Buzz
Wet cloths that have been used around your home often carry unpleasant smells. These odors are typically caused by mold growth that develops after the cloths are used, and they are notoriously difficult to remove completely. Washing the cloths a few times in the usual way may reduce the smell, but it won’t entirely eliminate the musty scent. Below are a few simple methods you can try to fully get rid of the musty odor using common household cleaners.
Steps
Wash Cloths with Vinegar and Baking Soda
Wash the cloths. Place your musty-smelling cloths into the washing machine and set it to hot water. Add a capful of white vinegar and a capful of baking soda.
- At this stage, there's no need to add detergent or fabric softener.
- If you only have one of the two ingredients, you can wash the cloths with either vinegar or baking soda alone.
Soak the cloths in the washing machine. Stop the machine once the cloths have been spun and agitated. Let the cloths sit and absorb the vinegar and baking soda solution for one hour. After an hour, resume the wash cycle until it finishes.
Add vinegar and laundry detergent. Now, you'll need to wash the cloths once again. This time, add a capful of vinegar along with your usual laundry detergent. Pour in the normal amount of detergent and start the wash cycle, selecting a high-spin mode.
- If your machine has a “high-spin” option, you can choose it or run another cycle after the first spin finishes.
Transfer the cloths to the dryer immediately after washing. Once the second spin cycle is complete, remove the cloths and place them directly in the dryer. Set the dryer to the highest heat setting and run it until the cloths are fully dry. Then, run a second drying cycle.
Soak Cloths in Hot Water and Detergent
Use 2/3 of an Oxiclean capful. If the vinegar and baking soda wash doesn’t work, try soaking the cloths in hot water and Oxiclean. To begin, add 2/3 of an Oxiclean capful to a large wash basin.
- It's advisable to wear gloves to protect your hands from the solution.
Add hot water to the wash basin. If the tap water isn't hot enough, you can boil water and pour it into the basin. Gently swirl the basin to mix the Oxiclean into the water as you pour in the hot water. Be careful not to spill water outside the basin.
Place the cloths into the basin. Once the basin is half-filled with hot water, add the bath towels to the basin. Make sure the towels are fully submerged in the water.
- Soak the towels in the basin for up to 48 hours.
Wash the towels in the washing machine. After soaking the towels, remove them from the basin and wring them out. Place the towels in the washing machine and run the hottest water cycle, adding detergent and fabric softener.
- You can also add Oxiclean to the washing machine.
Dry the towels. Transfer the towels to the dryer immediately after washing. Choose the highest heat setting and dry the towels until completely dry. Your towels should smell fresh, just like new, after this process.
- If the musty smell persists, you may need to replace the towels.
Remove Mold from the Washing Machine
Inspect the washing machine to ensure there are no malfunctions. If water isn't draining properly after each wash, moldy smells may develop from there. Water could also be accumulating somewhere inside the washing machine that you might not be aware of. In this case, you may need to contact a professional repair technician or consider purchasing a new washing machine.
Clean the rubber seal in the washing machine. Sometimes, this is the source of the musty odor in your towels. The rubber seal helps prevent water from leaking out during the washing cycle. Cleaning this part is an essential tip for eliminating moldy smells in your washing machine. You can clean it with soap and a cloth, or spray mold cleaner. You may also use a solution containing 50% water and 50% bleach.
- You can use an old toothbrush to clean every corner of the rubber seal.
- Make sure you clean all the nooks and crannies of the rubber seal. You may need to flip it over to clean the smallest rubber folds.
Clean the detergent drawer. Remove the detergent drawer from the washing machine and clean it with soap mixed with a bit of dish soap and water. Leftover detergent in the drawer can also contribute to unpleasant odors in your washing machine.
- If you're unable to remove the drawer, try wiping the inside of the compartment with a cloth or small tool.
Activate the self-cleaning cycle. Run the longest wash cycle without any clothes, using the hottest water possible. If the moldy smell persists after the wash, run the cycle once more. The moldy odor should disappear after a few runs. You can add one of the following to the wash water:
- 1 capful of bleach
- 1 capful of baking soda
- 1/2 capful of dishwashing enzyme powder
- 1/2 capful of industrial cleaner
- 1 capful of vinegar
Seek professional help. If the above methods don't remove the musty odor, you may need to call a professional technician to inspect your washing machine. Mold could be behind the drum, or there may be a blockage in the pipes or filter.
- An experienced repair technician can diagnose the problem and, if necessary, disassemble the washing machine to identify the cause.
Implement measures to prevent musty odors. Once you identify the source of the unpleasant smells, take steps to ensure mold doesn't return. Here are some preventive tips:
- Dry the washing machine. Leave the washing machine door open when not in use. Be cautious, though, to avoid pets or children getting trapped inside.
- Use detergent properly. Choose a detergent that produces low foam, as it will make the machine run more efficiently. Powder detergent tends to create less foam than liquid options. Also, avoid overusing detergent—sometimes, using less results in cleaner clothes.
- Avoid fabric softeners. Fabric softeners are usually liquid and tend to accumulate in the dispenser, promoting mold growth. Instead of liquid fabric softeners, consider using dryer balls to soften your clothes.
- Dry the rubber seal. Wipe down the entire area and grooves inside the rubber seal. Ideally, clean it after every wash. If that's not possible, try to clean it weekly to prevent mold buildup.
- Regular cleaning. Set your machine to the hottest water setting and run a cleaning cycle at least once a month. This is a great opportunity to disinfect the machine and wash bulky items like work clothes or heavily soiled towels.
Tips
- If you live in a sunny area, hang your towels out in the sunlight on a clothesline.
- Use detergent combined with bleach/antibacterial products. This will eliminate musty odors and prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.
- You can prevent mold on towels by drying them after each use. If space is limited, consider installing extra towel racks for all family members.
Warnings
- Never use bleach and ammonia together when doing laundry as the combination produces toxic chlorine gas, which can be fatal.
- Excessive use of bleach, ammonia, vinegar, and strong cleaners can damage the seals and gaskets in your washing machine. Overuse of these chemicals may also void your washing machine's warranty.
