Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Remove bad odors in the laundry
• Method 2 of 3: Freshen up clothes without washing them
• Method 3 of 3: Prevent bad smells
• Tips

Whether you're washing your clothes after exercise or trying to get a musty odor out of old clothes, there are several quick and inexpensive ways to get rid of unwanted odors. By learning how to properly store, wash and treat smelly clothes, and learn some easy tricks for removing bad smells, you can keep your entire wardrobe smelling clean and fresh.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Remove bad odors in the laundry

1. Read the care labels of the garments. Every item of clothing should have a care label on the inside that tells you how to wash and dry it. Read all care labels carefully to make sure your clothes last longer and you don't damage them by washing them the wrong way.
   • If a garment does not have a care label, only wash it in cold water to avoid accidentally shrinking or damaging the fabric. If the garment is very old or expensive, it may be safer to assume that it should only be dry cleaned.
2. Soak your clothes in advance. Fill a clean bucket or wash bowl with warm water and 30 grams of detergent and put the smelly clothes in it. Let the clothes soak for about half an hour.
   • You can also add the juice of half a lemon to the mixture to help break down any body fats that have become absorbed into the fabric.
   • Use cold water if the garment's care label states that it should only be washed with cold water.
3. Scrub areas that smell particularly strong. Grab a soft cleaning brush and gently scrub any areas on the garments that have a particularly strong smell. In sports clothes this concerns the armpits and neckline.
   • This method works better if you soak the garments ahead of time, but it can still work well without soaking your clothes. If you choose not to soak your clothes, wet the clothes before scrubbing them.
4. Put 250 grams of baking soda in the washing machine with your detergent. Baking soda is widely used to freshen things up and can help remove odors from clothes. If you are using washing powder, put it in the detergent compartment of the washing machine along with the baking soda. If you are using liquid detergent, put the baking soda in the washing machine when it is full of water (if you have a top loading) or in the detergent dispenser (if you have a front loading).
5. Use oxygen bleach. Unlike chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach is less likely to make your clothes fade. It can also work very well to get rid of bad smells. Oxygen bleach is also more environmentally friendly than chlorine bleach and less aggressive to fabrics. Use the bleach with your regular laundry detergent.
   • Oxygen bleach is generally safe for colored clothing, but do not use the bleach if the care label tells you not to use bleach.
6. Use borax for washing. Borax can be useful for removing odors and stains and even softening the water. Many brands of household products have detergents that contain borax, so you don't have to measure and add the powder separately. Use borax in place of your regular laundry detergent and use it with a substance like oxygen bleach or baking soda to wash particularly strong-smelling clothes.
   • If you cannot find detergents with borax, simply dissolve 100 grams of borax powder in hot water and put the mixture in the detergent dispenser along with your regular detergent. If you have a top loading, wait for the washer to fill with water and then add the borax mixture.
7. Put 250 ml of white vinegar in the washing machine to rinse your clothes. Vinegar is a cheap and natural remedy for removing bad smells from clothes. By adding vinegar during the rinse cycle (for top loaders) or putting it in the correct compartment in the detergent compartment (for front loaders), the product can neutralize odors without disrupting the effect of your detergent. Add 250 ml vinegar if your clothes smell particularly strong.
   • Use both baking soda and vinegar to remove particularly stubborn odors.

Method 2 of 3: Freshen up clothes without washing them

1. Air out old clothes. If you've recently bought clothes from a thrift or second-hand store, or have had certain clothes in your closet for a long time, hang them in a place with good ventilation. Let them air out for at least a day, and longer if possible.
   • By hanging clothes outside they will be refreshed faster. Keep an eye on the weather. Also, don't leave the clothes out at night, or they could get damp with dew, reducing their lifespan.
2. Spray vodka on musty clothes. Fill a small atomizer with undiluted vodka and thoroughly spray musty and old-smelling clothes with it to neutralize odors. Then let the clothes air out for a few hours. This trick is particularly useful for very old and decorated clothes that are difficult to wash.
3. Use cat litter to absorb odors. It may sound strange, but litter pellets contain activated charcoal and are made to absorb unwanted odors. Place the garment in a bag or tub and fill it halfway with cat litter. Leave the garment in there for at least 24 hours and up to a week. The litter pellets should be easy to shake or knock off the fabric afterwards.
4. Use vinegar spray. Hang your clothes and spray them with undiluted white vinegar. The acidity of the vinegar breaks down the odors and the vinegar itself leaves no odor. Let the garment dry completely before putting it on.
   • This can also work well as a quick fix for refreshing clothes between washes.
5. Freeze clothes to kill odor-causing bacteria. Place the item of clothing in a plastic bag and seal the bag tightly. Leave the bag in the freezer for 2-3 hours. This kills part of the bacteria that cause the bad smells. Once thawed, the garment should smell and feel cleaner.
6. Take your clothes to the dry cleaner. This often costs more money than washing your own clothes, but it can be worth the money in the case of expensive and very fragile clothes. It is then most likely that you will get your clothes back fresh.
7. Buy a set to steam your clothes at home yourself. If you have several items of clothing that cannot be machine washed, it may be worth buying your own set for steaming clothes. Search for a set at web shops and department stores. Whirlpool also sells a stand-alone steam appliance that you can use at home.

Method 3 of 3: Prevent bad smells

1. Store dirty laundry in a breathable bag or basket. Leaving your dirty clothes in a gym bag or basket without ventilation will increase the bacteria growth and cause odors that can be difficult to remove. Put your dirty laundry in a container with ventilation openings like a mesh basket as soon as possible.
2. Turn your clothes inside out before washing. Sweat and body fats end up on the inside of your clothes and not the outside. So it can help to turn your clothes inside out before putting them in the washing machine. This is especially the case with sports clothes and other clothes where you sweat a lot.
3. Check your washing machine for detergent residue. A washing machine itself can start to smell when too much detergent residues accumulate in it. This can make your clothes smell sour or moldy. Test this by smelling the empty washing machine or by running a washing program without detergent and see if there is foam created by detergent residues.
   • You can remove detergent residues by running a cooking wash with an empty drum and 450 ml of bleach.
   • Leave the washing machine door or lid open when you are not using it to air the drum.
4. Don't let too much water flow into your top loader. Fill your top loader no more than three-quarters with water. Otherwise, the fats, bacteria and other substances that cause bad smells will not be thoroughly washed out of your clothes and can eventually build up in your clothes.
5. Use the recommended amount of detergent. Follow the directions on the packaging of your detergent and do not add more than stated on the packaging. Detergent increases the viscosity of water, making it harder for water to penetrate the fabric and removing dirt and odors.
6. Do not use liquid fabric softener. This allows odors and body fats to remain in your clothes. If you choose to use fabric softener, don't use it on clothes that are going to smell stronger, such as sports clothes. Instead, use dryer sheets, as they are less likely to keep the bad smells in your clothes.
7. Smell your clothes before putting them in the dryer. By putting smelly clothes in the dryer, the smells can be baked in it, as it were. If you've washed smelly clothes, smell them before putting them in the dryer and wash them again if they still stink.
   • If your clothes still smell slightly after a second wash, let them air dry. This can work especially well if you can hang them outside or in a place with good ventilation.

Tips

• Bad smells are always easier to remove if you get started quickly. Wash smelly clothes as soon as possible.