Things You'll Need:
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Step 1
When you have left your laundry in the washer and it gets that terrible mold smell, or even for clothes that have been packed away and get that gross smell, vinegar is the best!!!! First, put the clothing into the washing machine.
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Step 2
You have a few choices on how to handle the process. If the smell is terrible or if you have bath towels that have that moldy smell even after you wash them, I suggest running a load of laundry with ONLY the vinegar. If it is just a musty smell or a bit of a moldy smell, than you can add the vinegar in to the wash with your detergent.
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Step 3
I would suggest not doing a large load because you want the vinegar to penetrate the fibers in the clothing. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE FABRIC PICKING UP THE VINEGAR SMELL! I have never had anything smell like vinegar! So in a small-medium load, add about 2 cups of white vinegar to the water in the machine. If the fabric REALLY smells bad, go ahead and add a bit more vinegar to the wash. Run on a medium-short cycle because you do not want to waste water and energy.
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Step 4
If you have chosen to use only the vinegar, re-run your wash on a short cycle with the detergent. After, dry clothes as normal.
If you have run the wash with vinegar and detergent, then put the laundry in the dyer as normal.
Once the item like a bath towel gets wet again and is hung to dry, make sure to lay it out and not bunch it up. The smell comes back. I suggest doing this 1-3 times depending on how bad the smell is. It will come out, just takes some work.
Comments
swilk1026 said
on 10/9/2009 Yeah, but that doesn't help with a pair of expensive year-old leggings.
leanan said
on 12/13/2008 This is an awesome tip, I have one for the same thing, but mine is using Vodka! Drinking some might make ALL smells go away! LOL