INSIDE: Do your clothes smell of mold and mildew? Check out this simple tip on how to remove mildew smell from clothes and towels. Hint: It only takes 1 ingredient!
Do you ever have a problem with your clothes and towels getting a mildew smell? You can wash and wash them, but the smell still remains. Maybe you left the clothes in the washing machine and forgot about them for days. Or if you are like my kiddo forget and leave a towel in the trunk of the car for weeks! Using laundry detergent can often make the smell worse instead of better. You may wonder if it's even possible to remove the mildew smell. But, there is a simple way of how to remove mildew smell from clothes. Skip the laundry detergent and use vinegar instead to remove mildew smell from clothes permanently!
Because my son is a swimmer I am constantly finding clothes and towels that are soaking wet and smelling. He tends to put them in his swim bag and forget them. Then I find them a few weeks later at the bottom of the bag, smelling of mildew. If you are struggling with how to remove mildew smell from clothes or towels this trick is fantastic.
Start by filling up the washing machine with the hottest water on your machine. Add one cup of vinegar to the machine.
Once the machine is completely filled up, add in the clothing or towels that smell.
Let the machine run for a minute or two until the items are completely wet. Then turn off the washing machine and let them soak for about 30 minutes.
After thirty minutes start back up the machine and let it run through the entire cycle. Do not add any detergent to the washing machine. If you have an extra rinse cycle I recommend using it. Once your clothes or towels are finished in the machine pull them out and let them air dry. Once they are completely dry check them for a mildew smell.
You may need to repeat the process if they are really smelly. One time usually does the trick for most of the clothes that I wash. My son's towels sometimes need the second wash cycle.
It's just that easy of how to remove the mildew smell from clothes. Don't throw out those towels and clothes just because they smell of mildew. With this easy tip, you can have fresh smelling clothes again.
How To Remove Mildew Smell From Clothes
1 cup of vinegar
smelly clothes
Fill up the washing machine with the hottest water on your machine. Add one cup of vinegar to the machine. Once the machine is completely filled, add in the clothing or towels that smell. Let the machine run for a minute or two until the items are completely wet. Then turn off the washing machine and let them soak for about 30 minutes.
After thirty minutes start back up the machine and let it run through the entire cycle. Use extra rinse cycle if possible. Once your clothes or towels are finished in the machine pull them out and let them air dry. Once they are completely dry check them for a mildew smell. Repeat if necessary.
Tired of sweat smells? Try my secret for how to get the sweat smell out of clothes!
Materials List
- Vinegar
- Washing Machine
Get my laundry stain removal printable
Subscribe (free!) to my newsletter and as an added bonus I will send you the laundry stain removal printable!
Robert Leutwiler says
Great idea. We use vinegar to clean lots of things.
How about an Italian salad: salami, prosciutto, mild cheese, rich Italian dressing, sprinkle on Parmesan,
green olives, if possible salad artichoke in sauce, salt and pepper --ground of course.
capers, and just sliced roast beef, ham or any meat that goes well with Italian.
Good with Fresh Orange Juice with an equal amount of Ginger Ale ( a good brand because some brands are weak)?
o almost forgot quartered fresh tomatoes-so important!
Sorry that can't include quantities since I do it by taste and according to how many people are eating.
The fall weather in CT is gorgeous and I am running in the woods and along the roads like crazy.
Kelly says
Thanks for sharing such a great tip. I have actually thrown items out for the smell not coming out. Pinning for future reference. Visiting from the Link Party Palooza!
Julie says
So glad I could help. Thanks for stopping by.
[email protected] says
Glad I just read this! Our dryer broke unexpectedly this week. Of course, I had one load in the dryer and another in the washer when I figured it out. We tried to air dry everything, but we live in a high humidity area, so many of the clothes now smell. As soon as we get a new dryer, I will run them through the wash with some vinegar. Thanks!
Julie says
Oh no! I hate it when things like that happen.
Beverley says
Dear Julie,
You have created a wonderful blog. Great tips for the housekeeping challenged. Realistic. Thank you.
Beverley
Julie says
Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂
Leah Courtney says
This is great. I know vinegar is good for so much, but I sometimes forget to use it!
Julie says
Don't you just love all the things you can do with a bottle of vinegar?
Michelle @ Moms Are Frugal says
Vinegar is great for so many uses. Now I know how get the smell out of my towels. I was just cutting them into rags. Thanks for the post.
Julie says
Your welcome!
C says
What if you have a HE front loader?
Julie says
Can you maybe add the vinegar in your soap dispenser? I've never used a front loader, so I am not for sure. Sorry.