If your clothes smell bad, this is probably due to the action of mold spores. This can happen if you leave them in the closet for too long or if they stay in the washing machine for several days. You can get rid of bad smells by using products you already have around the house, such as vinegar, baking soda, or borax. After washing your clothes, let them dry in the sun to completely get rid of the stench.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Treating Machine Washable Clothes
Step 1. Choose a product you already have in your home
Clothes with a mild musty smell can often be treated using a readily available, non-toxic product. This method is also ideal for delicate fabrics that cannot be bleached. If your clothing has become moldy, the odor won't go away until the spores have been eliminated. Open the kitchen cabinets to see which of the following products you have available:
- White vinegar.
- Borax.
- Sodium bicarbonate.
Step 2. Do a load of the washing machine
Put the smelly clothes in the washing machine with the amount of detergent you usually use. Set a wash cycle and temperature suitable for the fabrics of the garments in question.
- To make sure the mold spores are eliminated, it is best to use warm water.
- If it's clothes that can't be washed in hot water, try using cold water instead. You may need to repeat the wash more than once to get rid of the bad smell.
Step 3. Pour a glass of your chosen product into the washing machine
Once you have set the wash cycle and temperature, as well as poured the detergent into the special compartment, pour a glass of vinegar, borax or baking soda into the special compartment of the dispenser. Close the tray and the washing machine will do the rest. Let the program finish as usual.
- All of these products have properties that help eliminate mold spores and remove bad odors. If your clothes are particularly moldy, you can mix baking soda and vinegar.
- If you are not going to wash your clothes in the washing machine, soak them in hot water and pour this product along with the liquid detergent.
Step 4. Let your clothes dry outdoors
Hanging them on the clothesline and exposing them to the sun will eliminate the remaining spores and refresh the clothing. Even in winter it is possible to leave the garments to dry outside, during a beautiful day. Try placing them in a fairly sunny and breezy area.
- If it rains, you have to use the dryer instead. It is not ideal, as this appliance has an enclosed space that does not allow fresh air to ventilate the clothes.
- If when you take your clothes out of the dryer you notice that they are still moldy, wait for a sunny day to wash and dry them outside.
Method 2 of 3: Treat Dry Cleanable Items Only
Step 1. Try a no rinse detergent
If you need to get rid of the bad smell from a coat or other garment that you can only dry clean, it is impossible to immerse it in water. A leave-in detergent effectively cleans the surface of the garment without saturating the different layers of the fabric, so the chances of it losing its shape are lower. Look for such a product at the supermarket: these are concentrated solutions sold in bottles similar to those of classic detergent.
- In most cases, you need to mix a capful of leave-in detergent with several liters of water. Pour everything into a bottle with a spray dispenser.
- Spray the product on the moldy garment so that all parts get slightly damp.
- Hang the garment outside to dry thanks to the action of the sun and wind. Once it dries, the odor should be gone. If it persists, repeat the process.
- Note that this method requires you to wet the fabric. Do not use it on materials that should not come into contact with water, such as leather or suede.
Step 2. Use baking soda
Instead of washing clothes with this product, you can use it dry on garments that cannot be machine washed. Baking soda absorbs the musty smell. You may need to repeat the process more than once for best results.
- Lay the garment out on a clean surface. Sprinkle it evenly with a thin layer of baking soda. Turn it over and repeat on the other side. If you don't want to apply the product directly to the garment, try putting the garment in a plastic bag, next to an open container of baking soda.
- Leave the baking soda on your dress overnight.
- Take the dress outside and shake it well. Use a soft brush to remove excess baking soda.
- Hang it outside for the rest of the day.
Step 3. Try using vodka on the garment
If you don't want to buy a specific cleaner, you can use cheap vodka. Pour some into a bottle with a spray nozzle, then spray it evenly all over your head, making sure you don't miss a spot. Let it dry out in the sun. This should eliminate or lessen the musty smell.
Step 4. Take it to the laundry
If home methods have not allowed you to properly remove the musty smell, you may need to take the garment to an expert. Dry cleaners use powerful chemicals to deodorize fabrics. In most cases, they can effectively eliminate bad odor. If you don't want your dress to be covered in chemicals, look for an eco-friendly dry cleaner that uses a liquid carbon dioxide-based washing method.
Method 3 of 3: Dealing with Moldy Elements
Step 1. Let them boil
If you have extremely moldy items and don't want to throw them away, you can try boiling them to get rid of mold spores and remove bad odor. This method should only be used on items such as towels, sheets, and other sturdy linens that would not spoil in boiling water. If you bring delicate items to a boil, they will likely destroy themselves. Here's how to boil moldy items:
- Bring the water from a large saucepan to a boil. You need enough water to thoroughly soak the item to be treated.
- Arrange the item in a separate large pot. Pour in the boiling water, making sure it gets completely wet.
- Let it soak for five minutes.
- Squeeze the water out. If it is very hot, it would be best to wear the gloves you use for washing the dishes.
- Wash the item in the washing machine as you usually do. Let it dry outdoors on a sunny day.
Step 2. Use bleach
This product is effective in eliminating mold. It removes spores and bad odor from items that can be bleached without problems, such as towels, sheets and socks. Before bleaching, be sure to check the item's label. If it explicitly states not to bleach it, use a different method. Whenever you use bleach, do it in a well-ventilated room and protect your hands with gloves. Here is the procedure to follow:
- In a large bucket, prepare a solution of 120 ml of bleach and 4 liters of water.
- Put the moldy items in the solution.
- Wash them in the washing machine with detergent as you usually do. Let them dry outdoors.
Step 3. Try ammonia
It has a strong odor that is toxic to the lungs, so make sure the room is well ventilated before using it. Put the clothes in the washing machine and start a wash cycle without adding detergent. Pour 250 ml of ammonia into the special compartment of the dispenser. Let the cycle finish and set another one using only the detergent. Hang your clothes outside on a sunny day.
- Never mix bleach and ammonia. This releases a gas which, if inhaled, can damage the lungs.
- Handle ammonia with care. It would be better to wear gloves to prevent it from coming into contact with the skin. If you inhale it, go outside to get some fresh air. If you feel dizzy, go to a poison control center.
Advice
- If you have a front-loading washing machine, check the door seal. If the lower part, on which water always remains at the end of the wash, looks moldy, this could contribute to the problem. Try cleaning it with a bleach solution. In extreme cases, it is possible to replace the gasket without having to buy a new appliance. When the washing machine is off, leave the door ajar. This causes the inside to dry out and prevents mold growth.
- On the market you will find specific products to remove bad smells from the washing machine and clothes. You can also do an internet search about it.
- You can put a fabric softener in the dryer in the hope that the heat will release the fragrance and it will be absorbed by the clothes. However, this only helps camouflage the smell and probably won't get rid of the root problem.
- To make your clothes stop smelling bad, wash them normally, then clean your closet once a month and spray clothes deodorant on your clothes.
- Try putting your clothes in the freezer for a few hours.
- Try sprinkling Listerine on your clothes.
- Products like Febreze and other fabric deodorants can come in handy.
- Chlorine dioxide is used on boats to control the smell of mold, and in libraries to prevent outbreaks of this fungus, but it also works on clothing. It is very difficult to find chlorine dioxide products designed for this purpose on the market, unless you already know specific ones. You can try sachets containing this substance, such as the Starbrite M-D-G Mildew Odor Control Bags (available on eBay). Arrange them in the closet with your clothes to prevent mold and odors from forming. Chlorine dioxide is irritating. If you're using it in a room, let it air out before going back inside. Or, if you're using it to deodorize a closet, keep the door closed.
Warnings
- If you get bleach or ammonia on your hands, wash them immediately.
- Never mix bleach with ammonia, since this solution emits a noxious gas, very harmful to those who inhale it.
