
Washing clothes and other laundry should make it all smell great, right? Not always. Sometimes, freshly washed laundry still smells sour — something that we absolutely won't stand for, and you don't have to, either. So, if your laundry sometimes comes out a little sour, we have all sorts of trips and tricks to make it smell ahhh-mazing.
1. Clean Your Machine
Here's the thing they sometimes forget to tell you in your Adulting 101 classes — you have to clean your washing machine regularly. We know that can come as a bit of a surprise, but it's super important. Use our guide for cleaning your washer to give laundry the best possible chance of smelling great.
Or, you can use white vinegar to clean your washer. Run a load with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Alternatively, fill the bleach compartment of your washer and run it on the self-cleaning cycle if you have one. Keep in mind that you should never mix bleach and vinegar — simply choose one method to try. Either way, when the machine is done running, take a sponge or soft cloth and wipe the gaskets to remove mold.
Related: How to Use Downy Rinse & Refresh to Bust Laundry Odor
2. Leave the Washer Door Open
Your washer is a damp environment, even once you take the wet clothes out. And gross-smelling stuff can breed in dampness, which can then find its way into your clothes. So once you've gotten your washer good and clean, keep it that way by leaving the washing machine door open when the washer isn't in use. The airflow will allow it to dry out so mold can't flourish in the damp and dark.
3. Wash in Hot Water When You Can
Oil from your skin works its way into your clothes every time you wear them. And over time, this can start to smell. So the key to getting out any oils — whether it's skin oil or olive oil — is hot water. So whenever you can (if the fabric allows it), wash your clothes, sheets, towels, and any other thing that comes into contact with oil in hot water and detergent. Be sure to sort your laundry to exclude any synthetic fabrics that can't handle hot water.
4. Choose the Right Detergent and Correct Amount
So what to do with fabrics you can't wash in hot water, since they aren't immune to body oils, either? Choose a detergent that does well on body soils in cold water. Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release will work well on synthetics, or choose a sports detergent meant to get out tough odors. Then, read the label and use the correct amount for your load of laundry.
5. Don't Wait to Wash

For highly soiled items like workout clothes, don't wait to wash the laundry — all that does is give bacteria time to reproduce and set up shop in your clothes. Instead, wash a small load as soon as you have it. Similarly, don't let unwashed laundry pile up if you can help it. Try to wash regularly, especially in the summer or if you live in a warm climate.
6. Try a Pre-Soak
Set-in odors like perfume or smells from previous washing mishaps need a presoak in order to permeate and eliminate the funk. Make a simple pre-soak by filling your laundry tub or sink with water and adding half a cup of baking soda (which can also help get rid of skunk smells). After the baking soda has dissolved, let the stinky clothes soak in the water overnight before laundering as usual.
7. Don't Overload the Machine
We know how tempting it is to stuff your machine full in order to get done faster on laundry day. But if you want to fight odors, resist the temptation. Your machine should never be more than ¾ full, and you shouldn't pack the clothes tightly. Everything needs plenty of room to move when the machine agitates in order to get all that stink-causing stuff out of the fabric.
8. Take Your Time With Hand Washing

When your delicates get smelly, you'll need to hand wash them. Take your time and allow the clothing to soak in the soapy water for at least an hour. After that, make sure you rinse especially well. If you're in doubt, perform a second rinse.
9. Dry Laundry Right Away
Never let your laundry stay wet. Immediately move items to the dryer if you can machine dry. For laundry you plan to line dry, ensure you have plenty of space between wet items so air can circulate. Consider moving your line drying to a spot by a window or outside so the sunlight can help kill any lingering mold spores or bacteria.
10. Make Sure Laundry Is Totally Dry
Before you put your laundry away, make sure it's totally dry. Sometimes, you can reduce wrinkles and shrinkage by leaving clothing just a little damp. If you do this, hang the item to dry completely before you put it away. Never fold damp laundry.
What Makes Laundry Smell Bad Right Out of the Washer?
There are all sorts of reasons your laundry might stink. So while our tricks address the causes, knowing what they are can help you prevent the funk in the first place.
Moldy Washing Machine
If you look inside your washing machine, chances are, it looks pretty clean. However, in the hidden areas, especially around the door gasket in front loaders, you may find lurking mold. And a dirty washing machine can equal stinky "clean" laundry.
Overloaded Washing Machine

Just because you can fit that entire laundry basket full of dirties in the machine doesn't mean you should. Overloading your washing machine can keep the clothes from getting washed properly and lead to stinky laundry.
Body Soil That Isn't Going Away
When you wear your clothes or use sheets and towels, body soils get on the fabric. In fact, body soils make up most of the dirt on your laundry, even if you spilled ketchup down your front.
Related: How to Get Musty Smell Out of Clothes Without Washing Them
Laundry That's Wet for Too Long
If your laundry isn't dried quickly and thoroughly, it creates a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. These can lead to a sour smell that's hard to ignore.
Wrong Amount of Detergent

If you use too much or too little detergent, your clothes won't smell clean. Too much detergent creates an opportunity for dirt and mold to stick to the fabric and cause an odor. Too little detergent doesn't adequately clean the dirt off the fabrics.
Kill the Germs That Cause Laundry Odor
It's not difficult to get stink out of laundry, but it does require some consistency and habits. But with a few simple changes to your laundry routine, you may never be faced with stinky "clean" laundry again.