How to Deodorize Laundry

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Laundry starts to smell bad because the dirt and moisture is a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria and mildew. In extreme cases, even after a regular wash, some pieces of laundry will still have an odor. There are a few simple things you can do to deodorize your laundry using items that you probably already have around the house.

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Sprinkle baking soda in your laundry when it is sitting in the hamper waiting to be washed. Pour a cup of baking soda into the wash, along with your regular detergent. Baking soda is very effective at neutralizing and removing odor from your fabrics.

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Use a scented fabric softener that has a deodorizing agent (for example, Bounce with Febreze). Pour a capful in every wash—a cap and a half when the load has a very strong smell.

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Wash your laundry in white distilled vinegar and water. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer. Fill your washing machine with plain hot water and then add a cup of vinegar. After that wash is completed, wash the load once more with regular detergent. This option should be reserved for very odorous laundry.

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Place dryer sheets in your laundry; you can add two or three of them to your hamper and to both your wash and dry cycles to help get rid of odor.

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Use borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate), another household product, in your laundry to deodorize your clothes. Add a half a cup to your load. Borax also helps boost the power of your detergent.