You pull a shirt out of the closet, give it a sniff, and immediately regret it. That damp, stale odor isn’t just unpleasant—it’s a sign that mold or mildew spores have made themselves at home in your fabric. The good news? You don’t need a chemistry degree or expensive products to fix it.
The bad news? If you keep doing what most people do—just re-washing on a normal cycle—you’re probably making it worse.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting rid of that musty smell for good.
Here’s the Real Reason Your Clothes Smell Musty
Before you can fix the problem, you need to understand it. Musty odors in clothing come from mildew and mold—microscopic fungi that thrive in warm, damp environments. They release compounds called microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), and that is what your nose is detecting.
The most common culprits:
- Leaving wet clothes in the washer too long. Even 30 minutes can be enough for mildew to start.
- Overloading the washing machine. Clothes that don’t rinse or spin properly stay damp inside the fibers.
- A dirty washing machine. Your washer can harbor mold in the drum, door seal, or detergent drawer—and transfer it to clean laundry.
- Improper storage. Folding clothes before they’re completely dry, or storing them in a humid closet, seals in moisture.
Stop Doing This If You Want Fresh-Smelling Clothes
A lot of people try to mask the smell with extra fabric softener or dryer sheets. Don’t. Those products coat the fibers and actually trap odor-causing residue deeper inside the fabric. They also don’t kill mold or mildew—they just add a perfume layer on top of the problem, which wears off within hours.
Similarly, re-washing on a cold, quick cycle without any treatment rarely works. You need something that actually neutralizes or kills the mildew.
What You’ll Need
You likely already have most of this:
- White distilled vinegar (the unsung hero of laundry odors)
- Baking soda
- Borax (optional but powerful for stubborn cases)
- Oxygen-based bleach (like OxiClean—safe for colors)
- Essential oils like tea tree or eucalyptus (optional, naturally antifungal)
- A well-ventilated drying area or direct sunlight
Step-by-Step: How to Remove Musty Smell from Clothes
Step 1: Don’t put them in the dryer yet. Heat can set odors into fabric the same way it sets stains. If the clothes already went through the dryer and still smell, treat them before the next wash—not after.
Step 2: Pre-soak in white vinegar. Fill a basin or sink with warm water and add one to two cups of white distilled vinegar. Submerge the musty clothes and let them soak for at least one hour, or up to overnight for severe cases. Vinegar is acidic and breaks down the mildew compounds responsible for the smell without damaging most fabrics.
Step 3: Add baking soda to the wash cycle. After soaking, transfer the clothes directly to the washing machine. Add your regular detergent plus half a cup of baking soda directly into the drum. Run a warm or hot cycle (check the care label—if it tolerates heat, use it, as heat kills mold spores more effectively than cold).
Step 4: Use the right water temperature. Hot water is more effective at killing mildew, but only use it if the care label permits. For delicates, warm water is a safer compromise. Cold water is a last resort for items that truly can’t handle heat.
Step 5: Skip the fabric softener this round. Let the vinegar and baking soda do their job without interference. Fabric softener residue can reduce their effectiveness.
Step 6: Do a smell check before drying. Pull the clothes out of the washer and give them a sniff while they’re still damp. If the smell is gone—great, dry them. If there’s still a faint trace of mustiness, repeat the soak and wash before moving on. Never put still-smelly clothes in the dryer.
Step 7: Dry in sunlight if possible. UV rays from the sun are a natural antifungal and will finish off any remaining mildew spores. Air drying indoors works too, but make sure the room is well-ventilated and the clothes aren’t bunched together. Allow full airflow around every item.
How to Get Musty Smell Out of Clothes That Are Extra Stubborn
Some items—thick towels, vintage fabrics, gym clothes—hold onto odors more stubbornly. For these, try a borax soak: dissolve half a cup of borax in hot water, add it to a basin, and soak the clothes for two to three hours before washing as normal. Borax is a natural mineral compound that inhibits mold and mildew at a deeper level than vinegar alone.
For white or light-colored items, an oxygen bleach soak (following the product’s instructions) can lift both the odor and any faint discoloration caused by mildew.
You’re Probably Doing This Wrong: Washing Machine Maintenance
If your clothes keep coming out of the wash smelling musty, your machine is almost certainly part of the problem. Run an empty hot cycle with two cups of white vinegar monthly to clean the drum. Wipe down the rubber door seal on front-loaders—mold loves hiding in those folds. Leave the washer door open between uses to let the drum dry out.
Quick Reference: Musty Smell Solutions by Situation
| Situation | Best Fix |
|---|---|
| Mild musty smell after storage | One vinegar soak + normal wash |
| Strong mildew smell in towels | Borax soak + hot wash, no softener |
| Smell returns after every wash | Clean the washing machine first |
| Delicate or dry-clean-only items | Professional cleaning only |
| Vintage or thrifted clothes | Overnight vinegar soak + air dry in sun |
Don’t Ignore the Storage Step
Getting the smell out is only half the battle. If you store clothes in a damp basement, a packed closet with no airflow, or folded slightly damp, the mildew will return. Use cedar blocks or moisture-absorbing packets in closets, ensure clothes are completely dry before storage, and don’t pack items too tightly together.
FAQ
Does vinegar damage clothes? White distilled vinegar is safe for most washable fabrics when diluted. Avoid using it on delicate fabrics like silk, acetate, or rayon without spot-testing first.
How long does it take to get musty smell out of clothes? A single treatment—one to two hours of soaking plus a full wash cycle—handles most cases. Severe or long-standing mildew may need two rounds.
Why do my clothes still smell musty after washing? The most common reason is a dirty washing machine. The second most common is that the clothes weren’t dried quickly or thoroughly enough after washing.
Can I use baking soda alone without vinegar? Yes, but vinegar is more effective at breaking down mildew specifically. Baking soda alone works better for general odor neutralization (like sweat or food smells).
Conclusion
A musty smell in your clothes is fixable—but only if you treat the actual cause rather than covering it up. White vinegar, baking soda, proper drying, and a clean washing machine will handle 95% of cases without any harsh chemicals or expensive products. The golden rule: never put clothes in the dryer until the smell is completely gone. Once heat bakes that odor in, you’re in for a much harder fight.
