How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Clothes

Wash your clothing properly to eliminate the mildew smell.

When you store your clothing in a damp basement or storage space for an extended period of time, moisture builds up in the clothing that leads to mildew growth. The musty mildew smell leaves your clothes unclean and smelling awful, making it important to wash the clothing in a manner that will eliminate the mildew smell and restore the clothing to its original condition. By washing the clothing with a few household products you can remove the mildew smell quickly.

Things You'll Need

• Washing machine
• Water
• Laundry detergent
• White vinegar
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Place the clothing in the washing machine, and turn the machine on with a large load size and cold wash cycle.

2. Pour 1 capful laundry detergent, 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup baking soda into the washing machine. The vinegar disinfects and kills the mildew growth, while the baking soda deodorizes the clothing.

3. Allow the washing machine to run its full wash cycle, and dry the clothing as you normally would.

References

• Vinegar Tips: Laundry