Before diving into how to tackle those pesky mildew smells, let’s take a moment to understand what causes them in the first place. Believe it or not, a musty odor can sneak into your laundry even if you’re diligent about keeping things clean. Common culprits include a dirty washing machine, leaving damp clothes sitting too long, leftover body soils, and even hard water.
When it comes to combating mildew smells, it’s best to steer clear of heavily perfumed detergents. While they might seem tempting, they can often just mask the problem instead of solving it. And using fabric softeners or dryer sheets can make things worse by trapping moisture and odors in your fabrics.
Before tossing your laundry in the wash, don’t forget to give your washing machine a quick inspection for any mildew buildup. Keeping both your clothes and your machine clean is key to fresh-smelling laundry!
If the affected clothes are washable, you can go through the following procedure:
The clothes should be put into the washing machine after which you add your common detergent. The washer should be completely filled with water (preferably hot to kill the spores, unless the clothes can only be cold washed). Run your normal cycle and check if the smell is still present. If using a cold wash, you may have to repeat the cycle more than once to get a satisfactory result.
Whether it is borax or white vinegar, add it to the clothes in the washing machine, add some water and then run a wash cycle. These products will kill any remaining mold that was not eliminated in the first wash. If the clothes are too musty, then you can combine two detergents in one wash to guarantee some freshness.
After the thorough washing, the clothes should be taken outside and air-dried in the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun aid in killing any remaining spores that had escaped washing and the flow of fresh air greatly helps in freshening the clothes further. In case it is winter and there is hardly any sun, you can use the drier, although it is not the ideal. Add some layer of fabric softener to the clothes and then set them in the drier. You can take them out in the sun again if this is possible.
Check cleaning instructions on clothing care tag. Be sure to test any product on a small area of the fabric before continuing to treat the garment.
You can find rinse-less fabric cleaners in most retail stores and through online retailers. This type of product rinses the surface of the fabric without saturating it. Mix the no-rinse cleaner with some water and the spray it on the stained area damp, and then let it air dry. The cleaner lifts off the smell as it evaporates. In case this does not work in the first round, make some repeat cycles.
Sprinkle baking soda on the effected area and let sit for at least 30 minutes. The powder lifts and absorbs the odor as it sits.
Alcohol is a strong odor remover and mold killer, you can still spray the item with some vodka and let it air dry in the sun. As the vodka evaporates, it carries away the smell.
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