Prep first
Before you start
- Empty the pockets and shake off any loose dirt or debris.
- Sort the smelly items together by color and fabric so each load gets the same treatment.
- Pick a hidden seam or inside hem to use as your test spot.
- Have the basin, detergent and oxygen bleach ready before you start soaking.
Clothes trap smells in their fibers, and synthetics such as polyester, spandex and rayon hold them most stubbornly. Detergent that never rinses out, damp storage, and cool washes that let soil harden can all leave odor behind. Figure out what's trapped before you start.
Most lingering laundry smells come from detergent buildup, trapped soil, or damp clothes, so they need a real clean rather than a cover-up. Check the care label first, since it decides the water temperature and whether any bleach is safe. A cold enzyme presoak, then an oxygen bleach soak, is the most effective laundry odor removal method for washable, colorfast clothes.
Before you start
What clothes and fabric can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat (dryer, iron, hot air)
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Enzyme presoakBreaks down protein soils so they lift out during the cold presoak. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric oxygen bleachA color-safe soak for odor on colorfast, washable fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Basin or clean sinkHolds the presoak and the soak so the clothes stay out of the washer. (opens Amazon)
- Measuring scoop or cupMeasures the oxygen bleach by the gallon so the strength is right.
- Laundry detergentMeasured carefully, since excess leaves residue that keeps smells trapped. (opens Amazon)
- Booster packAdds cleaning power to the wash when it goes in the drum.
- Rinse-cycle odor removerGoes in the softener compartment to finish the rinse.
- Clothesline or drying rackGives the clothes air and light for drying without heat. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Read the label and test
Read the permanent care label for the water temperature and the bleach wording. Test the oxygen bleach mix on a hidden seam or inside hem, then check the spot once it's dry, since wet fabric looks darker.
Tip. Look at the test spot in daylight to judge any color change.
Careful. If the label says no bleach, skip the oxygen bleach soak entirely.
Step 2 of 6
Presoak in cold water
Fill a basin or clean sink with cold water, add an enzyme presoak, and submerge the clothes. Cold water is the right start for unknown or protein soils, and enzyme presoaks are allowed to sit overnight.
Careful. Never leave clothes sitting in the washer overnight, even after a cycle has finished.
Step 3 of 61-6 hours
Soak in oxygen bleach
Drain the presoak and rinse the clothes briefly. Dissolve the oxygen bleach in warm water, filling the scoop to line 2 to 4 for each gallon, then submerge the clothes and soak them for 1 to 6 hours depending on how strong the smell is.
Tip. Oxygen bleach should never sit in a sealed container, so keep the basin open.
Careful. Oxygen bleach is only for colorfast washable fabric, so keep it off wool, silk, leather and dry-clean-only items.
Step 4 of 6
Wash in the hottest water
Wash the clothes in the hottest water the care label recommends, using the cycle that fits the fabric. If vomit or another protein soil was involved, use warm water instead, since hot water can set it. Measure the detergent carefully, because too much leaves residue that keeps smells trapped.
Tip. Put the booster pack in the drum at the start of the wash, not in the liquid dispenser, using two for large loads and three for extra-large.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse with odor remover
Put the rinse-cycle odor remover in the softener compartment so it doesn't mix with the detergent in the main wash. Let the rinse run fully, and check that no soap is left in the drum before you move the load.
Tip. On dark clothes, a repeat rinse and spin usually removes white streaks.
Careful. Never mix the odor remover with other household cleaning chemicals.
Step 6 of 6
Air dry until completely dry
Hang the clothes on a line or rack in an area with plenty of heat and light, or outside on a sunny or breezy day. Keep them there until they are fully dry, because moisture trapped in the fibers is what makes clothes musty.
Tip. Line drying outside gives fresher-smelling clothes, so use it when you can.
Careful. Never put a smelly garment in the dryer or under an iron, since heat can set the smell and may make it impossible to remove.
What makes the job easier
Products that help
Look for an all-fabric oxygen bleach and a rinse-cycle odor remover, and use a standard laundry detergent in measured amounts. Skip any product that promises to hide odor without removing its source.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
How we picked these: each product is made for this kind of odor or surface, its maker doesn't warn against using it on clothes and fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →A faint smell often fades as everything dries and airs out; give it a day before a second round.
Find the guide for your stain →Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The clothes should smell like nothing at all once they're dry, including at the collar, underarms and waistband. If any smell is left or the fabric still feels damp, air dry them longer and repeat the soak and wash before you store them.
If there is a stain too
Related guides
A smell usually has a stain or a spill behind it. These guides cover the cleanup in detail:
What changes for yours
Adjust for the fabric or the smell
Workout and synthetic clothes
Synthetic fabrics are the hardest to deodorize, and polyester, spandex and rayon trap odor more than cotton does. Cooler cycles let soil and residue harden, so use the warmest setting the label allows instead of a quick cool wash.
Spandex can't take chlorine bleach, so keep chlorine bleach away from it. Wash workout clothes soon after wearing them, since dirty clothes left waiting let odors set into the fabric.
Smoke and pot smell
Start by airing the clothes out, since hanging them outside on a breezy day is the first step for smoke smell. Do this on a dry day with a light breeze, and keep the clothes out of the rain.
If the smell is still there after airing, run the full deep clean. Don't skip the presoak, because smoke smell can be stubborn.
Stored musty clothes
Clothes that picked up a musty smell from a wardrobe or drawer need a cold soak before the wash. Soak them in cold water with 1 cup of baking soda, after testing a hidden area first, then wash them as normal.
Mustiness means moisture is trapped in the fibers, so make sure the clothes are fully dry before you put them away.
Jeans and denim
Denim is thick, so give jeans the longer end of the oxygen soak time. Turn them wrong side out before washing to reduce white streaks from indigo dye bleeding at the folds.
Air dry them flat or on a line like any other item.
Prevention
Keep the smell from coming back
Deep clean clothes again as soon as they start to smell, and clean the washer once a month, since a monthly refresh helps keep odors out of your clothes. Sort loads by color, fabric and soil level, and don't overload the washer or dryer.
Measure the detergent carefully and remove clothes from the dryer promptly to avoid over-drying. Wash sweaty clothes right away, or hang or rack them if you can't, and don't fold damp clothes into drawers.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies get rid of the smell?
Plenty of products claim to fix laundry odor, but most don't belong in this deep clean. Enzyme presoaks and oxygen bleach both have a job on clothes, while heat drying is out.
Works2Helps3Skip3Avoid1
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rely on a scent to hide the smell
A perfume or scent booster can mask a smell for a while, but it doesn't remove what's causing it. Clean the item first, and add scent only once it's dry and odor-free.
Don't use dish soap as detergent
Dish soap isn't a replacement for laundry detergent, so keep it out of the washer. Use measured laundry detergent for the wash instead.
Don't use rubbing alcohol on vomit
Alcohol sets vomit and blood, so it makes the smell harder to remove. It can also damage acetate, triacetate, modacrylic and acrylic, so check the fiber content first.
Don't rub bar soap into a fresh stain
Soap sets many stains, so rubbing it in can make the smell harder to lift. Use the cold presoak instead, and blot rather than rub.
Don't leave pretreatments on too long
Liquid or aerosol pretreatments should come off in the time the label gives, and gels on bright or fluorescent items should stay on only a few minutes. Longer contact can change or fade unstable dyes.
Troubleshooting
If the smell comes back
Pick what you're seeing:
Clothes smell musty after drying
Mustiness means moisture is still trapped in the fibers, so the clothes need more time in the air until they're fully dry. If the smell comes back, repeat the cold presoak, the oxygen soak and the wash before you store them again.
Clothes smell again after every wash
Too much detergent leaves residue, and too little doesn't clean properly, so measure with care. Clean the washer as well, since mold grows in the dark, damp drum and washers are not self-cleaning.
White streaks on dark clothes
Add the detergent to the water first, then add the clothes. A repeat rinse and spin usually removes the streaks.
When to call a professional
Take dry-clean-only items to a professional dry cleaner promptly, and tell them the fiber content and the smell. Take washable items too if the smell covers a large area, the item is bulky or the fabric is fragile. Suede, leather and fur trim should go to a cleaner who specializes in those materials.
Questions
Why do my clothes smell after washing?
Most often the smell is detergent residue, soil that stayed in the fabric, or damp clothes left sitting. Check the detergent amount, rinse well with the odor remover in the softener compartment, and air dry completely.
Why do clothes smell bad after drying?
Usually they were still damp inside the fibers, since trapped moisture is what turns clothes musty. Let them dry completely in the air before folding or storing them.
Can I get smell out of clothes without washing?
Only for a light smell. Hang the item outside on a breezy day to air it out, and if the smell is still there, it needs a wash.
Can too much detergent cause a smell?
Yes, because too much detergent leaves residue that keeps smells trapped in the fabric. Measure the detergent next time, and use an extra rinse to flush out what's already there.
What should I do about strong or stubborn odors?
Give the cold enzyme presoak its full overnight time, then soak in oxygen bleach for up to 6 hours. If it still smells, repeat the soak and wash rather than moving the clothes to the dryer.
Will a scent booster or perfume fix the smell?
No. A scent can mask a smell for a while, but it doesn't remove what's causing it. Clean the item first, then add scent only once it's dry and odor-free.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Start from the bigger picture
More odor guides
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.