How to Stop Wet Clothes From Smelling: 10 Steps

The Ten Minutes Right After Getting Rained On Decide the Smell

Strip wet clothes off right away, blot and spread them out, then wash by the care label and dry quickly to keep odor from setting in.

The smell in rain-soaked clothes comes mostly from bacteria multiplying in damp fabric. That is why the hours before the wash matter about as much as the wash itself. Most people get tripped up on three questions: whether to add extra detergent, whether hotter water is always better, and whether to let clothes partly dry before washing.

This list favors steps you can realistically do at home over a perfect fix. The ten steps run in time order, from the moment you peel off wet clothes through drying and storage, with the biggest odor-prevention moves placed earliest.

How we chose

Can you do it at home without special tools?
Does it directly reduce what causes the smell?
Is the risk of damaging the fabric low?

If you just got home, start at number 1. If you already washed and the smell lingers, check from number 4.

Take wet clothes off the moment you're home

Staying in rain-soaked clothes for long chills your body and chafes the skin. The longer moisture sits in the fabric, the more the bacteria behind the smell can multiply. As soon as you're through the door, take the clothes off and press the water out with a towel. Wringing and rubbing can pill the fabric or twist its shape, so blotting is the safer move. The later you start, the harder every later step becomes.

Spread them out somewhere with airflow before washing

On days you can't run the washer right away, don't leave wet clothes balled up. Hang them or lay them flat near a window or fan so the surface water drops fast. You don't need them fully dry; just taking away the clamminess slows the odor a great deal. Avoid unventilated spots like a closed bathroom, and leave space between pieces so they don't press against other laundry and hold the damp in.

Check the care label before setting water temperature

Before washing, check the care label sewn inside the garment. The water temperature shown is the upper limit that piece can take. Warmer water helps reduce odor-causing bacteria, but if the label says cold or around 30 degrees, follow it to avoid shrinking and warping. If the label has worn off, play it safe with lukewarm water or cooler, and wash dark colors separately from the rest of the load.

Use just the right amount of detergent

When you're worried about smell, it's tempting to add more detergent, but that usually backfires. Leftover suds cling to the fibers, hold moisture, and bring back a musty smell later. Use the amount printed on the bottle for your load size, and a little less for small loads with little water. Wipe the washer's rubber door seal and detergent drawer now and then too, so the machine itself doesn't add odor.

Don't skimp on the rinse cycle

If clothes still smell after the wash, suspect a weak rinse first. On heavy garments or big loads, a single standard rinse may leave suds behind, so adding one extra rinse cycle is a good idea. When hand-washing, keep changing the water until it runs clear and the fabric no longer feels slippery. It's a hassle, but this one step often decides whether the clothes smell fine once dry.

Consider dry cleaning for delicate fabrics

Wool, silk, and some tailored fabrics with no wash symbol, or any piece you fear will shrink, are better not forced through a home wash. If the care label shows dry cleaning, take it to the cleaner, and dry the garment out quickly first rather than leaving it damp. Telling the shop it got rained on and smells helps them handle it. Prices and turnaround vary by shop, so check ahead.

Start drying the second the wash finishes

Clothes that just finished spinning look nearly dry but are still damp inside. Left in the drum, that closed, humid space brings the smell back quickly. When the cycle ends, take them out right away, shake out the wrinkles, and hang them up. If you won't be home to hang them, skip the delayed-start setting and time the wash for when you return. Give each piece plenty of space on the rack.

Sun-dry cotton, shade-dry anything with color

Cotton dried fully in sun and breeze rarely holds onto odor. Dark colors, printed pieces, and performance fabrics can fade or wear in direct sun, so dry them in the shade with good airflow instead. On humid days, such as the rainy season, run a dehumidifier or fan alongside to cut drying time. Turning thick parts inside out when hanging helps them dry more evenly.

If the dryer's safe, go high heat

If the care label allows machine drying, the dryer is the fastest and most reliable option. High heat helps reduce odor-causing bacteria, and since clothes dry right after the spin, the damp window stays short. But wool, knits, and stretchy fabrics can shrink or warp, so always check the label, and use low heat or air drying if it doesn't apply. Empty the lint filter every cycle to keep the dryer efficient.

Only store clothes once they're completely dry

Even if clothes look dry, pockets, seams, and hood linings often stay damp inside. Putting them in the closet spreads the smell and can lead to mildew spots. Touch the thick areas to check they don't feel cool or clammy, and when in doubt, hang them another day. Don't pack the closet tight, and add a dehumidifier packet so air can move. Replace it as the product instructions say.

How to choose

If you just came in from the rain, numbers 1 and 2 come first. Taking the clothes off and pulling out moisture makes every later step easier. If the smell survived the wash, check numbers 4 and 5, detergent amount and rinsing, and if drying is the problem, look at numbers 7 through 9.

For delicate pieces like wool or silk, think of number 3, reading the label, and number 6, dry cleaning, first. For everyday clothes, the dryer at number 9 is the easiest. Finally, the habit in number 10, feeling that clothes are truly dry before storing them, stops the smell from coming back. Conditions differ by fabric and appliance, so this is general guidance that may change; check your washer and dryer manuals and each garment's care label.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just toss wet clothes straight into the hamper?

Sealing damp clothes in a closed hamper makes the smell worse. Wash within half a day if you can. If that's not realistic, spread them out somewhere with airflow first; even partially drying them slows odor a lot.

What gets rid of the smell for good?

Follow the care label for water temperature, use the right amount of detergent, and dry as fast as possible after washing. If the fabric is dryer-safe, high heat helps reduce odor-causing bacteria.

Does the fabric change how I should handle it?

Cotton and linen dry fast and hold less odor. Polyester and nylon dry slowly and need extra attention, and wool and other natural fibers often can't take hot water or a dryer. Checking the label and ensuring airflow applies to every fabric.

Does more detergent mean less smell?

It's the opposite. Too much detergent doesn't rinse out fully, and the residue can cause a musty smell. Stick to the amount recommended on the bottle.

What if I can't hang clothes right after the wash?

Clothes left in the drum after spinning bring the smell back. If you can't hang them promptly, skip delayed start and time the wash for when you're home. For clothes already left too long, run one more rinse.

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How we chose

Take wet clothes off the moment you're homeUpvote

Spread them out somewhere with airflow before washingUpvote

Check the care label before setting water temperatureUpvote

Use just the right amount of detergentUpvote

Don't skimp on the rinse cycleUpvote

Consider dry cleaning for delicate fabricsUpvote

Start drying the second the wash finishesUpvote

Sun-dry cotton, shade-dry anything with colorUpvote

If the dryer's safe, go high heatUpvote

Only store clothes once they're completely dryUpvote