It happens to the best of us: you put on a load of washing and forget all about it.
So how long can you leave wet washing in your washing machine?
Watch: How to upgrade your laundry
How long can wet clothes sit in a washing machine?
While you might think leaving your clothes wet in the washing machine overnight is fine, we have disappointing news.
Laundry Queen Nicole Gibson at Söka Australia, says the musty smell appears sooner than you think.
What happens if you leave clothes in the washing machine?
“So anything left in the machine with the door shut will start to smell after 1 hour, especially in our humid climate,” she says.
“Mould and mildew will grow after 24 hrs and rapidly increase the longer it’s left.”
While the sun is excellent for killing germs and bacteria, it’s not a match for the musty smell in your clothes.
“The bacteria causing these musty odours will remain in the clothes until rewashed, and depending on the degree of odour, they may even benefit from a hot wash,” says Nicole.
What to do if you forget about your washing
If you’re trying to save water and don’t want to run another complete cycle, Nicole has a solution for you!
“Alternatively, if you forget to hang out your wet washing, add a cap of the Norwex odour eliminator and select the rinse cycle.
“This odour eliminator has live enzymes that target and eliminate the bacteria causing odour, leaving your washing free from unwanted smells. It also saves water from not needing to put it on a full wash cycle.”
Tips for remembering your wet washing
If you keep forgetting about your washing, Nicole has some handy tips.
- set a delay timer on the machine so when you wake up or arrive home, your washing can be removed from the machine
- avoid putting a load on if you are not going to be home to hang it out
- check the weather forecast to prevent wet clothes from having no place to be hung up
- always leave the machine door ajar when not in use to reduce unwanted bacteria growth and odours
You might also like:
How to wash shoes in the washing machine
The only sain remover you need in your laundry
Why do my clothes feel crunchy? The common laundry mistake people make
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