too much can leave residue behind, which may contribute to laundry odors.
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Dry everything completely: This is probably the most important damp clothes smell solution of all.
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Clean your washer regularly: If the machine smells musty, your clothes may pick up that smell during the wash.
The bottom line
The best mildew smell clothes fix isn't simply adding more fragrance. The right approach starts with finding the moisture problem. Next, wash the affected clothes thoroughly and dry them completely before storing. Also, make sure the washer and storage area don’t add the smell back to the clothes.
For everyday mildew odors, though, a good wash with gentle detergent such as Mozi Wash, followed by thorough drying, can make a surprisingly big difference.
FAQs about getting mildew and Mold Smell Out of Clothes
1. Can vinegar remove mildew smell from clothes?
Yes, it can help with mild mildew odors, but a thorough wash afterward is very important. Also, it may not be suitable for all fabrics.
2. Can a washing machine cause mildew smell in clothes?
Yes. Mold, mildew, and detergent buildup inside the washer can transfer that musty smell to your clothes.
3. How do I prevent mildew smell from coming back?
Remove clothes from the washer quickly and dry them completely. Keeping your washer clean and dry also helps.
4. What should I do if I can see mold growing on my clothes?
Take the clothes outside, brush off loose mold carefully, then wash them thoroughly. If the mold is extensive, it's safer to discard the item.
