How to Remove Odors From Clothes Without Washing? – Homeowners Guide

How to remove odors from clothes without washing? This is a question that many people, especially in the summer, ask themselves.

Not only is washing after once is tiring, but it can be a waste of water and detergent, especially when there isn’t any stain but just a distinct smell.

In this article, you will come across different ways to get rid of odors without putting in the work you don’t want to do.

So what are you waiting for? Read on!

Reasons For Smelly Clothes Even After One Use

There are many reasons why a recently washed garment can acquire smell, and it’s important to know what these reasons are so you can avoid them efficiently!

Before we dive in to fix your problem, let’s look at the root cause first:

The Amount of Detergent Used

The most common reason that could lead to a piece of clothing smelling awful with just one wear is overusing detergents.

When you do this, your shirt will have that sweet smell at the beginning, but with time it will lose its scent.

The reason for this is germs and bacteria will slowly develop in the underlying residue of detergent found in the deeper layers of the fabric, resulting in terrible smells.

Poor Storage Conditions

Another reason why your clothes can become a bit smelly after just one use is that you have poor storage conditions at home.

Leaving garments in places like drawers or even the washing machine itself without air circulation can lead to sweat getting trapped and having a bad odor later on.

Warmth and Humidity

This is a widespread cause that results in an unpleasant smell on your clothes, especially if you live in areas with hot weather and high levels of humidity.

Having high levels of warmth and humidity can actually create excellent conditions for bacteria to reproduce, and what comes along with these bacteria?

Foul odor, of course!

How to Remove Odors From Clothes Without Washing

We’ve all been there; we put our clothes in the hamper and then take them out a few hours later to find that they still smell.

But guess what? You can eliminate the nasty stench you smell on your clothes without putting them in the wash!

Follow these methods to remove any unwanted odor from garments without washing:

1. By Spraying Vodka

Spraying the clothing with plain clear vodka works remarkably well if the stench remains after a few days or if it’s a powerful stink.

Vodka contains alcohol properties that penetrate into the deep parts of your fabric and kill off any present germs, removing the bad odor successfully.

People who mostly use these remedies are professional performers who mainly sweat during the action. However, when it comes to getting the odor off your material, this works like a charm.

All you have to do is:

• Fill a spray bottle with plain unflavored vodka
• Label it so you don’t use it for something else
• Spray your clothing to remove the unwanted scent.

To get rid of odors, nothing beats pure, inexpensive vodka in a spray bottle.

This is a well-known performance hack for getting odors out of costumes that can't be washed or don't have time to be washed between shows.

So far, we’ve learned the reasons why smelly clothing could happen in the first place.

We’ve also discovered that vodka has a powerful aroma and can cover up bad smells thanks to its alcohol properties that kill germs that cause the unwanted scent.

It is a great way to get rid of bad odors on clothes and even around the home. It’s also a great thing to keep on hand for when you need it!

2. Baking Soda and Essential Oil Combination

Baking soda has proven its purpose for being an effective deodorizer, cleaner, and deep cleanse on clothes and counters and almost everything you can find in the house.

Baking soda absorbs odors in garments in the same way it absorbs odors in your fridge or freezer. The product works like tiny sponges, absorbing body oils and odors while leaving garments feeling fresh.

You may accomplish this by sprinkling baking soda over your shirt, allowing it to rest for as long as possible, and then shaking off the powder. But if you want a more practical approach, then grab your essential oil!

Essential oils are known to eliminate bad smells because of their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Here’s how to do it:

• Fill a spray bottle with water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
• Mix together before adding 5 drops of essential oil.
• Shake before spritzing the solution on the clothing.
• Allow at least 15 minutes for it to sit.
• Brush off any remaining residue.

In this section, we’ve discovered that baking soda is a natural deodorizer that helps in absorbing smells.

It works great with essential oil that is known to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, which kills bacteria that may be causing the unpleasant odor.

We also showed you the best way to use these ingredients for your garments!

3. Using The Powers of Lemon Juice

What if you don’t have any vodka, baking soda, or essential oil on hand? Then grab the lemons on your countertop and squeeze out some of its juice!

Lemon juice may also be used to eliminate odors in your garments without having to put them in the washing machine.

It is a natural deodorant with a nice scent, making it an excellent tool for removing musty odor from clothes.

Here’s what you should do instead:

• Juice a couple of lemons, then place it on a bowl.
• Add 1/2 cup of warm water and mix. Allow mixture to cool.
• Spray the solution on the affected area.
• Let the clothing soak for 30 minutes to an hour.
• Spray cold water and as usual, hang it outdoors to dry.

Remember, since lemon has moderate bleaching effects, it's better to keep this one for white garments.

If you’re looking for a natural remedy, then this remedy is great for you.

We have shown how awesome lemon is in getting rid of unpleasant smells thanks to its natural deodorizing properties, which leaves off a fresher scent.

4. Let The Sun Remove Bad Odors From Clothes

Have you ever noticed that your clothes smell better after being in the sunlight?

The reason for this is because of a natural chemical reaction between ultraviolet light and nitrogen-containing compounds called nitrous oxide.

These reactions produce molecules such as nitric acid, nitrites, and ammonia; all used to kill off germs and destroy any dirt found in the deep layers of your fabric. This means they’re perfect at getting rid of bad odors in clothes!

Hanging your clothing outside your house under direct sunlight is the easiest way to freshen up your garments without washing it.

Make sure you use hangers or clips to keep your shirt from blowing away in the wind. Allow at least an hour for the item to sit outdoors, or longer if time permits.

Sunlight is the best remedy you have been waiting for. A treatment that doesn’t require any ingredients but the sun’s natural heat and the air the wind makes.

In this section, we were able to go over how effective the sun’s rays are at killing off germs, leading to better and fresher smelling clothes.

Read Next: How to Clean your room perfectly?

The Final Sayings

Now that you’ve reached the end of this article, you are more aware of how to remove odors from clothes without washing them.

Regardless of what the smell is, the ultimate goal is to get rid of this and make the clothes smell fresher than it is.

Failing to do this will not only be embarrassing but it can affect your reputation and image as well.

So, whenever you have plans to go out and wear something you haven’t washed, just remember this article and the tips and tricks we’ve tackled!