How to Make Your Clothes Smell

Good
Co-authored by wikiHow Staff
Updated: March 29, 2019 | References

Do your clothes sometimes smell dusty or dirty, even immediately after you wash
them? If you're dealing with bad-smelling clothes right now and need a quick fix,
don’t worry! There are ways you can freshen them up, even if you only have a few
minutes to spare.

Method
1 Washing Your Clothes

Wash your clothing often. The more you wear something, the
1 more it smells. If you’ve worn something several times, don’t store it
with your clean clothes, because that dirty smell can transfer to them.
Keep your dirty laundry completely separate from your clean clothes.
While some items should only be worn once before washing them, other
items can be worn several times before they start to smell. Try to wash
sweaty or very dirty clothes as soon as possible after wearing them. [1]
• Leggings, shirts, socks, swimsuits, tights, camisoles, tank tops and
underwear should be washed after each wearing.
• Dresses, jeans, slacks, pajamas, shorts, and skirts can be worn up
to three times before washing.
• You can wear a bra two to three times before it will need to be
washed. Consider buying several bras, so that you never have to
wear the same bra two times in a row.
• You can wear a suit three to five times before it will need to be dry
cleaned. Suits worn to clean environments, such as offices, can last
 longer between cleaning. Suits worn to smoky or smoggy
environments will need to be cleaned more often.

Use scented laundry detergent or essential oils. Most laundry

2 detergents have a fresh scent, but some are more strongly scented
than others. Look for brands that advertise a specific scent on their
labels. Always use the recommended amount of detergent. It’s tempting
to pour in a little extra, but this can leave a residue and actually cause
clothes to smell bad.[2] If you’d rather avoid commercial perfumes, try
adding ten to twenty drops of essential oil to the washing machine
during the final rinse cycle.[3]
• Make sure you like the smell before purchasing a scented detergent,
since they tend to be a little pricier. Unscrew the cap and give it a
quick sniff in the store.
• Experiment with essential oils to find your favorites. Don’t be afraid
to combine different oils to create a custom scent.

Remove items from the washing machine as soon as possible.

3 After running a load of laundry through a wash cycle, try to take out
your clothing quickly. Hang the items up to dry or transfer them to the
dryer immediately. Leaving wet clothes in the washer too long causes
mildew to form, which can create a musty and unpleasant odor on your
clothing. If you accidentally forget about clothes in the washing machine
and they become mildewed, you can easily deodorize them with white
vinegar.[4]
• Pour one cup of white vinegar in the detergent dispenser and wash
the mildewed clothes again.
• This will get rid of the bad smell, but if you want your clothes to
smell good, you may want to follow that up with another cycle using
detergent.[5]

Deep clean your washing machine with vinegar every six

4 months. Over time, washing machines can develop unpleasant
odors from mold and mildew, which then transfers to your clothes. Start
with an empty washing machine. Add two to four cups of white vinegar
to the detergent dispenser. Run a complete cycle on the highest and
hottest setting. Add one cup of baking soda and run another cycle. Wipe
down the inside and top of the washer with a microfiber cloth.[6]
• If you prefer, you can use bleach or a commercial washing machine
cleaner instead of vinegar.
 • If you use bleach, wash white clothing in the first laundry load after
cleaning.
• Leave the lid or door open when you’re not using it. Closing it traps
in moisture and allows mildew and odor-causing bacteria to grow.

Method
2 Drying Your Clothes

Make sure clothes are completely dry before putting them

1 away. If you fold and put away damp clothes, they can start to grow
mildew and smell sour. If you remove an item from the dryer and it’s still
damp, dry it for another fifteen minutes or so. You can also hang the
item up to air-dry the rest of the way.

Use dryer sheets or essential oils. Dryer sheets leave your

2 clothes smelling nice while also keeping them soft and static-free.
Simply toss a dryer sheet into the dryer with a load of freshly washed
laundry and proceed as you normally would. If you have a scented
detergent that you prefer, check to see if the brand sells dryer sheets
with the same scent.
• You can also scent your clothing by putting a few drops of essential
oils on a scrap of fabric, then tossing it into the dryer with the rest of
your laundry.
• Always discard dryer sheets after one use.

Maintain your dryer. Always clean the lint trap after each drying
3 cycle. Lingering lint can trap odors and transfer them to your
clothes. Take out the lint trap and clean it at least once per year with
mild detergent and warm water. Soak a microfiber cloth in a 1:1 hot
water and white vinegar solution and wipe down the inside of the dryer
drum at least once every month.
• You can also soak a few towels with vinegar and run them through a
drying cycle. The vinegar will kill any odor-causing bacteria.

Hang your clothes up to dry. Some people prefer to skip the dryer
4 and perfumes altogether by hanging clothes on a rack or a drying
line outside. Air-drying outside can leave a fresh, clean smell on your
clothes.[7] If you are drying clothes outside, sunlight may cause some
 fabrics to fade. When drying inside, make sure the room is well-
ventilated or hang them near an open window.
• If you have white clothes, hang them out in the sun. Not only will the
sun brighten them, but the open air will leave them smelling nice
and fresh.
• Keep in mind that air-dried clothes will not be as soft as clothes
dried in a dryer.

Method
3 Storing Your Clothes

Put scented sachets and dryer sheets in your dresser and

1 closet.[8] Freshen up your closet and dresser with sachets filled with
your favorite dried herbs, flowers and spices. You can use store-bought
sachets or make your own by filling cloth bags with potpourri or herbs
and tying them shut with a piece of string. Tuck the sachets in your
dresser drawers and hang them in your closet from a hanger.
• You can use dryer sheets in a similar way to absorb odors and
freshen cloths. Tuck them in your shoes and slip them into dresser
drawers and closet shelves.

Use essential oils or perfumes.[9] Put two to five drops of your

2 favorite essential oil/perfume on a scrap of fabric, paper towel or
cotton balls. Place them in closets and dresser drawers. You can also
put a few drops of essential oil on the inside walls of a dresser drawer.
Let the oil dry before putting your clothes inside the drawer. Try using
scented candles and soaps as fresheners, too.
• Place an unlit candle or a bar of scented soap wrapped in cloth in
your closet or in a dresser drawer.
• You can even use a bath bomb as an air freshener in a closet.

Spray an air freshener or disinfectant in your closet. Usually

3 these will only mask bad smells, not remove them. The most
effective kind would be an odor-neutralizing formula that also smells
nice, like Febreze. You can also make your own air freshener by
combining ½ cup white vinegar and ½ cup water in a spray bottle with
ten drops of your favorite essential oil.
 • Spray this in your closet every few days.
• The vinegar smell disappears after a few minutes, leaving only the
scent behind.[10]

Use a strongly scented wood as a natural freshener. [11] Cedar

4 and sandalwood are popular choices. Put a piece or two into your
closet to infuse your clothing with the smell. Cedar is known to keep
bugs away and it also absorbs moisture. Moisture is one of the main
culprits behind that musty smell on your clothes.

Absorb bad odors with baking soda. Place an open container of

5 baking soda at the bottom of your closet or in the corner of a
dresser drawer. If you like, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil
to the baking soda for an additional scent. Make your own baking soda
freshener by taking a small jar and filling it loosely with baking soda.
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and mix it with a fork. Poke
a few holes into the lid using a nail and hammer, then put the lid onto
the jar.
• You can simply not use a lid, as well. This isn’t recommended if you
have small children or curious pets, however.
• Sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes to soak up bad odors. Be
sure to dump it out of your shoes the next day!

Method
4 Freshening Up Clothing and Preventing Odors

Fluff your clothes in the dryer. If you’re in a hurry and need your
1 clothes to smell nice fast, put them in the dryer for a fifteen minutes
with a couple of scented dryer sheets. This won’t get your clothes clean,
but it will refresh your clothes, make them smell better and get the
wrinkles out.

Spray a white vinegar solution on them. Mix equal parts of white

2 vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Turn your clothes inside out and
spray the garment with it. Hang the clothes up and let them air-dry for a
few minutes. The vinegar smell will go away after a few minutes and
won’t be detectable when it dries.
• Test the vinegar solution on a small area of the garment before
spraying the whole thing with it. As long as the color doesn’t run and
there’s no visible change to the item, it is safe for you to use.
 Spritz perfume. It is best to spray the perfume directly onto your
3 body and then get dressed. You can spray perfume directly on your
clothes if the item is made out of natural fibers, like cotton and linen.
Avoid spraying synthetic fibers, such as polyester, with perfume. Be
aware that some perfumes can stain light-colored items and damage
silk.

Keep your house clean. Clothes can absorb odors, so if your

4 house doesn’t smell so great, neither will your clothes. Clean, dust
and vacuum your home regularly, especially the rooms that contain
clothing. Use air fresheners and avoid smoking inside the house.

Air out your clothes after wearing them. When you get home
5 from school or work, take off your clothes and hang them by an
open window. This can help reduce odors and refresh your clothes. This
is especially helpful if you wear a uniform and don’t want to wash it
every day.

Keep dirty clothes and clean clothes separated. Never leave

6 your dirty clothes near or on top of your clean clothes, because the
smell can transfer. Place dirty items in a hamper, preferably in another
room. Avoid putting wet or damp items into the hamper. Let the damp
item dry before putting it into the laundry basket. Putting damp items
into your laundry basket will cause odor-causing bacteria and mildew to
grow.

Community Q&A

Question

Is it good to use tablet soap to wash my clothes?

Community Answer

No, I wouldn't recommend this as it can dry out your clothes, making
them stiff.
 Question

What can I use if I don't have a dryer?

Community Answer

Indoors, I put the clothes on a clothes horse, put a fan on one side
blowing air over the clothes, and a dehumidifier on the other side to
absorb moisture. The clothes dry in about 2 hours and it uses about
one third of the electricity of drying them in a dryer. You could also
choose to just hang the clothes out to dry without the fans.

Question

What to do if I don't have a washing machine or vinegar and baking

soda?

Community Answer

Just wash them out by hand in the sink, bathtub, dishpan or a bucket.

Question

My husband smokes like crazy. Every time I wash clothes, the

clothes still smell. What can I do?

Community Answer

Try helping him stop or wash them and then spray something that
smells nice in your house and then spray something nice on your
clothes and tell him to smoke outside.

Question

Without washing them, how can I make my clothes have a nice

smell?

Community Answer
 In a pinch, you could use perfume or cologne. Just don't drench them
in it.

Question

What if I share a closet?

Community Answer

Discuss it with the person that you share a closet with, and see if they
are interested. If they are not, be sure to only keep it on your side of
the closet.

Question

How do I make my clothes smell good if I have no perfume or air

freshener?

Community Answer

Wash them more often and keep them away from foul smelling odors.
Try to use scented soaps and buy perfume at the store, even if it is
cheap, to use specifically for your clothes.

References

1. http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/do_i_need_to_wash_this.asp
x
2. https://www.persil.co.uk/laundry-tips/why-does-my-washing-smell-how-to-
get-smells-out-of-clothes/
3. https://draxe.com/essential-oil-uses-benefits/
4. http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-mildew-smell-from-laundr
y/
 5. http://blog.thelaundress.com/wordpress/project/tips-tricks-for-cleaning-wit
h-vinegar/
6. http://www.today.com/series/how-often-should-you/how-clean-washing-m
achine-t20131
7. http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/laundry-linens/clothes/dry-clothes/#pag
e=0
8. https://brightnest.com/posts/9-easy-ways-to-make-your-closet-and-clothe
s-smell-good
9. https://brightnest.com/posts/9-easy-ways-to-make-your-closet-and-clothe
s-smell-good
10. http://www.diynatural.com/white-vinegar-cleaning-laundry-more/
11. https://brightnest.com/posts/9-easy-ways-to-make-your-closet-and-clothe
s-smell-good