Catching up on laundry isn’t necessarily one of the worst universal household chores, but it can be frustrating. Washing a “normal” load of clothes is no problem. The aggravation kicks in when you’re fighting a troublesome load with pesky stains and smells. Typical laundry woes are stains caused by grass, blood, food, grease, ink and more. A slightly less common problem — although just as annoying — is laundry tainted with the foul odor of mold and mildew.
There are a few things that can cause this funk. These include leaving a load of wet laundry in the washer for a long time and forgetting to dry it or storing clothing or fabric someplace where it gets wet or draws damp, like your basement or garage. Perhaps you stored your seasonal clothes and dampness seeped in and now these clothes all have a distinct odor. Before throwing your clothes out, follow these tips!
Re-Wash the Load
The first — and easiest — thing to try to rid your laundry of the pungent smell is simply re-wash it. Fluff it first, add more detergent and wash it again. If this doesn’t work, don’t worry. There are other avenues.
Is it Your Washing Machine?
Believe it or not, it’s possible the culprit is your washing machine. Front-load washing machines are susceptible to retaining moisture, causing the growth of mold and mildew.
Try pouring percarbonate solution in the detergent reservoir and white vinegar in the fabric softener reservoir. Then pour some of the percarbonate solution into the tub and run your washing machine on the sanitary cycle. Afterward, wipe it out and leave the door open when not in use, so it stays dry.
White Vinegar / Baking Soda
Never underestimate the power of natural substances as cleaners. It’s quite likely that using white vinegar OR baking soda will eliminate the smell.
Prepare the load of laundry as you normally would, including using the usual amount of detergent. Add one cup of white vinegar OR one cup of baking soda.
Let the washing cycle begin for a short time so the detergent and white vinegar OR baking soda blend. Stop the washing cycle and allow the load to soak at least one hour before resuming.
Bleach? Proceed with Caution!
Yes, bleach can remove these odors, but it also does what it’s known for: lightening the color of fabrics and breaking them down. Color safe bleach may be a better option for your colored clothing. Bleach can also help clean smells out of your washing machine.
