Mildew smell comes from wet towels and forgotten laundry that is present for a long time in the washer. Many clothes become musty and get mildew smell after a long period in storage. Make sure that you keep them hanging instead of folding. If you fold them then place them in the lavender bag with some perfume to ward off a foul smell. It’s not rare, but some clothes strangely start smelling musty after they get washed. After writing how to get sharpie out of clothes?, we are writing the article and rescue your garments from the foul smell. Below we have mentioned some easy tips to get mildew smell out of clothes. These remedies will also help you to get mildew stains out of clothes.
Tips to Get Mildew Smell Out of Clothes
1. Bleach to Get Mildew to Smell Out of Clothes
Steps to Follow:
- Bleach is quite effective to remove strong mildew smell out of clothes. It effectively kills mold that causes smell and mildew stains on clothes.
- But, it sometimes fades away the colors. Make sure you apply it only on the white clothes, or first apply on the hidden part of your clothes.
- Buy a bleaching detergent as it will save you from preparing your own bleach and water solution.
- You can also dilute your own bleach by just following the instructions written on the label of your chosen stuff to get the application right.
- You can pre-soak the mildew smell clothes for a few hours in the bleach solution if your clothes are color full.
- Just mix according to the instructions written on the label of the packet of bleach.
- You can add the bleach to your launder and washing machine as normal by following the instructions on bleach packet manual.
- Make sure you wear rubber gloves while using the bleach powder and work in an open space away from the pets, children, as the smell of bleach released is quite strong.
2. White Distilled Vinegar to Remove Mildew Smell from Clothing
Steps to Follow:
- Vinegar is an outstanding mild mildew smell killer that also removes mildew stains from your clothes.
- Just add two cups of white vinegar in a large bucket of water, and soak your clothing in it for at least an hour.
- Then wash in your washing machine at the high temperature available with your daily washing detergent.
- On the other hand, you can straight away add hundred ml of vinegar to your regular washing machine and wash as normal per cycle.
- It is important that you do not mix distilled vinegar with any stuff or detergent that contains bleach. The bleach release a toxic gas that is harmful.
- This will also help to get mildew stains out of clothes.
3. Inspect Your Washing Machine to Get Mildew Smell Out of Clothes
Steps to Follow:
- It may sound odd, but your washing machine could be the reason of the mildew smell in your clothes.
- Washing machines that have front drum are mainly prone to absorbing moisture and developing mold that later on release mildew smell.
- You can easily get rid of this mildew smell out of your washing machine.
- Just pour some carbonate solution in the laundry detergent slot and some white vinegar in the fabric softener slot.
- Set the timer of your washing machine on the sanitary cycle, and pour some of the carbonated liquid into the washer for a good result.
- Sponge the washing machine out with a towel when done, and let the door open to keep the air inside of it dry.
4. Baking Soda to Remove Musty Smell from Clothes
Steps to Follow:
- Fill the washing machine with the clothes.
- Add a cup of baking soda and detergent in a washing machine.
- Let the washing machine run at the hot water temperature.
- Once the baking soda and detergent are thoroughly incorporated in the washing machine, switch it off.
- Allow the clothes soak for an hour or overnight.
- Continue the washing machine’s cycle.
- Once the cycle finishes, dry the clothes as in general you would.
5. Borax to Get Rid of Musty Smell from Clothes
Steps to Follow:
- Borax is a water-soluble mineral that is also an effective chemical to get mildew smell out of clothes.
- You can easily buy it as a detergent or in the powdered form.
- If you get it in the powder form, just mix it with water as per the instructions were written on the label.
- Laundry the clothes as like your daily clothes by adding the solution straight into the drum of your washing machine.
- This is will also help to get mildew stains out of clothes.
Tips to Remove Mildew Smell from Clothing:
- Change your washer often. Generally washing machine trap moisture that leads to mildew and molds growth. To clean it add some percarbonate solution and vinegar in the machine and allow it to run for a while. Then wipe off the washer with a dry towel and let it dry. Do not close it.
- Generally, when the clothes start smelling bad, people tend to use more detergent while washing the laundry. But that should not be done. Too much detergent will stick to the fabric and will trap moisture, which unfortunately gives way to mildew and bad odor. So it’s better to use a regular amount of detergent when you wash your clothes.
- If your clothes have a slight odor of mildew then the best way to get rid of musty smells in clothes dry it in the air. Hang them on the clothesline outdoors.
- To get mildew smell out of clothes you can wash your clothes with the strong detergent. You will find an ample number of detergents that are for removing bad odor from clothes. Use them according to the manufacturer’s directions written on the bottle. A good example of such product is oxy clean.
