If you forget the laundry in the washing machine or leave it in a damp room for a long time, the fabrics can develop a musty smell. To get rid of it, most often you just wash the clothes again. But you can also use quick life hacks.

OBOZREVATEL tells you how to restore freshness to things with the help of improvised means. It will take some time to process, but the result is worth it.

Drying in the sun

The smell of mustiness is caused by the development of certain bacteria in the fabric, and sunlight is a natural disinfectant. Therefore, to freshen things up, you can dry them in the sun. Lay out or hang your clothes in a sunny place. The ultraviolet rays will kill the bacteria that cause the unpleasant smell, and the fresh air will help to remove it. The main thing is to arrange things so that air can pass through them well.

White vinegar

Despite the fact that vinegar itself has a specific flavour, it is a good neutraliser for foreign odours. To make use of its properties, add a quarter cup of white vinegar to a bowl of water and soak your clothes in this solution for 30 minutes, then dry them in the open air.

Baking soda

A solution of baking soda will also help to eliminate the smell of mustiness. Dissolve half a cup of this product in a bowl of warm water and soak the items for 30 minutes, then dry them naturally.

Airing

In not very difficult cases, simply hanging the clothes in a well-ventilated place, ideally outside, can help. It takes a while to ventilate, but eventually the smell should disappear.

Odour neutralising sprays

There are sprays available on the market that are specifically designed to neutralise clothing odours. They can be useful when you don't have time to try other methods. But it is important to understand that they do not eliminate, but only mask the problem.

Vodka

Vodka, especially strong vodka, can help neutralise odours. Mix the drink with water in equal proportions, pour it into a spray bottle, and spray your clothes with the mixture. Then hang the clothes in a well-ventilated area to dry. The alcohol will help kill bacteria, and when it evaporates, it will remove the unpleasant odour.

Used tea bags

Tea bags, especially green tea bags, can help absorb odours. Dry the bag completely, place it where you want to get rid of the odour, and leave it overnight. The next day, the smell should disappear and you can throw the bag away.

Tumble dryer

If you have a tumble dryer, simply run the damp clothes through a drying cycle using fabric softener. This should remove the smell.

Washing

If the quick fixes don't work, you'll have to wash your clothes. This will definitely eliminate bacteria from the fabric and wash away the smell. And try not to forget to wash in the machine anymore.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told what things should not be washed with oxygen powder so as not to damage them.

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