Ideally, you should remove wet clothes from the washer as soon as possible and not leave them there for more than 8 to 12 hours. Keeping them in for longer encourages bacteria and mildrew growth, leading to strong, stale, and musty odors. Ideally, you should remove wet clothes from the washer as soon as possible and not leave them there for more than 8 to 12 hours. Keeping them in for longer encourages bacteria and mildrew growth, leading to strong, stale, and musty odors.