Do Clothes Need to be Washed After Being Exposed to Rain?

1. Can clothes that get rained on while drying be washed again?

If clothes are exposed to rain while drying, it is recommended to wash them again. Rainwater contains impurities that can combine with the fabric fibers, creating an environment for bacteria growth and causing unpleasant odors and mold.

Even if the sun comes out after rain and the clothes appear to be dry, wearing them in conditions where your body sweats or getting them slightly wet can lead to immediate unpleasant odors. Therefore, it is best to wash these clothes again, although it doesn’t require a thorough wash like before, to minimize the occurrence of unpleasant odors when wearing them.

Should clothes that are being dried and get rained on be washed again to avoid the appearance of unpleasant odors and mold

2. Considerations when washing clothes that are rained on

When washing clothes that have been rained on, it is important to consider the following:

Soaking in fabric softener

To help clothes retain their fragrance and reduce odors caused by rainwater, it is recommended to soak them in fabric softener for 10 – 15 minutes. This allows the chemicals in the fabric softener to penetrate deep into the fabric fibers.

Soaking clothes in fabric softener for 10 – 15 minutes helps retain fragrance longer

Choose the appropriate drying time

When deciding to wash clothes that have been rained on, it is best to wash them as soon as possible and preferably in the morning. This allows the clothes to receive more sunlight, minimize dampness, and have enough time to dry.

Prioritize drying clothes in the morning to allow for more sunlight and reduce odors

Wring clothes before drying

To speed up the drying process, it is recommended to thoroughly wring the clothes after washing. This can be done using your hands or a washing machine with a spin-dry mode.

Wring clothes before drying to speed up the drying process

Drying and ironing clothes

If the drying area is limited or lacks direct sunlight, using a dryer or clothes drying rack can be considered. These options help effectively dry clothes. Additionally, using a clothes steamer after ironing can straighten the clothes and reduce wetness, which can cause unpleasant odors.

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Storing clothes

Before storing clothes, ensure they are completely dry. Damp clothes can still develop unpleasant odors. For blankets and pillows, storing them in nylon bags with moisture-proof packets can help minimize mold and bacteria growth that cause odors.

Soft blankets can be stored in a nylon bag with a moisture-proof packet to reduce odors caused by moisture

3. Tips for drying clothes quickly

Soak clothes in hot water

After washing clothes, soaking them in 60-degree hot water before squeezing them out and hanging them can help accelerate the drying process due to the evaporation of hot water.

Soaking clothes in 60-degree hot water helps clothes dry faster

Hang clothes inside out

For thicker clothes like trousers and jeans, hanging them inside out with the waistband and pockets facing down can help shorten the drying time.

Hanging clothes inside out helps clothes dry faster

Iron before drying

Using an iron before drying can help quickly evaporate water or moisture from clothes, resulting in faster drying.

Ironing clothes helps remove some moisture and saves drying time

Design a suitable indoor drying area

When drying clothes, prioritize areas with more sunlight, such as rooftops, balconies, or garden areas. If space is limited, you can design a drying area indoors. Using a dehumidifier in air-conditioned rooms can effectively remove moisture from clothes and reduce unpleasant odors. Spacing out clothes on the clothesline and using hangers can also aid in faster drying by allowing moisture to evaporate more quickly.

You can dry clothes in an air-conditioned room with a dehumidifying function to help clothes dry faster

Use a clothes dryer or drying machine

Using a clothes dryer or drying machine can significantly reduce drying time, save energy, and minimize the risk of clothes being rained on while drying.

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Roll clothes in a dry towel

After wringing clothes by hand, rolling them in a dry and thin towel can help absorb the remaining moisture and speed up the drying process.

This method, followed by hanging the clothes to dry, can be surprisingly effective in shortening drying time.

Roll clothes in a dry towel before drying to speed up the drying process

These tips will help you better understand how to handle clothes on damp days, especially when washing clothes that have been exposed to rain while drying, in order to prevent unpleasant odors from occurring.