You pull a shirt out of the closet, give it a sniff, and something is just off. That stale, damp, slightly sour smell is one of the most frustrating laundry problems to deal with because it can linger even on clothes that look perfectly clean. The good news is that musty smells are fixable, and in most cases you don't need anything more than a few household staples to get rid of them for good.
Here's what causes that smell, how to get rid of it, and how to stop it from coming back.
What Causes Musty Smells in Clothes?
Musty odors in clothing almost always come down to one thing: moisture that didn't fully escape. When fabric stays damp for too long, mold and mildew begin to grow. These are fungi that thrive in warm, dark, low-airflow environments, which describes a closed washing machine drum, a gym bag, an overstuffed closet, or a laundry hamper perfectly.
Some of the most common causes include:
Leaving wet clothes in the washing machine too long after the cycle ends
Storing clothes before they are completely dry
Cramming too many clothes into a closet with poor air circulation
A dirty washing machine that has mold or mildew built up inside it
Damp gym clothes or towels left bundled up for hours before washing
The tricky part is that once musty odor gets into fabric fibers, a regular wash cycle often isn't enough to fully remove it. You need to treat the odor directly before or during the wash.
How to Get Musty Smell Out of Clothes
Method 1: Baking Soda Wash
Baking soda is one of the most effective natural odor neutralizers available. Add half a cup of baking soda directly into the washing machine drum along with your detergent and run a normal wash cycle using warm water. The baking soda works alongside your detergent to absorb and break down odor-causing compounds deep in the fabric.
For particularly stubborn smells, try soaking the garment first. Dissolve a few tablespoons of baking soda in a basin of cold water and submerge the clothing for 15 to 30 minutes before putting it in the wash.
Method 2: White Vinegar Soak
White vinegar is a natural disinfectant that neutralizes musty odors rather than just masking them. Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water and soak the affected garment for up to 30 minutes, then wash as normal.
One important note: while vinegar is effective for soaking, be cautious about adding it directly to your washing machine drum repeatedly. Some experts warn that vinegar can gradually degrade the rubber seals and hoses in certain machines over time. If you want to use it in the machine, add it to the fabric softener compartment rather than the drum, and check your machine's manual first.
Method 3: Sunlight and Fresh Air
Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective. Hang musty clothes outside on a sunny, breezy day. UV rays from sunlight naturally kill bacteria and mold spores, while fresh air helps draw the odor out of the fabric. This works especially well as a follow-up after washing, but even without a wash, a few hours in direct sunlight can make a noticeable difference.
If outdoor drying isn't possible, hang clothes near an open window or in front of a fan to get air circulating through the fabric.
Method 4: Rewash Immediately if Caught Early
If you've caught the problem early, such as clothes that were left in the washing machine for too long, sometimes all you need to do is run another wash cycle right away before the clothes go in the dryer. Add your usual detergent and wash on the warmest setting the care label allows. The key is to catch it before the clothes go through the dryer, because heat sets odors into fabric and makes them significantly harder to remove afterward.
What Not to Do
Don't put musty clothes straight in the dryer. Dryer heat locks the smell into the fibers permanently. Always treat the odor first and confirm it's gone before drying.
Don't rely on fabric softener alone. Fabric softener coats fibers and can actually trap odor compounds rather than removing them. It might mask the smell temporarily, but it won't solve the underlying problem.
Don't store clothes that aren't fully dry. Even slightly damp clothes in a closed space will develop mildew quickly. Make sure everything is completely dry before folding and putting it away.
How to Stop Musty Smells from Coming Back
Getting rid of the smell is only half the battle. Here's how to prevent it from returning:
Move laundry to the dryer promptly. Don't leave wet clothes sitting in the washing machine. Mold can begin to develop in as little as 24 hours in a damp drum.
Don't store damp clothes. Whether it's gym clothes, a wet swimsuit, or towels, make sure everything is fully dry before it goes into a hamper, drawer, or closet.
Give clothes room to breathe. Overstuffed closets restrict airflow. Spreading clothes out a little allows air to circulate and prevents that stale, trapped-air smell from building up.
Clean your washing machine regularly. Your machine itself can be a source of mildew, especially front-load models. Run an empty hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner or a small amount of baking soda once a month. If you have a front-load washer, leave the door open between uses so the drum can dry out.
Use moisture absorbers in closets. Silica gel packets or small moisture-absorbing products in your closet can help reduce humidity, especially in humid climates or during summer months.
Air out your gym bag. Your bag absorbs odors from workout clothes over time. Leave it open between uses and wash it regularly.
When the Smell Won't Go Away
If you've washed a garment multiple times and the musty smell keeps coming back, there are a couple of things worth considering. First, the odor may be coming from your washing machine rather than the clothes themselves, especially if multiple garments from different washes are affected. Cleaning the machine thoroughly, including the door seal on front-loaders where mold commonly hides, often solves the problem.
Second, some deeply set mildew odors in delicate or dry-clean-only garments are best handled by a professional rather than repeated home washing, which can damage the fabric.
Let Get Fresh Start Laundry Handle It
Keeping on top of laundry is one of the best ways to prevent musty odors from developing in the first place, but life gets busy. If laundry is piling up or you're dealing with stubborn smells you can't seem to shift, Get Fresh Start Laundry is here to help.
Our pickup and delivery laundry service takes care of everything from everyday clothes to towels, bed sheets, and more. Every load is washed using our state-of-the-art Ozone sanitizing system, which kills 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, mold, and mildew at the source. It's the same sanitizing technology used in hospitals, and it goes deeper into fabric fibers than a standard wash cycle to eliminate odors completely, not just cover them up.
We serve families throughout Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT with flexible weekly, bi-weekly, or on-demand scheduling. No contracts, no hassle, schedule your first pickup!
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