Prep first
Before you start
- Read the permanent care label for the water temperature, bleach wording and dryer rules.
- Check the hang tag for fiber content, since wool and silk need the gentlest handling.
- Shake or brush off loose dirt outdoors so it doesn't spread through the house.
- Pick an inside seam or hem allowance to use for the color test.
Mildew smell in clothes usually starts when a load stays damp too long, whether it sat in the washer or got packed away before it dried. Once the smell has set in, it is harder to remove, so the fabric needs a deep clean rather than a quick rewash. Before you start, check the care label and fiber content, because they decide how hot the water can go and which cleaners are safe.
Getting rid of mildew smell in clothes is easier than most people expect when you act quickly. Soak the item in an all-fabric oxygen bleach if the label allows it, then wash it in the hottest water the label permits. Dry it fully in the air, because heat can lock in any marks that are left.
Before you start
What clothes and bedding 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)
7 items
What you'll need
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- All-fabric oxygen bleachA color-safe soak for mildew and musty odor on colorfast fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Heavy-duty laundry detergentLifts the body oils and grime that hold odor in the fabric. (opens Amazon)
- White vinegarAdds a wash-day boost against musty smells when it goes into the drum. (opens Amazon)
- Large bucket or basinBig enough to keep the item fully under water during the soak. (opens Amazon)
- Measuring scoop or cupKeeps the bleach and vinegar amounts accurate.
- Rubber glovesProtects your hands while you work with the bleach. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white cloth or cotton swabLets you test a hidden seam so any color change shows up clearly. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Test a hidden seam
Check the care label first, then mix a little oxygen bleach in water and dab it onto an inside seam or hem allowance. Rinse the spot and check the color once it has dried, since fabric looks darker when wet. If the color has changed, skip the oxygen bleach entirely.
Step 2 of 61 to 6 hours
Soak in oxygen bleach
Fill the bucket with warm to hot water, never boiling, and add oxygen bleach to line 2 to 4 on the scoop for each gallon. Let it dissolve, then submerge the item and soak it, using the longer end of the range for heavier mildew. Check it now and then, and move on to the wash once the soak is done.
Careful. Only soak colorfast items, and never use oxygen bleach on wool, silk, leather or dry-clean-only fabric.
Step 3 of 6
Wash with detergent and vinegar
Drain the bucket and wash the item on the hottest setting its care label allows, with heavy-duty detergent and 1 cup of white vinegar added to the drum. Hot water is the best choice for killing mildew spores, but use warm water if the item still has an unidentified stain.
Tip. If clothes smell as they come out of the washer, the machine itself needs cleaning before the next load.
Careful. Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach, and rinse the item well between any two products.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse and spin again
Run a full rinse and spin with no detergent to clear out the vinegar, the bleach and any loosened mildew. On dark clothes, this also removes the white powdery streaks that detergent can leave behind.
Careful. Do not leave the load sitting in the dark, damp washer, since that is where the smell starts.
Step 5 of 6
Air dry completely
Hang the item in fresh air, indoors or out, until it is fully dry, including the seams and collars. Sun can help zap leftover mildew on white or colorfast cotton and linen, but sunlight can fade colors and damage delicate fabrics, so use shade for everything else.
Step 6 of 6
Check it before any heat
Once the item is completely dry, look for any marks and sniff it closely for lingering odor. Only put it in the dryer or under an iron when no marks or smell remain, then fold or hang it in a dry space with room for air to move.
Careful. Never put a stained item in the dryer or iron it, since heat sets the stain and may make it impossible to remove.
What makes the job easier
Products that help
Look for an all-fabric oxygen bleach that is labeled for colorfast fabrics, and choose a heavy-duty laundry detergent. Leave chlorine bleach products out of this job unless the label allows them.
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 bedding, 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 item should smell fresh, with no musty or damp odor, and show no dark or gray marks. It should also feel dry all the way through, including the seams and collars, before you put it away. If it still smells musty once dry, repeat the soak and wash before trying anything else.
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
Cotton and linen
Cotton and linen take the full soak and the hottest wash the label allows. Vinegar can weaken them and change some colors, so keep the wash dose to one cup and test a hidden seam first.
These fibers suit sun drying best, but only once the color has passed the test. Hang colored items in the shade, and save the sun for white or colorfast pieces.
Colored and dark clothes
Colored fabrics carry the most risk, since oxygen bleach only suits colorfast items and vinegar can change some dyes. Test every color on a hidden seam, and skip the bleach soak if any color moves.
Dark clothes also show white powdery streaks, so add detergent to the water before the clothes and run a repeat rinse and spin. Keep them out of direct sun while they dry so the colors don't fade.
Jeans and denim
Turn jeans wrong side out before washing to reduce the white streaks that indigo dye leaves at the folds. Denim can take the full soak and the hottest wash the label allows, as long as the color passes the test first.
Pay extra attention to the thick seams, back pockets and cuffs, since they can stay damp longer than the rest of the leg. Check them carefully before the item goes anywhere near a dryer.
Canvas
Canvas is tough enough for the full soak, but still test a hidden seam first. Its stiff, thick weave holds damp in the folds, so it needs close attention during drying.
Hang it open so air reaches the folds, and keep it out of the dryer until it smells fresh and shows no marks. Store it only once it is completely dry.
Sheets and bedding
Sheets are large, so use a bucket or tub big enough to keep the whole sheet under water during the soak. Odd-colored or rusty marks on sheets and pillowcases are often from acne products, which can bleach the dye permanently, so test those spots before any bleach touches them.
Dry sheets and pillowcases fully before folding them or making the bed. Check the seams and corners, which hold moisture the longest.
Wool, silk and other delicate fabric
Skip the oxygen bleach soak, chlorine bleach and sun drying on wool and silk, since the bleach labels exclude these fabrics and sunlight can damage delicate fibers. Use the mildest wash the label allows, and never a temperature higher than it gives.
If the smell stays after a gentle wash, or the label says dry-clean only, take the item to a professional dry cleaner promptly. Tell them about the smell and the fiber content.
Prevention
Keep the smell from coming back
Deep clean any item that has been left damp, and don't wait for a smell to appear. Sort loads by color, fabric and how dirty they are, and don't overload the washer or dryer. Use the hottest water the care label recommends and the cycle that suits the fabric.
Remove clothes from the dryer promptly and avoid over-drying, and don't let a finished load sit around damp. Clean wardrobes regularly to prevent dirt and damp build-up, since musty smells develop in enclosed, dark spaces.
Store clothes only once they are fully dry, and leave a little space between items so air can move. Keep the washer dry between loads, and don't leave wet laundry in it overnight.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies get rid of the smell?
Several home remedies get suggested for mildew odor in laundry, and most don't belong on clothes. Oxygen bleach and hot water do the real work in this method. Anything beyond those two adds little for mildew odor in laundry.
Works3Helps1Skip2Avoid1
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 + Vinegar
Vinegar is an acid, and acid mixed with bleach gives off toxic chlorine gas.
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.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Vinegar
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Stop and add nothing else; leave the area for fresh air, open windows and keep children and pets away; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if anyone has trouble breathing.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't hide the smell with scent
Scented sprays only cover the odor while the item is still fresh. Once the fabric dries out and the smell returns, you are back where you started, so clean the source first.
Don't use dish soap in place of detergent
Dish soap makes far too many suds for a washing machine. Heavy-duty laundry detergent cleans the fabric without the foam problem.
Don't count on one normal wash
A regular wash can work on a fresh musty smell, but a set-in smell often needs the soak first. Running the same load through the machine again without the soak only wastes time.
Don't store clothes while they are still damp
Damp clothes in a closet or drawer can bring the smell right back, even after a good wash. Check that every seam and collar is dry before you put the item away.
Troubleshooting
If the smell comes back
Pick what you're seeing:
Clothes smell musty as they come out of the washer
The machine itself is probably holding mildew, so clean it before the next load. Run an empty hot cycle with 1 to 2 cups of white vinegar, then wipe the drum and door seal dry.
The smell comes back after the item dries
The fabric may not have dried fully, or the mildew wasn't fully removed. Repeat the soak and wash, then air dry until the item is completely dry before storing it.
Lighter patches after the oxygen bleach soak
A change in color means the fabric isn't colorfast for oxygen bleach. Rinse the item well, don't use the all-fabric bleach on it again, and dry it in the shade.
White powdery streaks on dark clothes
Detergent that didn't dissolve left the streaks behind. Add detergent to the water before the clothes next time, then run a repeat rinse and spin.
When to call a professional
If the smell survives a full soak and wash, or the item is dry-clean only, take it to a professional dry cleaner promptly. Tell them about the mildew smell and the fiber content, since bulky or fragile items are best left to a cleaner. Suede, leather and fur trim need a specialist who works with those materials.
Questions
Why do my clothes smell like mildew after washing?
Damp clothes left in the washer or stored before they dry give mildew a place to grow. Body oils and dirt left in the fabric also release odor once moisture reaches them.
Can a normal wash get rid of mildew smell?
A regular wash with heavy-duty detergent can remove a fresh musty smell, as long as the washer is clean. Once the smell has set, though, a normal wash often isn't enough, so start the oxygen bleach soak right away since the smell gets harder to remove over time.
Is mold smell treated differently from mildew smell?
Mold and mildew both grow on damp fabric, so the same soak, wash and drying process works for either smell. Wear gloves and keep the room ventilated while you work with the bleach.
How do I get sour or stale smell out of clothes?
Sour and stale smells usually come from body oils and grime that release odor when they get damp. The same soak, wash and air dry process handles them, since the detergent lifts those oils out of the fabric.
Should I use chlorine bleach on mildew-smelling clothes?
Usually not, because chlorine bleach can damage many fibers and dyes. Use it only on colorfast whites whose label allows it, after a hidden-seam test, and never mix it with oxygen bleach.
Can I add an odor-eliminator booster to the washer?
Yes, an odor-eliminator booster pack can go in the wash, with two packs for a large load and three for an extra-large one. It works alongside the soak rather than replacing it, so keep the soak for a smell that has already set.
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.