How to Remove Mildew Smell From Laundry? | Vinegar Soaks That Work

Musty odor on damp clothes, towels, or bedding comes from mildew and the residue it leaves. Items left wet in a hamper, bag, or machine trap that odor in the fabric. The fix uses what’s already in most kitchens: white vinegar diluted in water, a hot wash, and fast drying. Below are the exact ratios, wash temperature, and when to skip vinegar.

What Causes Mildew Smell In Laundry?

The smell is mildew — a fungus that grows on damp fabric and leaves compounds that cling until physically washed out. Mycelium and mold spores can be present even when the surface looks fine, so a regular wash sometimes fails to kill the odor. Two conditions feed it: moisture and time.

To eliminate the source rather than mask it, dry the item completely between every wash and treat the fabric with something that breaks the odor down.

How Do You Wash Mildew Smell Out Of Clothes?

Keep smelly items separate so odor doesn’t move onto clean clothes. Whirlpool recommends mixing one part white vinegar with two parts water, spraying affected areas, leaving about 15 minutes, then rinsing. For a deeper clean, soak in the same 1-to-2 mix at least 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

Check the machine first. A front-loader with mildew on its gasket or detergent residue in the drum will put the odor right back. Clean the gasket, then run an extended cycle with warm or hot water.

For the wash, use detergent with oxygen-based bleach or an odor-specific additive on fabrics that can handle it. Oxygen bleach is gentler than chlorine bleach and still removes odor-causing compounds. Skip fabric softener — its waxy residue traps odor.

Vinegar, Bleach, Or A Store-Bought Odor Remover?

Diluted white vinegar handles most musty loads, oxygen bleach is the fabric-safe booster for stubborn odor, and chlorine bleach only belongs on fabrics whose care label allows it.

Consumer Reports warns vinegar can damage washer rubber seals and hoses over time, so put it on the clothes, not in the drum, unless your manual says otherwise. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or any other cleaner — the fumes are dangerous.

Otherwise stay with oxygen bleach.

Detergent matters more than most people think — an enzyme-heavy formula does much of the odor work before any booster. If you’re unsure which to buy, this roundup of the best detergent for mildew smell compares options that actually lift odor out of fabric.

What Mistakes Make Mildew Smell Worse?

Letting wet laundry sit is the biggest cause of recurring odor, and too much detergent, fabric softener, or a still-damp dryer load brings the smell right back.

Every item must be fully dry before going into a hamper or closet. Sunlight and line-drying can air out a lingering trace, but only after the item is washed and rinsed clean. If the smell survives the first wash, repeat it — don’t just dry and hope.

Then check the drum. A front-loader that has held damp loads for weeks keeps seeding odor into new laundry until the gasket and detergent drawer are cleaned. Whirlpool states vinegar should not be added to the washer itself because the acid can damage it over time, so keep vinegar on the fabric and flush the washer separately.