It is not pleasant to smell mildew, especially when it is coming from our clothing. Two common problems in homes are mould and mildew. Mildew may damage practically everything in your home, including furniture, carpets, curtains, and clothes.
If your garments no longer smell like freshly laundered clothes but rather like a musty basement, don’t panic. You can quickly remove the mildew odour from your mildewed clothes with essential kitchen tools.
People leaving their laundry in their washing machines for a day is understandable—life is busy. Or, at times, those dump their wet sportswear in the clothes washing basket. Your garments become contaminated by mildew when you leave damp, filthy clothes in a basket.
One type of fungus that smells bad is mildew. It becomes harder to eliminate the scent of mildewed clothes with regular clothes washing.
Maybe you’re thinking of washing your stench-filled clothes with commercially available, powerful detergents. It’s important to avoid using harsh chemicals to clean soiled clothing. In this article, we’ll offer helpful advice on how to remove mildew smell from mildewed clothes without the need for any chemical-based products.
Causes of Mildew Smells in Clothes:
Before discussing cleaning techniques, let’s explore the reason for mildew odours in clothing. Even the homes with the best cleaning practices occasionally have a musty odour. Some familiar sources of mildew smell in clothes include a dirty washing machine, forgetting wet items in the washing machine, hard water, and residual body soil.
The odour in garments is usually caused by invisible bodily dirt. The human body is in frequent contact with clothing, which collects bodily fluids and gives off an odorous mustiness. Did you know that physical soils, including sweat, dead skin cells, and body oils, make up 70% of the soil on your towels?
Make sure not to get detergents with solid perfumes because you don’t want to cover up the odour. Furthermore, using dryer sheets or fabric softener to mask the mildew odour would simply make the situation worse. Make sure to check the washing machine for mildew before beginning to wash.
Also Read: Things You Need To Know Before Ironing, “Dry Clean Only” Clothes
How to Remove Mildew Smell from Clothes:
On the plus side, you can use the following techniques to bring back the freshness of your garments if you let damp ones sit for an extended period.
#1 – Use White Distilled Vinegar to Wash Clothes:
When it comes to cleaning a range of domestic things like carpets, kitchen countertops, clothes, and more, vinegar is perhaps the most excellent answer. It is how to use vinegar to wash your clothes.
Put your garments inside the washing machine and adjust the heat to the highest level. To use white vinegar in your laundry, put a cup of it in the detergent cup or combine a cup of white vinegar with ½ cup water.
No detergent needs to be added. Vinegar mixed with hot water can disintegrate any bacteria that has accumulated on your clothing. Isn’t it easy to remove mould odour from apparel?
#2 – Use Baking Soda to Wash:
Another fantastic cleaning solution that works wonders for removing odours from a range of items is baking soda, which you can use to wash your garments in hot water and vinegar if they still smell. After using vinegar to wash your clothes, add one cup of baking soda and one more cycle of warm water to the machine.
Your garments will smell completely new once this technique eliminates any lingering mildew odour. All you have to do in these two washing procedures is switch out your ordinary soap with vinegar and baking soda.
#3 – Let Air Drying for Clothes:
Try to dry your stuff on a line. If this isn’t possible, use the dryer to dry your garments. Clothes that are dried outside will destroy any leftover bacteria. If mildew smells or shows signs of mildew, go through the same procedure again. Simply cut back on the vinegar.
#4 – Make a Natural Mildew Remover with Lemon Juice:
Lemon juice is an excellent technique to eliminate the smell of vinegar if you dislike it. Towels and clothing can be naturally and ecologically cleaned of mildew using lemon juice. To treat mildew stains, make a paste with lemon juice and salt.
After letting it sit for a few minutes, use a gentle brush to scrub the area. Lastly, wash your clothing. Lemon juice can also be sprayed into the discoloured areas of your clothing using a spray bottle.
Also Read: Efficient Ways To Remove Chocolate Stains From Clothes
Prevent the Odour of Mildew in the Future:
You can solve the issue if your garments smell like mildew by following a few easy steps. For example, you can fix this issue by substituting scented vinegar for fabric softener.
Use vinegar in moderation in addition to your usual detergent, though. To prevent mildew from growing in your laundry, try washing your garments with vinegar or baking soda once a month. Additionally, to assist in battling the formation of mould, mildew, fungus, and bacteria on recently used sports gear, apply a few mists of our All-Natural Odour Eliminator & Surface Cleaning Spray before throwing it in the laundry basket or gym bag.
Conclusion:
Banishing mildew and musty smells from clothes requires a meticulous approach involving proper washing, drying, and storage. Hello Laundry offers a convenient laundry and dry cleaning solution, employing advanced techniques and quality detergents to ensure your garments emerge fresh and odour-free. Trust in their expertise to revive your wardrobe and enjoy the lasting freshness that meticulous care provides.