How to Clean Sour Clothes

Sour-smelling laundry is often caused by the growth of mildew within the washing machine. The dark, wet confines of a washing machine produce the right conditions for mildew to thrive. Excessive use of detergent without proper rinsing can create a residue on the fabrics that bacteria and mildew feed on. Wash away the sour smell and freshen your clothes with common household items. To prevent future problems, wash your clothes in smaller loads with hotter water, and remove the laundry from the washer as soon as possible.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Laundry detergent
• Sudsy ammonia

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Split the clothing into small loads, and place one in the washer.

   • 2

     Set the washing machine to the hottest water safe for the fabric and the largest load setting.

   • 3

     Add 1 cup of white vinegar and laundry detergent, according to the manufacturer's instructions, or 1 cup of sudsy ammonia without detergent. Allow the wash cycle to complete. If you use ammonia, rinse the clothes twice.

   • 4

     Remove the clothes immediately, and dry them in a dryer or on a clothesline.