How do I get the mildew smell out of the clothes I left in the washer overnight?

Question

I read the vinegar and baking soda work, but how much should I use? Do I just throw it in the washer with the clothes? Does anything else work? I've washed them 3 times and they still smell rank. Help, one of the shirts in that load was my boyfriend's favorite t-shirt!

Answer 1

Wash again and add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash. The vinegar kills the mold, thus removes the smell.

Answer 2

I've left clothes in the washer like this before, but have never had them continue to smell bad.

After finding them in the washer, I just put more detergent in and re-wash them all...usually adding a bit more detergent and letting them wash a bit longer.

You might also want to try running your washer with some disinfectant (Lysol has a good one). The mold/mildew is probably in your washer as well.

As for the clothes, if they still smell badly, I would take them to the cleaners and see if they can do anything for them.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Hello, This has happen to all of us at one time or another. What I did was to run the washing machine with a 1/2 cup bleach, and 1/3 cup vinegar. Your washer will smell nice and clean. Oh and make sure you use cold water. Also put the cylce time to light load. Sincerely, Missesb

Answer 4

Hi. That is tough. I have actually had to throw things away because of this. I think the best thing to do is re-wash with Tide or Gain that smell good. Also, add some downy in the rinse. My washer has an option to rinse 2x and that is what I use when I forget my wash and have to wash it again. Good luck.

Answer 5

I run them through with 1/2 cup baking soda in the wash and 1/2 cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle. If you dried them in the dryer then your dryer probably smells bad too. Just soak a hand towel in vinegar and run it through the dryer by itself so you don't just stink up your clothes again.That will do it.

Answer 6

All you have to do is add 1 full cup of vinegar and run through a complete cycle. I have found that if the vinegar is only added to the rinse cycle that the smell of the vinegar doesn't completely rinse out.

Answer 7

With the hot weather we've been having, I'm also discovering that stuff left in the washing machine is mildewing practically over night.

The best solution ~ really ~ is to hang them outside for about 3 to 4 hours. The UVs in the sunlight is a natural disinfectant and will kill the odor causing bacteria in the garments. If you don't have a clothesline, draping them over a rail or hanging them on a hanger outside will work too.

Answer 8

OOPS!
Ha ha...
I have done that before (tooo many times).
This is what I do... just rewash the load like you would as usual ---and add in just a touch of bleach (like a capful or two). I've done this with light colored as well as dark colored clothing and it's not enough bleach to do any more than just what you want it to - sanitize the clothes.

Your boyfriends favorite shirt will be good az new =)

Best to ya =)

Answer 9

Soak them overnight in laundry detergent. Just fill the washer with water and detergent like you are going to wash it, and then keep the lid open so that it doesn't run through a cycle. I use Gain as it usually works soaking them over one night. Cheaper detergents will require that you soak overnight, run the cycle, refill, soak a 2nd night, and then run it again. The key is soaking them, though, not running them throught multiple wash cycles.