Keep Your Clothes Smelling Fresh With These 10 Best Laundry Tips

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Remember the detergent ads in which the actor sniffs recently washed laundry, because it smells amazing? If you've been trying to recreate this stunt at home with dismal results, it's time to up your game. Don't worry, you don't have to make any major changes to your laundry routine — you just need to adopt a few best practices that eliminate the source of the smell, rather than masking it with fabric softeners. For example, cleaning your washing machine every month will prevent mold and mildew from turning your laundered garments musty. While at it, scrub the detergent drawer, too, to get rid of the nasty buildup. These steps will remove the source of the smell, a.k.a. microbes, and make your laundry smell fresh and clean.

Another tip is to not forget your wet clothes in the washer for too long. Using the right amount of detergent and loading your washer optimally will help your case, too. Additionally, giving your sweaty and rank-smelling pieces (we're looking at you sports gear and haven't-been-washed-for-days socks), a hot water bath will kill the lingering bacteria. But if you're worried about your garment's life, a laundry sanitizer is the perfect substitute. Eager to learn more about how these solutions work and why? Here are the 10 best laundry tips to follow to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

If your laundered clothes smell musty straight out of the washer, bacteria, mold, and mildew might be hard at work inside your appliance. Remember, they just need a damp and dark environment to thrive. And although most of the grime, germs, sweat particles, and stains from your soiled garments drain out with the wastewater, remnants accumulate over time. Soap scum (from residual detergent, especially if you use a lot) and mineral deposits from hard water further complicate matters, causing your clothes to smell foul. You might even have to deal with a blocked drainpipe. To avoid these issues, clean your washing machine monthly, or after you run 30 wash cycles.

See if your appliance comes with a "self clean" setting. If not, clear out your washer's drum. Now, fill the bleach dispenser with liquid chlorine bleach. It'll clean and sanitize the tub, as well as eradicate mold and mildew, thanks to its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite. But use it only if your care manual recommends it. Otherwise, add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Although less effective than bleach, distilled white vinegar is ideal for cleaning, since its acidic nature can help kill lingering microbes and cleanse the tub. Plus, it'll get rid of musty odors from your washing machine. Either way, choose the hot water setting and run an empty load. Once the cycle is complete, combine 1 cup of white vinegar with a few drops of lemon juice in a spray bottle, spritz the washer's drum, give it a few minutes, and scrub it clean with a microfiber cloth. Run an additional hot water rinse cycle (along with ½ cup of baking soda, if you want to further neutralize odors). Finally, wipe down the rubber gasket or lid with a damp microfiber cloth.

Although regularly cleaning your washer is necessary for fresh smelling clothes, don't overlook the detergent drawer. Residue from fabric softener and detergent can build up in the tray and its compartments. Paired with the moisture inside, the drawer will be the ideal spot for bacteria, mold, and mildew to grow unchecked. This will make your appliance and clothes smell unpleasant. Unwarranted clogs will also make it difficult for your dispenser to distribute the right amount of softener and detergent into the drum at the right time, leaving your dirty laundry less than clean. So, avoid missing this moldy spot when cleaning your washing machine by cleaning it very time you clean the tub (as outlined above). But if that seems excessive, and your dispenser drawer doesn't develop buildup this quickly, scrub it quarterly. You may need to clean the detergent drawer less often (only when you notice deep-seated buildup) if it's equipped with self-cleaning technology.

To clean your washer's detergent drawer, slide the tray out by pressing the release lever. It's generally located in the middle or the side (refer to your owner's manual if you can't locate it). Remove the fabric softener, bleach, and detergent compartments, if possible, and soak the tray in warm water. This will loosen the accumulated residue. Scrub the drawer and its compartments with a toothbrush to get rid of stubborn deposits. If you come across greasy spots (especially in the fabric softener insert), mix up a soapy water solution. Rinse everything with clean water and set them aside to dry. In the meanwhile, lightly wipe the area housing the drawer to clean it as well. Wipe it dry before putting the tray back in its slot.

Have you ever wondered if you should rewash the forgotten load of laundry, or if it's okay to dry it? The answer is a little complicated. While it's generally okay to leave your wet laundry in the washer overnight, you don't want to let it fester for over 12 hours. The exact time will depend on your laundry's fabric, how dirty it was, the wash cycle temperature, the kind and amount of detergent you use, and if you opted for an extra rinse cycle. Basically, the cleaner your garments, the more time they can stay in the washer without inviting in bacteria, mold, and mildew. The weather plays an important role, too. Your clothes might not smell foul during winter within 12 hours, but bacteria can start growing after eight hours in the hot and humid summer months. As if the microbes weren't enough, your wet pieces will get incredibly wrinkled sitting in the cramped drum, forcing you to spend extra time ironing them out.

Not sure if you left your laundry in for too long? Sniff your forgotten garments to be 100% sure. If they smell foul, rewash the entire load with detergent. You don't want to skip this step even if it's just one item at the bottom that's musty. Another indicator of mildew growth is the presence of black, yellow, or gray spots on your moist clothes. In case you use a fragrant detergent or can't decide either way for certain, opt for a rinse and spin cycle to err on the side of caution.

Mixing in your sweaty workout clothes with the other dirty laundry in your hamper is a sure shot way to turn the entire load smelly. Although sweat is the number one culprit here, the damp synthetic garments stored in an enclosed space don't help, either. They'll attract smell-causing bacteria and might even cause mold and mildew to set up shop if left unattended for a while. The same goes for your other wet garments, like rain-soaked ones. So, it's best to wash your wet garments immediately. But if that's not possible, do your future self a favor and let these pieces air dry before throwing them in the hamper.

Simply drape your wet garments over your clothesline to air them out. You can also grab a few clothespins, like the Jabinco's Wooden Clothes Pins, and use them to hang your damp items from the side of your laundry hamper. But only do this if the basket can't handle the additional weight. Another option is to set aside a breathable laundry hamper, such as the Handy Laundry Collapsible Mesh Pop Up Hamper, for your sweaty and wet pieces. This will allow your workout garments air dry, as well as keep your other clothes from developing a foul odor.

Using too much detergent to clean your dirty laundry can do more harm than good. The excess soap will be difficult to wash away and the residue will form a layer over your garments. This can keep bacteria and dirt trapped in place, making your laundered clothes smell rank. The problem will be worse for synthetic and tightly woven pieces since they tend to hold more bacteria in sweaty or sensitive regions. Conversely, if you use less detergent, your laundry will remain dirty and the stains might not come out, leading to pungent odors. This is why it's important to use the right amount of detergent to keep your clothes and bedding fresh and clean.

Generally, you should use 1 tablespoon of liquid or ¼ cup of powder detergent for a small load. Similarly, a medium load will require 2 tablespoons or ⅓ cup. Use 3 tablespoons or ½ cup for large loads, while an extra large laundry size will need 4 tablespoons or ¾ cup dosage. With that said, you'll need more detergent to effectively deal with the stains and odors clinging to your heavily soiled garments and vice versa. This holds true for water hardness, too. Your washer type will also determine the amount of detergent you use. To illustrate, high-efficiency (HE) machines require less detergent than their standard counterparts to clean your clothes. In case you buy concentrated formulas, you'll need to add less detergent to your laundry; check the manufacturer's instructions to determine the exact amount. But if this all seems like too much work, get pre-measured pods instead.

Overloaded washing machines make it difficult for water and detergent to move around freely. This reduces the appliance's cleaning efficiency, leaving your garments half-dirty. Worse, they may still carry your body's odor around, causing them to stink, sometimes even more disgusting than they were before. Plus, the increased agitation and constantly banging against the door's rubber seal will wear out your clothes faster. Additionally, overloading your washing machine will put extra strain on the appliance's motor, drum bearings, and other components, shortening its lifespan. You also risk orphaning your pair of socks and losing your delicate items, like underwear, to the drainpipe. The machine will also use more water and electricity to compensate for the load, increasing your utility bills.

Considering these consequences, follow a few laundry tips and tricks to prevent overloading your washer. For instance, try fitting your hand into your front-loading washer and moving it around. If you can fit it in without issues, your machine isn't overloaded. However, if you face trouble putting it in, unload a few garments to let the appliance breathe properly. For a top-loader, maintain a distance of about 5 to 6 inches between your laundry and the drum's summit. Basically, stop after you fill about ¾ of the drum. Alternatively, weigh your dirty laundry to get an idea. Although most machines can handle nearly 7 pounds of laundry in one go, and some can handle even more. Refer to your owner's manual to discover your device's load handling capacity.

Although it's a common laundry practice around the world to use a cold water setting, sometimes relying on hot water can work wonders, especially if your clothes smell extra bad. This is primarily because heated molecules move faster than cool ones. The movement helps the detergent do its job quicker and accelerates the cleaning process, freeing your garments of dirt and grime. Water-soluble stains like wine, blood, and tomato sauce also break down faster. Plus, hot (not warm) water gets rid of stinky bacteria and other microbes, ensuring your laundry smells fresh and clean right out of the washer.

So, wash your sweaty gym clothes, reeking socks, musty and dirty hand and bath towels, and boxers on a hot water or "sanitize" cycle if possible. However, check your garment's care label first to avoid damaging them accidentally. Synthetic pieces made of nylon, polyester, and vinyl might shrink or lose their vibrant hue if washed in steaming hot water. Similarly, it's a no-go for delicate materials, like wool, lace, and silk, if you don't want stains or wrinkles to set in permanently. To get rid of foul smells on such items, try washing them in warm water.

For items that can't bear the heat of hot water cycles, a laundry sanitizer can lift tough-to-budge odors. It's because, instead of masking the odor with fragrance (like your scented detergent does), it targets the actual source of the smell (the hidden bacteria, fungi, and even some viruses). So, it's great for eliminating really stubborn, lingering odors from your activewear, sports clothing, socks, pet bedding, or mildewy towels. Moisture-wicking pieces that move sweat away from your body and trap it in dedicated pockets will benefit from a laundry sanitizer, too, since it'll eliminate the deep-seated microbes. It's also great for garments sporting moldy smells you just can't seem to get out. The best part, though? It's just as effective in cold water as it is in hot water, and most sanitizers don't contain bleach, so you won't have to worry about your garments fading or sustaining damages.

To say goodbye to pungent odors, start by picking a robust laundry sanitizer. Lysol Tough Odor Eliminator Laundry Sanitizer Additive and Clorox Laundry Sanitizer are good options and claim to eliminate 99.9% of smelly bacteria. Once you have a bottle, add the recommended amount (will be slightly different for standard and HE machines) to your fabric softener slot. If your washing machine doesn't have a dedicated compartment, add it directly to the drum and run the rinse cycle for 16 minutes. You can even use a powder, like OxiClean's Odor Blaster, and pour the suggested amount into the drum directly.

Closing the door right after you're done with a wash means the seal, drum, and interior don't really get a chance to dry out. And if they stay moist, this can encourage mold and bacteria to settle in and multiply aggressively. Over time, your washer will start smelling a little funky, and that can transfer onto your clothing. Moreover, mold will form on the rubber gasket of your front-loading washer and reduce its effectiveness, and, eventually, you'll have to spend $150 to $400 to replace it. Mold might also conquer the drum and detergent drawers, making it incredibly difficult to get rid of. The constant presence of moisture might even corrode or rust internal elements, cutting short your appliance's life.

To avoid shouldering expensive repairs or replacements, leave your washer's door open for a couple of hours after you run a load to ventilate its insides. While this is incredibly simple for top-loading washers, you'll need a spacer to leave your front-loading machine partially open. Levoshua's Magnetic Door Stopper comes with a flexible hose and fits most front loaders. Additionally, wipe your door's rubber seal with a clean microfiber towel after each use to minimize moisture buildup and keep mold at bay.

Folding and putting away damp clothes allows bacteria to creep in. Mold and mildew will also establish a stronghold in the moist crevices. These nasties will cause your laundry to smell awful and develop stains, undoing all your hard work. Further, your garments' fibers will weaken over time and wear out faster. So, always dry your laundered pieces completely before storing them.

Now, you can either use a tumble dryer or let your laundry air dry. If you choose the former, check each item's care tag and only subject it to the appliance's high heat if it comes with a tumble dry symbol. Also, ensure that none of your items are dripping wet. In case they are, put them in your washer for a spin cycle before loading them in the dryer. Use dryer balls, like the Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls, to encourage air circulation and speed up the process. 

As for fabric types you should always hang dry (your wool sweaters, bras, and silk shirts are top contenders), set up a clothesline in your backyard or balcony to let them dry naturally. The sunlight and air will take care of any residual musty odors and keep your detergent and fabric softener's pleasant fragrance intact. In case you don't have either, or your HOA forbids such air drying, set up a portable drying rack in your laundry room. Pick a wood one or one that's coated (read: painted) to avoid dealing with rust stains on your garments. The Amazon Basics Foldable Portable Laundry Rack is a good option.