Get the Stink out of Your Laundry!

How to fix that “left in the washer too long” smell and other fresh laundry tips.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Yes, everyone can smell that you left your laundry in the wash too long and it stinks. Let’s get rid of that smell!

Start simple, don’t leave your clothes in the wash for more than 8 hours. Just in case you did forget a load in the wash choose one of these options:

• Option 1: Use the sanitize cycle on your high-efficiency (HE) washer. When I was working full-time and had 2 young children I used this cycle often to remove the stench from our laundry! (Side note: this cycle uses extremely hot water so be prepared for colors to bleed and whites to turn a dingy grey color.)
• Option 2: Use Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap and vinegar instead of laundry detergent. I just discovered this beautiful secret! It seems like magic. Seriously, those two combined take any smell out of laundry. For a large load use no more than a ½ cup castile soap with 1 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle, halving the amounts for an HE washer.

If you haven’t left your clothes in the wash for too long but are still having an issue with clean clothes not smelling clean, take note of the following:

• Avoid using too much detergent. The extra detergent will build up in your clothes which prevents the water from being able to rinse them thoroughly.
• Don’t use fabric softeners. They do nothing for you, they simply fill your machine and clothes with gunk.
• Wash your machine at least once a month. My favorite way to clean my machine is with an Affresh tablet. If you’ve noticed a smell in the washer or grime in the drum grab a washcloth and some vinegar to scrub it clean.
• Front-loaders require more maintenance. If you have a front loader you should be wiping down the seal after each wash to ensure that you’ve removed the excess water. Additionally, leave the door open so that the drum can air out otherwise you may discover mold growing in your machine.

Now do a load of laundry and enjoy the freshness!

Brooke

Laundry Supervisor for a Household of 6