Say Goodbye to Stench: How to Make Laundry Smell Good
When you pull your clothes out of the dryer after a full laundry cycle, you want them to smell good. But have you ever run your dirty clothes through the laundry only to find they still smell somewhat musty? Don’t worry, there’s a solution for this common laundry problem.
We are going to dive into how to make laundry smell good and how to get natural body odor or sweat odors out of clothes. We’ll also offer some tips for how to get rid of thrift store smells or odors from clothes that have been in storage. Plus, you’ll discover why in-wash laundry scent boosters are a must-have in your household!
What Causes Musty Smell in Clothes?
Musty odors in clothes occur when an excess of moisture is trapped in the clothing fibers and cannot escape. That moisture can come from a combination of sweat and body oils. Alternatively, it could come from storing somewhat damp clothes in a dark or enclosed space.
You may not like mustiness, but it’s perfectly natural! You may find yourself with sweaty and odorous armpits after a full-body exercise class or a long ride home on the bus or train in the summer heat. Whether it’s sweat or body oils, moisture is going to get on your clothes on a daily basis.
So, musty happens, but why might it happen to freshly laundered clothes, and how do you get sweat smell out of clothes?
Why Do My Clothes Smell After Washing?
If you’re wondering “Why do my clothes smell musty?” and they still have an odor after washing, it might be time to clean your machine. Or, it may be a result of a user error. These might include:
- Using too much, or too little, detergent.
- Overloading the washer with too many items.
- Using the wrong wash temperature. Some items may require a warm or hot wash for a more thorough cleaning.
- You left clothes in the washing machine too long.
Leaving clothes in the machine for too long essentially traps some of the moisture on clothes. So, if you want to put a load of laundry in the wash before bed, you might want to think again. They could smell musty in the morning.
When it comes to washing temperature, you always want to follow the instructions on the garment care label. But if some of your clothes consistently smell musty or sour after washing and you’re able to wash them in warm or hot water, you may want to consider doing so going forward. You might even wash some of these items separately if need be.
Why Does My Laundry Smell Bad After Drying?
Your laundry may smell bad even after drying if you waited too long to throw clothes into the dryer or chose a lower temperature setting. Additionally, they may still be damp and need another cycle.
Knowing how to lay clothes out to dry is also important. Your clothes can smell musty if you left them out to air dry in an area without much heat or light, or if you did not lay your items out and give them the space necessary to fully dry out.
Tips for How to Make Laundry Smell Good
Want to know how to get the smell of sweat and general body odor out of clothes? Or, are you tired of your clothes smelling bad after a full wash and dry cycle? Follow some of these steps so you can bring those clothes to your nose and breathe in the sweet-smelling aromas!
1. Clean Your Washing Machine
Yes, your washer can help get your clothes clean and remove body odors. But the machine itself can get quite dirty.
Think about it: your washing machine is constantly swashing around water and detergent. Just as it might in your bathroom or shower, these actions can contribute to buildup of odor-causing residues over time. You might notice deposits on your clothes after washing or a musty odor that could stem from the dirtiness of the machine itself.
Does cleaning the washing machine seem daunting? It’s actually quite simple: all you need is OxiClean™ Washing Machine Cleaner with Odor Blasters™! Giving your washing machine a refresh every month can make a world of difference in more effectively getting body odor and sweat smells out of clothes.
2. Wash Your Clothes in Smaller Loads
Washing your clothes in small loads can help the machine provide a more thorough clean. It may seem tempting to do a massive pile of laundry all at once, but those clothes won’t have enough room to move around during the wash cycle.
By consistently washing smaller loads, you’re helping to ensure your items have more space and room to operate and get clean in the washer. Plus, it avoids the need for more laundry detergent and thus reduces the chance of laundry detergent residue on your clothes. Not sure you can do more with less? The proof is in the pudding with ARM & HAMMER™ Power Sheets Laundry Detergent.
A single 50-count box of our liquidless laundry detergent sheets can clean up to 100 small loads of laundry when used as directed. These perforated laundry detergent sheets also come in pre-measured loads, so you can use the proper number of sheets depending on your load size without guessing how much liquid or powder to add to the drum.
Oh, and these no-drip, no-spill sheets come in small, recyclable cartons, helping you steer clear of having to lug heavy detergent bottles around your home or up and down the apartment stairs – and also helping to eliminate plastic bottle waste! Need we say more? Opt for smaller loads to keep your clothes and laundry items smelling fresh.
3. Choose an Odor-Fighting Detergent
Some laundry detergents are specifically formulated to target tough odors and help make your clothes smell good. Such is the case with ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters:
- ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™, Fresh Burst™ Liquid Laundry Detergent powers out dirt and odors using the power of OxiClean™ Stain Fighters.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™, Fresh Botanicals Liquid Laundry Detergent have 3X powerful odor fighters in every load vs. leading value detergents to help eliminate body odors, sweat, and musty towel odors.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ 5-in-1 Power Paks attack tough odors and can be thrown right in the washer before adding your clothes.
Odor Blasters doesn’t just mask lingering odors on clothes or towels from body oil or sweat, it helps eliminate them entirely. Do you have extra smelly socks or other musty odors? Get rid of those odors fast with ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters!
Alternatively, you can also use ARM & HAMMER™ Deep Clean Odor Formula! This laundry odor eliminator with a radiant burst scent has millions of ionic micro-scrubbers that penetrate odors and dirt deep between clothing fibers to help your clothes smell fresh.
4. Include a Laundry Scent Booster
You would probably prefer to avoid needing to get rid of musty or mildew smells or odors on clothes every single time you wash them, right? That’s why you should consider using an in-wash laundry scent booster!
ARM & HAMMER™ laundry scent boosters are salt-based crystals used in the wash that dissolve and help enhance and extend the fragrance of clothes, towels, bedding, and much more. You can choose to add more scent boosters for stronger-smelling clothes. Conversely, you might add just a little so you can get just small hints of your chosen scent.
Regardless, there’s an element of customization in using laundry scent boosters. Consider trying some of our favorites, such as:
- ARM & HAMMER™ Odor Blasters™ In-Wash Scent Boosters power out tough odors to deliver a burst of freshness to your laundry. They are great for odors like sweat, musty towels, and body odor while also coming in scents such as Fresh Escape.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Clean Scentsations Scent Boosters deliver deodorization and lasting freshness to your laundry, while offering a pleasant scent experience that transports you to an exciting locale. These include scents such as Cool Woods.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Light Laundry In-Wash Scent Boosters are made with four essential ingredients and come in gentle scents like Crisp Clean, Peony Blossom, and Lavender Escape to boost your laundry’s freshness without being overpowering.
Keep those clothes and other laundry items smelling fresh for longer with in-wash laundry scent boosters!
5. Move Laundry from the Washer to the Dryer ASAP
Don’t let your laundry sit in damp heat under the cover of a dark washing machine. This is a surefire way to increase the odds that your clothes and other items will carry a musty or mildew smell after they’ve been through the dryer. You don’t want your bed sheets smelling sour when you pull them out of the wash, right?
Try your best to move all your laundry from the washer to the dryer—and start the dryer cycle—as soon as possible. If you aren’t home when a wash cycle finishes, see whether a spouse or roommate may be able to help you out. Hey, they might feel you’re hogging the washer, anyway!
You might be wondering about clothes that you air dry. Nothing changes on that front! You should still remove those clothes from that dark and damp environment and into an area with more light and heat. This leads nicely into the next point…
6. Exhibit Proper Drying & Storing Etiquette
Putting your clothes in the wash and using detergent or scent boosters is a great start in making your laundry smell good or fresh. But you’re not across the finish line yet! You need to properly dry and store your clothes.
Follow your fabric care label when deciding on a drying temperature. Once the dryer cycle finishes, make sure your laundry items are fully dry. Any dampness and you should run another cycle on low heat. If you are air drying—whether on a drying rack or hanging on a line—you want to do so in an area that has plenty of heat and, if possible, light.
Finding good storage is also important. You should know how to fold clothes or hang them in the closet, plus when to fold them vs. hanging them. For example, if your clothes or towels remain a bit damp, you do not want to fold them and put them into drawers or cabinets.
Now you have a step-by-step process for how to make your laundry smell good during the actual process and in the aftermath!
Does Musty or Mildew Smell Go Away?
So long as you don’t have a dirty washing machine and avoid some of the above user errors, you should be able to remove the musty or mildew smell in clothes by washing as usual with a heavy-duty detergent.
Note that mustiness or mildew smells can be hard to remove once they set on clothes. You’ll need a strong detergent that eliminates odors (rather than just masking them) like ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters!
Should You Wash Sweaty Clothes Immediately?
Washing sweaty clothes immediately is the best way to prevent lingering odors and get rid of the sources of odors that help make your clothes smelly. If you can’t wash them immediately, hang them up or place them on a drying rack.
How to Make Clothes Smell Good with ARM & HAMMER™ Laundry Detergents!
We’ve already talked about the Odor Blasters line and using in-wash scent boosters to help keep your laundry smelling fresh. But all ARM & HAMMER™ liquid laundry detergents and paks can help make your clothes smell good!
- ARM & HAMMER™ Deep Clean Stain Formula is our most powerful formula, cleaning and removing the dirt and stink that gets deep into clothing fibers. It’s ideal for HE washing machines and also works in standard machines at all washing temperatures.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Clean Burst Liquid Laundry Detergent has 35 percent more stain fighters per drop vs. previous formula, with a fresh scent that leaves your laundry smelling clean.
Stinky clothes, towels, and bedding are no match for ARM & HAMMER™ laundry detergents! Become a laundry expert and get all your items smelling clean and fresh.
