Rainy days with damp air can easily make your clothes smell musty and damp. Here are 5 tips to re-wash your rain-soaked clothes to prevent stains and musty odors.
1 Should I re-wash rain-soaked clothes?
You should re-wash rain-soaked clothes. As rainwater contains a lot of impurities, when it soaks into the fabric of your clothes, it can create favorable conditions for bacteria to grow, thereby causing a musty odor and mildew and staining your clothes yellow.
If the sun comes out after the rain and dries your clothes, you may not notice the musty smell. But when you wear them and start sweating or get caught in the rain again, the musty odor will appear immediately.
Therefore, when your clothes get wet in the rain, it is recommended to re-wash them, although not as thoroughly as the first time. This will help prevent stains, mildew, and odors when wearing the clothes.
Re-wash rain-soaked clothes
2 Tips for re-washing rain-soaked clothes
Wring out clothes after washing
It is recommended to wring out clothes by hand or using a washing machine with a spin-dry function after washing, and then hang them to dry immediately to speed up the drying process. This will help to save drying time and reduce the risk of stains and mildew.
Wring out clothes after washing
Soak in fabric softener
After washing your clothes, it is recommended to soak them in fabric softener for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow the fragrance to penetrate deep into the fabric fibers. This will help your clothes retain their pleasant scent for longer and prevent musty odors caused by rainwater.
Soak in fabric softener
Hang clothes to dry in the morning
When your clothes get wet in the rain, it is advisable to re-wash and hang them to dry in the morning when there is more sunlight, as this will help them dry faster and reduce the risk of mildew and musty odors.
Hang clothes to dry in the morning
Dry and iron clothes
If you live in an area with limited space or sunlight, you can use a dryer to dry your clothes and then hang them outside for a short period before wearing them.
After drying, it is recommended to iron your clothes to straighten them and further reduce any remaining moisture that could cause odors. Avoid air-drying clothes with a fan, as the weak airflow may not effectively eliminate the musty smell.
Dry and iron clothes
Clothing storage
Ensure that your clothes are completely dry before storing them away. If they are still damp, bacteria may grow and cause unpleasant odors. You can fold or hang your clothes in a wardrobe, and for items like blankets and curtains, place them in plastic bags with moisture-absorbing packets to prevent mold and musty smells.
Proper clothing storage
These are the 5 tips to re-wash your rain-soaked clothes to prevent stains and musty odors. We hope you find this information useful. Keep these tips in mind for future reference!