Let’s be real, there’s nothing worse than pulling clean clothes out of the washer, only to get hit with that weird musty smell. Or maybe your gym shirt still smells like yesterday’s workout, even after washing. It’s alarming when your clothes or washing machine have a persistent odour that won’t go away.
Getting rid of persistent odours in clothes or machines can feel like an uphill battle, but don’t worry, you’ll find some effective ways of getting rid of persistent odours in clothes or machines in this article.
Let’s break down some super simple ways to kick those nasty odours once and for all!
Why Do Clothes and Machines Get Smelly?
Before we dive into the ways of getting rid of persistent odours in clothes or machines, let’s understand the enemy. That nasty smell usually comes from:
- Bacteria growing on damp clothes left in piles or heaps in your laundry basket or wordrobe.
- Mold hiding in the dark corners of your washing machine
- Body oils and dirt that regular detergent didn’t completely remove
- Stagnant water sitting in machine parts
Think of it like this, your clothes and washing machine are like a party venue where some unwanted bacteria guests have crashed. Our job is to kick them out.
Effective Ways of Getting Rid of Persistent Odours in Clothes or Machines
Now to the best, ways to remove those annoying odours from your clothes and machines:
How to Rid of Persistent Odours in Clothes
1. The Magic of White Vinegar
Pour half a cup of white vinegar directly into your washing machine during the rinse cycle. It works like a charm to kill odour-causing bacteria. And no, your clothes won’t smell like vinegar afterward, that smell will disappear completely once your clothes are dry.
2. Use Baking Soda
Add half a cup of baking soda to your regular detergent. This stuff is amazing because it neutralizes acids that cause bad smells and helps your detergent work better in getting rid of persistent odours in clothes.
3. Sunshine Treatment
Remember how our grandmothers would hang clothes outside in the sun? It works in getting rid of odours from clothes. The sun’s UV rays actually kill bacteria. Try hanging your washed clothes in direct sunlight for a few hours. This works wonders for towels that refuse to smell fresh.
4. The Freezer Trick
If you’ve got jeans that smell but you want to wash them immediately, put them in a plastic bag and freeze overnight in your fridge or freezer! The extreme cold kills odour-causing bacteria without wearing out the fabric. This is perfect for those quality jeans you don’t want to wash too often.
How to Get Rid of Persistent Odours in Washing Machines
Sometimes your washing machine itself is the culprit. Getting rid of persistent odours in clothes or machines means tackling the source. Try these easy steps:
- Monthly maintenance cleaning: Run an empty hot water cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar. This helps in getting rid of persistent odors in clothes or machines by removing soap and bacteria buildup after laundry.
- Wipe the gasket: For front-loaders, clean the rubber seal regularly with a vinegar-water solution to prevent mold.
- Leave the door open: After doing your laundry, keep the door open to let the machine dry out completely.
- Clean the dispensers: Remove and soak detergent dispensers in hot, soapy water monthly.
How to Remove Underarm Odor From Clothes Fast
Here are three quick fixes that actually work:
- First, make a baking soda paste and rub it into those smelly areas for 30 minutes before washing. This works because baking soda is great at soaking up bad smells.
- Another option is to spray white vinegar directly on armpit stains. Just wait 10 minutes, then wash as usual. The vinegar kills the stinky bacteria.
- For a natural fix, try fresh lemon juice plus sunshine! The acid in lemons breaks down odours while the sun helps kill germs.
How to Remove Bad Smell From Clothes After Washing
It’s so frustrating when clothes come out of the wash still smelling. Try these easy fixes now:
- First, rewash everything with a cup of white vinegar, you don’t need any detergent. Or next time, add 1/2 cup of baking soda with your regular detergent for amazing deodorizing power. It works like tiny odour magnets!
- For the most stubborn smells, skip the dryer and hang clothes in the sunshine. Those UV rays naturally kill odour-causing bacteria.
If you’re still having issues, the problem might actually be your washing machine needing a good clean. Clean it following the tips in this article.
How Long to Soak Clothes in Vinegar to Remove Smell
Vinegar is seriously like magic for smelly clothes! But timing matters depending on how bad the smell is.
For regular everyday odour, soak your clothes for 30 minutes in a solution of vinegar. If it’s a stubborn smell, soak the clothes overnight for like 8 hours because the longer time it takes, the better the vinegar works.
For delicate fabrics, use just 15-20 minutes in a gentler vinegar solution. This does the trick without damaging your clothes.
How to Get Sweat Smell Out of Clothes in Washing Machine
If you’ve got gym clothes and work clothes that are smelling badly, try the following quick fixes:
Most important rule: don’t let sweaty clothes stay for long before washing them. Wash ASAP or at least hang them up until laundry day.
Try this pre-washing trick, fill your machine with cold water, add 1/4 cup baking soda, and soak clothes for 30 minutes before adding detergent. Setting a double rinse cycle helps ensure all loosened odours get completely washed away.
How to Get BO Smell Out of Clothes Without Washing
Try the vodka spray trick, fill a spray bottle with cheap vodka, mist the smelly areas, and let it dry. The alcohol kills bacteria without leaving a scent! Sounds weird right? but it works. Or use the freezer method – place clothes in a plastic bag and freeze for a few hours. The extreme cold kills the bacteria causing the smell.
Natural Products for Getting Rid of Persistent Odors in Clothes or Machines
If you’re not a fan of harsh chemicals or you have skin sensitivity to laundry detergents, these natural options also works great:
- White vinegar: Nature’s deodorizer and disinfectant
- Baking soda: Absorbs odours like what you’ve never imagined
- Lemon juice: Natural antibacterial properties plus a fresh scent to get rid of odours from your clothes
- Essential oils: A few drops of tea tree, lavender, or lemon oil can help with getting rid of persistent odors in clothes or machines
Prevention Tips
The easiest way of getting rid of persistent odors in clothes or machines is preventing them in the first place, here are some tips that should help you:
- Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer (I’ve been guilty of this too many times)
- Make sure clothes are completely dry before putting them away in your drawer or wardrobe.
- Turn clothes inside out when washing to better clean the areas that touch your skin
- Clean your washing machine regularly following the tips in this article.
Wrap-Up
Getting rid of persistent odours in clothes or machines doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With the simple tricks and methods in this guide, you can keep everything smelling fresh and clean.
Do you have any special tricks for dealing with smelly clothes or washing machines? I’d love to hear them in the comments. If you’re in Awka and need professional help with stubborn cleaning issues, our team is always ready to tackle even the toughest odour problems.
At Bukz Easy Clean, we understand how daunting laundry can be especially with those persistent odours. This is why we want you to let us get rid of those persistent odours on your clothes, send us a DM on Whatsapp if you’re in Awka to book for a pickup, and we’ll handle everything for you.
