Usually, Some of us have those moments where we forget to take clothes out of the washing machine. This is a common mistake that can affect the wash results.
If you also did the same and want to know what happens when you forget to take clothes out of the washer and what to do about it, this post is for you.
Practically, forgetting to take clothes out of the washing machine for too long can lead to a few consequences, such as odor, wrinkles, Mold, and mildew and sometimes it can affect the fabric condition. However, if the load was wet, it is fine to leave it overnight in the drum.
Let’s understand what you should do to rescue your forgotten load.
Table of Contents
What Happens If You Forget to Take Clothes Out of Washer?
We have tested a few times to get real results on what could happen if someone forgets to take a load out of their washer. You may wonder about seeing these results.
First of all, doing this can or cannot affect the fabric as it depends on several factors. But, if the clothes are left for more than one day, the odor will come from the fabric.
Moreover, Clothes can develop mold and mildew if they sit in a damp drum environment for an extended period.
You would probably need to rewash them if your garments smell bad. In case the load was dry and accidentally left in the washer for a long time, it will wrinkle and may affect the quality of the fabric. Bacteria can also develop if the load is dealing with too damp environment in the washer’s drum.
However, it will not affect the performance of the washing machine, and your washer will work fine as it did before. The only thing that can be affected is the condition of your forgotten clothes.
Sometimes clothes made from delicate fabrics such as silk or wool can shrink or become misshapen if left in the washing drum for too long.
To Summarize
Your clothes are more likely to become smelly, and wrinkled or might need to be re-washed properly if you forget to take them out of your washing machine. However, you should check your clothes manually to verify what effect it has on garments.
What to Do If You Forgot Clothes in the Washer?
You have two ways to make your clothes fresh again if you’ve forgotten them in the washer. But, it depends on the condition of the fabric after this mistake to know which way will be best for you.
Rewashing them is the first option for you, and if the clothes are silly, you can simply air them. First, check which method is required by smelling and taking a deep look at the fabric.
If you want to rewash them, simply put them in your washer and run a wash cycle that you prefer. Consider adding a deodorizer solution with the detergent this time. Once the clothes get washed, dry them as you usually do.
In case you don’t prefer to rewash them, you can make them fresh by letting them air-dry outside. Once clothes get dried, take them from the clothesline.
Practically, Air-Dry is the best way to remove odors from clothes as fresh air and sunshine can help eliminate musty odors from them.
If you are still confused about whether you should air dry or rewash the forgotten load to rescue, here’s a helpful answer for you:
Basically, If your clothes have only been sitting in the washer for a few hours, they may just need to be air-dried to remove any excess moisture. On the other hand, if your garments have been sitting for longer(18 hours +), they may have developed a musty or mildew smell and may need to be rewashed.
You should also consider that Delicate fabrics, such as silk or wool, may not hold up well to being rewashed. So air drying may be the better option.
How Long Can Clothes Sit in the Washer?
Generally, how long can clothes sit in the washer largely depends on various factors such as the temperature, humidity, and the type of fabric. For instance, Most clothes should not sit in the washer for more than 8-12 hours after the washing cycle has ended.
You should take out the washed load immediately after ending the wash cycle or within 5 – 8 hours. In case you have a busy schedule, and you know you won’t be able to attend to your laundry immediately, it’s best to set a timer on your washing machine. Additionally, you can also set a reminder on your phone, so you don’t forget to remove the clothes from the washer.
We mentioned 8 hours is fine for leaving washed clothes in the washer because, in this time frame, clothes remain fresh and odor-free. But if it’s longer than 8 hours, chances are higher that the fabric could get a build-up of bacteria and mildew, which can cause unpleasant odors.
To summarize, it is recommended to remove clothes from the washer promptly after the washing cycle has ended, ideally within 8-12 hours. You can keep your clothes clean, fresh, and in good condition by doing this.
How to Get the Sour Smell Out of Clothes Left in the Washer?
If an unluckily sour smell comes into your clothes when you’ve left your clothes in the washing machine for too long, you can easily get the smell out of clothes with some simple methods.
The first option you have is to rewash the Clothes. You can do this by washing the clothes with hot water and laundry detergent. This will help in removing any remaining dirt or bacteria that may be causing the odor.
You can also add a cup of white vinegar to the washing machine during the rinse cycle. This is a natural deodorizer and is proven in removing lingering odors.
If you don’t have white vinegar or want to use it, you can also use baking soda. This is another natural deodorizer.
Another best option is to hang Clothes Outside. This is the most used method, which is free and easy to do. Just hang your clothes outside in the sun and fresh air after washing. The UV rays and fresh air will eliminate odors.
Lastly, you can also try out some Odor Eliminating Products. You easily find several commercial odor-eliminating products available in the market that you can use to remove sour smells from clothes. But in this case, you will have to check the compatibility of that solution with your fabric.
Bottom Line
Forgetting to take clothes out of the washing machine will not affect the appliance’s performance, but can affect the freshness and cleanliness of clothes. You will need to Air-Dry the load if it’s silly and has some smell, But if it’s more than 12 hours, you probably need to rewash the garments as bacteria, wrinkles, and mold-mildew may be developed.