Struggling with a couple of musty-smelling fabrics but don’t have access to a washing machine? Want to know how to take the smell out of clothes without washing? I’m right there with you.
Doing laundry can be a hassle for all of us – it takes time, effort, and a lot of energy! It also costs a lot of money – between the detergents, fabric softeners, stain removers, not to mention how much money we end up spending actually doing a wash load in the first place!
However, the biggest problem that comes with doing laundry is the impact that it has on the environment. Although we may not always think about it, doing laundry in the way that most of us do each day actually has a terrible impact on the world around us.
Thankfully, there are ways in which we can reduce the amount that we do laundry, both helping the environment and ourselves! One of the best ways of doing that is by using our clothes more between washes – but, that’s not always sanitary – and yes, it’s going to cause a stink.
Keep reading, and I’ll take you through how to freshen up clothes without washing them constantly.
How damaging is it to the environment when we wash our clothes?
Many of us do not tend to think about how damaging simply doing our laundry can be to the environment – however, sadly, it does have a huge, measurable impact. The detergents that we use may smell great, but they contain harsh chemicals that pollute the ground and waterways during every cycle.
Synthetic clothing, too, can also release plastic particles into the water as it is being washed, further contaminating the waterways.
Then, of course, there is the amount of power that we use. Simply using the washing machine, then the dryer, then an iron, a press, a radiator – the list goes on – they all leave a huge carbon footprint that you can feasibly reduce.
That is why it is so essential for us to reduce the amount that we use our washing machines, or at least learn how to use them in a more environmentally friendly way.
How to take the smell out of clothes without washing them
The great news is, it’s easy to remove a musty smell from clothes without washing. Save yourself some water, energy and even money – as well as the environment – and try these top tips.
Hang up your clothes
The first and easiest thing that you can do is hang your clothes up, mainly so that they do not affect the smell of your other garments. What’s more, some fresh air will likely do clinging odors some good.
If you have a garden or a balcony, then hanging them outside is a great idea, as a fresh breeze can work wonders with milder scents and smells. Within about a day, softer smells will disappear, although stronger stenches make take longer to deal with. If you can leave them out for a few days, do so.
Spray your clothes with white vinegar
White vinegar is an amazing, natural go-to cleaning product for most of us because it is so widely available – and trust me, it really is a miracle cure when it comes to all kinds of nuisance cleaning jobs.
All you need to start with is a spray bottle, and to fill it about halfway with white vinegar, then the other half with water. It is best to test the solution on a patch first to ensure that it will not change the color of your clothes – although it shouldn’t have any lasting impact (apart from getting rid of musty smells, of course).
Not keen on vinegary scents? You could also add some essential oil to the spray bottle to help make your clothes smell extra fresh. The vinegar stink will disappear after time, especially if you leave your clothes out to hang.
Use white vinegar more often in your cleaning routines, and you’ll soon find that that sharp scent doesn’t stick around. Trust me on this!
Freeze your clothes
Yes – if you’ve got space in your freezer amongst your frozen vegetables and ice cream, freezing your clothes can actually help to get rid of some nasty smells. In fact, putting your clothes through any extreme temperature will help a lot!
Now, freezing your clothes does take some time. In fact, it is best if you leave them overnight in a reusable, zip-lock bag to avoid having to dry them out when you get them out of the freezer the next day.
Then, leave them out to hang for a while so they aren’t too stiff when you put them on, and you should be good to go! The great thing about this is that if you’re already running a freezer, you’re not using any additional energy than usual.
Spray your white clothes with lemon water
Lemon water is yet another natural cleaning product with many fans – as it disinfects, cleans deeply, and leaves a fresh fragrance. It can also be used on clothes to remove some lingering odors.
However, it is best to use it on white, or very light colored clothes, as lemon can actually bleach them, especially when left out in the sun.
To mix appropriately, use one tablespoon of lemon juice in one cup of water, add to a spray bottle, then spray onto your clothes. Lemon water works particularly well on gross underarms and trousers, as it neutralizes bad odors that hang around for long periods.
Steam your clothes
Clothes steamers tend to be great at getting creases out of our garments – but believe it or not, they can also help to remove nasty or pungent odors, too. As mentioned above, extreme temperatures are always likely to neutralize smells on sight.
Clothes steamers are perhaps the last ports of call you should consider in this list as they will use some power and water. However, compared to the water and electricity you’d normally expect from a washing machine, it’s altogether the kinder, more sustainable smell removal option.
How can I wash my clothes in a more sustainable manner?
Of course, there will always come times when we need to wash our clothes! You shouldn’t have to wear dirty clothes or clothes that may have lost their shape – or may not even be comfortable any more. Yes, we can all do with washing our clothes a little less, but there are ways of making sure that we clean them in the most sustainable way possible.
Don’t be afraid to lower your washing temperatures
The first thing that you can do is wash your clothes on a cooler setting. Washing them between 86 and 100 degrees F will do perfectly well, regardless of what the label tells you! They will come out just as clean and fresh as they would from a hot wash, and you will have used far less energy in the process.
Wash more clothes at once
The second thing that you can try is stick to bigger wash loads. Avoid washing just one or two things at a time. This can be tricky if you live alone, but if you find that you only need to wash some underwear or a few shirts, then try hand washing them instead.
If you live near a friend or have a neighbor who lives alone, then you can always try doing your washing together, too. This will help to ensure that only one washing machine is in use – and that you’re maximizing the energy you use, rather than letting it go to waste.
Try washing by hand
Hand washing is a great option if you have a sink or tub to hand, and will use a lot less water and energy than washing machines.
Of course, washing by hand is by no means foolproof when it comes to getting rid of nasty smells and stains, so take this option with a pinch of salt.
Swap out your detergents
Choosing the right detergent will also have a huge impact on your washing. Eco-friendly detergent can be expensive, but choosing a natural, low waste option It will not contain anything near the same amount of harsh chemicals as normal laundry detergent, and it will smell just as nice. Many eco-friendly detergents even work harder than their chemical counterparts at getting clothes clean – give them a go!
Make use of mother nature
Finally, the best way to clean your clothes sustainably actually has nothing to do with the washing. The best thing you can do is dry your wet laundry naturally. If you live in a rural area and have a garden, it’s worth investing in a washing line or even setting up a line of your own with string. You can attach them to trees, posts, or free-standing clothes dryers.
This is a much friendlier option compared to running clothes through tumble dryers, or even leaving wet garments to hang in front of radiators (if you have them). If there’s any way you can save electricity or gas, you’ll be doing your bit for the planet.
Clothes will naturally dry without you having to do anything, depending on where you hang them. Depending on how hot or windy it is outside, your clothes could dry within hours, possibly even fewer than they would in a dryer!
Even in the winter, relying on the heat inside your home is more than enough to dry your clothes, and it is a great way of ensuring that you can dry clothes in the most eco-friendly way possible. If you’re already powering up the central heating, piggyback on that energy and use your radiators to dry clothes. It’s powering up during the warmer months that makes little sense.
Summary
Getting nasty smells out of clothes really doesn’t have to be a chore, and you shouldn’t ever have to waste energy in the process. Knowing how to remove underarm odor from clothes without washing, for example, might be as simple as letting them air out – or, if all else fails, freezing them overnight.
Got any tips you’d like to share? What’s a kind way of removing clothing smells that’s worked well for you in the past? Let me know!
Originally posted 2022-05-11 16:32:10.