How to Remove Musty Smell from Clothes
Choose a household product to use., Start a load of wash., Pour a cup of your chosen product into the water., Hang the clothes outside to dry.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose a household product to use.
Clothes with a mild musty smell can often be treated using a common, nontoxic household product.
This method is also best for delicate fabrics that can't be bleached.
If your clothes have mold spores, they won't stop smelling musty until the spores have been killed.
Check around your house to see which of the following mold killing products you have on hand:
White vinegar Borax Baking soda -
Step 2: Start a load of wash.
Put the musty clothes in your washing machine with the amount of detergent you normally use.
Let the washer fill with water as the cycle begins.
Allow it to completely fill before continuing.
It's best to use hot water to ensure the mold spores get killed.
If you're washing clothing that can't be washed in hot water, try using cold water instead.
You may have to wash the clothes more than once to get rid of the smell. , Once the washer has filled with water, pour in a cup of vinegar, borax or baking soda.
Pour it straight into the water so it will get evenly dispersed.
Finish running the wash cycle as usual.
Each of these items has properties that help to kill mold spores and remove bad smells.
If the clothes are particularly musty, you can use baking soda and vinegar together.
If you aren't able to pour the product straight into the water, mix it with a cup of hot water and use the liquid detergent dispenser. , Drying your clothes on a line in the sun will help to kill any remaining spores and freshen the smell of the clothing.
Even during the winter, you can dry your clothes outside on a sunny day.
Try to place them in an area that gets full sun and wind.
If it's raining outside, you'll need to use your dryer instead.
This isn't ideal, since the dryer is an enclosed space that doesn't allow fresh air to flow through your clothes.
If your clothes come out of the dryer still smelling musty, wait for a sunny day to wash them and dry them outside. -
Step 3: Pour a cup of your chosen product into the water.
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Step 4: Hang the clothes outside to dry.
Detailed Guide
Clothes with a mild musty smell can often be treated using a common, nontoxic household product.
This method is also best for delicate fabrics that can't be bleached.
If your clothes have mold spores, they won't stop smelling musty until the spores have been killed.
Check around your house to see which of the following mold killing products you have on hand:
White vinegar Borax Baking soda
Put the musty clothes in your washing machine with the amount of detergent you normally use.
Let the washer fill with water as the cycle begins.
Allow it to completely fill before continuing.
It's best to use hot water to ensure the mold spores get killed.
If you're washing clothing that can't be washed in hot water, try using cold water instead.
You may have to wash the clothes more than once to get rid of the smell. , Once the washer has filled with water, pour in a cup of vinegar, borax or baking soda.
Pour it straight into the water so it will get evenly dispersed.
Finish running the wash cycle as usual.
Each of these items has properties that help to kill mold spores and remove bad smells.
If the clothes are particularly musty, you can use baking soda and vinegar together.
If you aren't able to pour the product straight into the water, mix it with a cup of hot water and use the liquid detergent dispenser. , Drying your clothes on a line in the sun will help to kill any remaining spores and freshen the smell of the clothing.
Even during the winter, you can dry your clothes outside on a sunny day.
Try to place them in an area that gets full sun and wind.
If it's raining outside, you'll need to use your dryer instead.
This isn't ideal, since the dryer is an enclosed space that doesn't allow fresh air to flow through your clothes.
If your clothes come out of the dryer still smelling musty, wait for a sunny day to wash them and dry them outside.
About the Author
Melissa Nguyen
Experienced content creator specializing in organization guides and tutorials.
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