How to Get Musty Smell Out of Clothes — Even After Washing

You wash your clothes, they come out of the machine smelling… not clean. That damp, musty smell is frustrating, and rewashing with more detergent usually doesn’t help. The problem isn’t your detergent — it’s likely your washing machine.

Why Clothes Smell Musty After Washing

Front-load washers are the worst offenders — the rubber door gasket traps water and becomes a mildew breeding ground. Top-loaders get it too, usually in the drum and under the agitator.

Step 1: Clean Your Washing Machine (Do This First)

If your machine is the source, no amount of rewashing will fix the smell.

For Front-Load Washers:

1. Empty the machine completely.
2. Clean the gasket: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar. Use a cloth to thoroughly wipe the rubber door gasket — pull it back and clean deep in the folds. This is where most of the smell lives.
3. Run a vinegar cycle: Add 2 cups white vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Run the hottest, longest cycle (usually “sanitize” or “clean washer”).
4. Run a baking soda cycle: Add 1/2 cup baking soda directly to the drum. Run another hot cycle.
5. Wipe the door and gasket dry. Leave the door cracked open.

For Top-Load Washers:

1. Fill with hot water (use “deep fill” if available).
2. Add 4 cups white vinegar and let it agitate for a minute.
3. Pause the cycle and let it soak for 1 hour.
4. Resume and complete the cycle.
5. Run a second cycle with 1 cup baking soda.
6. Wipe the drum and lid dry.

How often: Do this monthly. If you notice smell returning, do it every 2 weeks.

Step 2: Treat the Clothes

Now that the machine is clean, treat the affected clothes.

Method 1: Vinegar Rinse (Best Overall)

1. Load the machine with the musty-smelling clothes.
2. Add regular detergent (don’t overdo it — use half the normal amount).
3. Add 1 cup white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser (or rinse cycle).
4. Wash on the hottest water safe for the fabric.
5. Dry immediately — don’t let them sit.

Why it works: Vinegar kills mildew spores, breaks down detergent residue, and neutralizes odors. The vinegar smell disappears completely in the dryer.

Method 2: Vinegar Pre-Soak (For Stubborn Smells)

1. Fill a bucket or sink with warm water.
2. Add 1 cup white vinegar per gallon of water.
3. Submerge clothes and soak for 30-60 minutes.
4. Transfer to washer and wash normally with detergent.
5. Add another 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Method 3: Baking Soda Boost

1. Add 1/2 cup baking soda directly to the drum with the clothes.
2. Add detergent to the dispenser.
3. Wash in hot water (or warm for delicates).
4. Dry immediately.

Why it works: Baking soda absorbs odors and helps detergent work more effectively by balancing pH.

Method 4: Enzyme Cleaner (For Protein-Based Odors)

If the smell is from sweat/body oils (not mildew):

1. Use an enzyme-based detergent (like Tide Hygienic Clean, Persil ProClean, or a laundry sanitizer additive).
2. Wash in warm/hot water.
3. Add vinegar to rinse cycle as insurance.

Step 3: Dry Correctly

This is where most people fail.

• Dry immediately when the wash cycle ends. Every minute in the damp machine lets mildew restart.
• Use the highest heat safe for the fabric. Heat kills remaining spores.
• Don’t overdry — it damages fabric and sets wrinkles, but don’t underdry either.
• If line drying: Do it in direct sunlight. UV rays kill mildew spores.

Special Cases

Towels That Won’t Stop Smelling

Towels are the worst offenders because they’re thick and hold moisture.

1. Wash towels alone — no other items.
2. Hot water + 1 cup vinegar (no detergent).
3. Second wash: Hot water + 1/2 cup baking soda + normal detergent.
4. Dry on high heat until completely bone-dry.
5. Store only when completely cool — warm towels in a closet = mildew.

Gym Clothes / Synthetic Fabrics

Synthetic fibers (polyester, spandex) hold odors differently than cotton.

1. Turn inside out before washing.
2. Use cold water (hot damages elastic) + enzyme detergent.
3. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to rinse cycle.
4. Air dry or low heat only. High heat bakes odors into synthetics.

Delicates / Dry-Clean-Only

1. Hang outside in fresh air and sunlight for 4+ hours. UV kills mildew.
2. Vodka spray: Mix 1 part cheap vodka, 3 parts water in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the garment (test hidden area first). Alcohol kills odor-causing bacteria. Air dry.
3. Professional cleaning: Tell them specifically about the musty odor.

Prevention: Stop It Before It Starts

The Bottom Line

Musty-smelling clothes almost always mean a dirty washing machine. Clean the machine first (vinegar + baking soda cycles), then rewash clothes with vinegar in the rinse cycle. Dry immediately. Leave the washer door open between uses. The smell will stop coming back.

Related Guides

• How to remove mold from your home — if the smell is from actual mold in your home.
• How to remove bad smell from shoes — another odor removal guide.