13 Ways to Make Your Laundry Smell Better

The smell of fresh linen is so beloved that the scent can often be found in candles, essential oils, and even lotions. It's associated with a fresh, crisp, and clean scent, which is how your laundry should smell straight from the dryer. But, instead, sometimes clothes and linens come out smelling more musty than fresh, or they just lack any clean smell at all.

Luckily, we've got plenty of solutions to achieving that brand-new scent. If you’re wondering how to make laundry smell good without using scented laundry soap—and how to keep laundry smelling fresh between washes—these expert tips below will help.

1. Clean and Deodorize Your Washing Machine

Your clothes aren't the only things that need cleaned. Your washing machine needs routine maintenance and cleaning, too. “Over time and lots of laundry loads, washing machines can start to develop a musty smell from water, dirt, and detergent buildup,” says Kristen Higgins, consumer product testing expert at Purex.

To clean your washing machine, Higgins recommends running a hot, water-only cycle (no clothes) and adding either 1 quart of bleach or 1-2 cups of white vinegar to help eliminate the odor. Then, use the ‘Clean Washer’ or ‘Sanitize’ cycle—if your machine has that option—and if not, use the longest cycle possible. "This can help eliminate any buildup and reduce the risk of passing along any odors to clothes,” she explains.

She continues, adding: “If you have a front-loading machine, don’t forget to clean the rubber gasket that lines the machine’s door. While it helps prevent water from leaking out during a cycle, the gasket can also harbor dirt, soap scum, and stagnant water, leading to odor." To clean the rubber gasket, she recommends pulling it back and wiping it down with a damp rag and some white vinegar.

2. Wash Smaller Loads

The size of your laundry loads can also be a factor in how clean your laundry gets—and smells. “While running full laundry loads can save families money on water costs, it’s important not to overstuff your machine, as doing so can decrease the effectiveness of the wash, leaving behind lingering odors,” Higgins says. Divide your loads between clothing and bulkier items like bath towels.

Similarly, using too much detergent can also prevent your laundry from getting optimally clean. “[Using too much detergent] can create so many suds that it is difficult to rinse and prevents an effective clean," Higgins says. "Finding the perfect balance of load size and detergent dose will help keep your clothes looking clean and smelling fresh."

3. Remove Wet Laundry from the Washer ASAP

We're all probably guilty of forgetting about a load of laundry in the washer sometimes. However, letting wet clothes and linens sit for too long can quickly lead to musty smells and odors.

“Set a reminder or timer on your phone for a few minutes before your cycle ends to keep you on track," Higgins recommends. "And while it can be tempting to speed up the laundry process to get the chore over with, it’s important to make sure your laundry is completely dry before putting anything away. This will also help reduce odors not just on your clothes, but in your closet and dressers as well."

4. Hang Your Clothes Outdoors

A little fresh air is a cure for many things—unpleasant laundry smells included. “To make laundry smell better and remove odors, you’d be surprised what a gentle breeze and sunshine can do to help the process along," Wendy Saladyga, stain expert and senior manager of technical performance at Henkel for Persil ProClean Laundry Detergent, says. "Hanging odor-affected clothes, such as from campfire smoke, outside on a clothesline or even on the back of a chair outside in the breeze for a few hours can help release that initial smell."

For clothes with heavy odors, like smoke, Saladyga recommends washing them in a premium detergent that combines a boosted fresh scent with a deep clean. "If the smoke smell persists, try soaking the garment in detergent or an oxygen booster for an hour or more, then wash as usual," she says. "After washing, air dry your garment either outside or in an area with sufficient airflow,."

5. Pre-Treat Stains to Remove Odors

Some clothes need a little extra attention before you throw them into the wash. “If your clothes have some extra smelly spots, such as the underarms where deodorant buildup can lead to discoloration and a musty smell, try turning the garment inside out and pre-treat the area with a high-quality detergent packed with stain-fighting enzymes,” Saladyga advises.

She continues: "Simply pour enough liquid detergent on the area, rub it in with your hands or an old toothbrush, and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before washing as usual. This should help remove musty smells and get your laundry looking bright and fresh. You can also add a soaking step for extra odor-fighting."

6. Add Essential Oils

Using essential oils is another easy way to boost the smell of your laundry, and you can simply spray your clothing with your favorite essential oils before washing. However, Rick Rome, CEO and founder of WashClub, gives a note of caution. “You have to make sure that the essential oils are water-based soluble," he says. "If they are not, they can stain your clothes in the wash, and these stains are very difficult to remove. Approach this method with a lot of caution."

7. Use Organic Wool Dryer Balls or Homemade Dryer Sheets

Instead of only focusing on the wash cycle, Carol Mehas, cleaning expert and founder of arbOUR Products, has some suggestions for how some dryer additives can make your laundry smell better.

"Some great, natural alternatives to dryer sheets are organic wool dryer balls, which actually absorb moisture and odor in the dryer and are more eco-friendly [than dryer sheets] as they are used up to 20 to 30 times before losing their effectiveness, at which time they can be recycled,” she says.

Another option is to make your own dryer sheets. “Take old scraps of fabric or old washcloths and soak them in a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar with 20+ drops of essential oils of your choice, like rose or citrus," she says. "You can keep these moistened cloth scraps in a lidded jar and toss them into your dryer, and clothes come out smelling lovely, not synthetic."

8. Don’t Wait to Wash Your Activewear

Just as you shouldn't let your wet clothes sit in the washer for too long, you shouldn't let your sweaty gym clothes just sit in your hamper, either.

“Don’t wait to wash your gym clothes if you only do laundry once per week," Mehas says. "Ideally, you’d keep soiled and smelly synthetics in a separate breathable hamper to be sure that smells are able to escape until you can quickly pop in a load of your separated synthetics, or a quick hand wash would be a better option than leaving these clothes dirty for more than a few days."

Working quickly with exercise clothes is expecially important because of the science behind the fabrics, Mehas explains. "Once these odors cling to synthetic fabrics, they are even harder to remove because the fabrics are designed to interact with the germs mostly to repel them, but if not washed away, they actually bond with the grime-filled molecules and will always smell a bit stale."

9. Properly Store Your Laundry

“Storage can play a big role in keeping your clothing smelling fresh for longer," Rome says. "By storing your delicate clothes in cedar closets or chests, or even plastic covers, in an area outside of the sunlight, you can protect them from smells that enter your home."

He continues, adding: “For clothes that you wear a few times before washing, it’s important to store them correctly in between washes. Opposed to throwing these items in a pile or on top of your chair or couch, you should hang them up to air out before neatly folding them away in drawers or hanging them in a closet."

10. Scent Your Laundry with Sachets and Scent Bars

Sweet-smelling sachets or bars can be added to your drawers to help keep your laundry smelling great as it sits in your room.

"For example, a lavender sachet is great with your cotton underwear as it gently and naturally scents the fabric as you work your way through the drawer each week," Mehas says. “Sachets and scent bars are also a great addition to seasonal natural fabric clothing, such as winter wool coats and cozy fleece jackets that are tucked away for the season."

11. Use Baking Soda to Absorb Odors

Another easy way to prevent foul odors from seeping into your laundry is to use baking soda. It neutralizes odors versus masking them, so it’s a simple way to keep your laundry smelling good in between washes.

“Placing a small bowl of baking soda or an opened box of baking soda at the bottom of your wardrobe can also be extremely effective in absorbing any nasty odors,” Rome says.

Remember that keeping your washer clean and transferring wet laundry to the dryer is essential to preventing musty scents from leaching into your clothes and linens and will help your laundry smell better.

12. Wash In Cold Water

"Washing your fabrics in cool water is easier on your clothes- and your detergent's fragrance," says Yokoji. "High heat tends to soften the intensity of the fragrance." Some detergents, like those from The Laundress are crafted specially to perform well in cold water, fighting stains just as effectively as it would in hot or warm.

It's also important to note that washing your clothes with cold water is much more eco-friendly. According to The American Cleaning Institute, 90% of the energy used by the washing machine goes toward heating your water. Using cold water drastically decreases your carbon footprint.

13. Use a Fabric Conditioner (Sometimes)

Pairing your detergent with a same-scent conditioner or softener is a great way to re-double-up on your favorite smell. But make sure you're not using these products for every load. "Using too much can affect certain fabrics' absorbency," says Yojoki. "Do not use with delicates, synthetics, woolens, or moisture-wicking activewear."