Have you ever placed an outfit on only to realize that the clothing is producing a foul, stinky musty smell? There is nothing quite like stepping out of the house and smelling like last years stored away musty smelling clothes! The musty smell that develops on your clothing is not a result of bacteria growth or even a failed job by your detergent. Rather, the smell is from a fungus called mildew that grows on the plant fibers used to construct your clothing – like wool, cloth, etc. When the clothing becomes wet or traps moisture for a prolonged period of time, the musty odor will become quite apparent on your clothing.
Mildew can develop on your clothing in a number of situations including if you leave clothes in the washer for too long, if you do not properly store your clothes away, or if your washing machine develops mold inside the machine that spreads to your clothing. One of the first things you should do if you notice a musty smell develop on your clothing is to check your washing machine for potential mold or mildew build-up inside the machine. If you find that your washing machine is packing an odor you will need to use a washing machine deodorizer inside the machine to eliminate the odor. If, however, you find that your washing machine is not the issue, you will have to figure out how do you get a musty smell out of clothes?
Follow the steps below to remove the mildew smell and must from your fabrics.
- Monitor Detergent Use: Check how much detergent you use in each load. When you use too much detergent in your washing machine, it can become trapped in the machine and on your clothes and create an odor on both – one that is hard to rinse away.
- Use an Effective Laundry Enhancer: Musty smell in your clothes typically takes quite a while to completely remove – even when using every homemade concoction out there. Vinegar, baking soda, borax, you name it it’s been done to counteract the smell of must and mildew. The truth is some of these solutions will work over time and with many washes but who has time for that? Instead, you can use the EnviroKlenz Laundry Enhancer to quickly and effectively remove musty smells from your clothes. EnviroKlenz uses a patented earth mineral technology that can break down and neutralize chemical odors completely.
- Air Dry Clothing: Skip the dryer and opt for hanging your clothes to dry outside. The dryer can magnify odors, and therefore is not a good option for musty smelling clothes.
