Pulling a favorite hoodie out of the closet after a rainy season can be an unpleasant surprise when that unmistakable musty smell hits. The fabric looks clean, yet the odor tells a different story. Rewashing with extra detergent seems like the obvious fix, but that approach often fails and can even make the smell harder to remove by trapping moisture and residue in the fibers.
Musty odors are usually caused by mildew and odor-causing bacteria that thrive in damp fabric. Research shows that mildew spores grow rapidly when moisture, warmth, and organic material are present, which explains why laundry left too long in the washer or stored in humid closets develops that “clean but wrong” smell. Understanding this makes it much easier to remove odors effectively and prevent them from coming back.
1. Wash With White Vinegar to Kill Odor-Causing Bacteria
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The first thing that truly works is white vinegar. It felt odd adding something sour-smelling to laundry, but science backs it up. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which breaks down mildew and neutralizes odor-causing bacteria trapped in fabric fibers.
Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the washer during the rinse cycle (or directly into the drum for front-loaders). The vinegar smell dissipates as clothes dry, leaving fabrics fresh instead of musty. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to make your clothing fragrant if desired. This method works especially well for towels, gym clothes, and everyday cotton items.
2. Use Baking Soda to Absorb Deep-Set Odors
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Baking soda works differently from vinegar, and that’s why it’s so effective. Instead of killing bacteria directly, it absorbs and neutralizes odor molecules. This method works especially well when clothes smell ‘clean but wrong,’ a common issue after items sit too long in drawers or closets.
Add ½ to 1 cup of baking soda directly into the wash drum along with your regular detergent. For heavily musty clothes, soaking them in warm water and baking soda for a few hours before washing helps pull odors out of thick fibers like fleece and denim.
3. Use Oxygen Bleach for Deep Mildew Odors
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When smells are stubborn, oxygen bleach can be a game-changer. Unlike chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach breaks down into oxygen and water, making it safer for colors and fabrics. This method helps refresh towels that hold onto musty odors even after multiple washes.
Soak clothes in warm water with oxygen bleach for several hours before washing. This allows the oxygen bubbles to penetrate deep into fibers and lift out mildew residue that regular detergent can’t reach.
Turn Laundry Into a Long-Term Win
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Musty smells aren’t a laundry failure, but they’re a moisture problem with a simple solution. Start with vinegar or baking soda, level up to oxygen bleach when needed, and let sunlight and airflow do the rest. The biggest difference comes from changing small habits, like drying clothes right away and storing them properly.