Exact hours it takes for wet washing to go mouldy – it’ll make you think about leaving clothes in the washing machine
WE’VE all been there at some point – you’ve done a load of washing, but forgotten to take it out of the machine.
But how long is too long when it comes to wet laundry sitting in the kitchen appliance?
A hygiene and cleaning expert has had her say on the topic – and it might make you think twice about leaving clothes in there again.
Social media user Madame Sweat, whose TikTok name is @madamesweat, took to her profile to clear up the common question – can you leave wet laundry in the washer overnight?
In a video posted to her account, she asked: “Do you leave wet washing in your washer overnight?
“Then this video is for you.”
She then continued: “How many hours is too many hours before mould and mildew starts to grow?
“The rule of thumb generally is that if you’ve left them sitting wet for more than 12 hours, that’s the cutoff point.”
Madame Sweat said that ideally you would not leave it in the washing machine for more than half a day.
But she said that if you’ve made a mistake and exceeded this time, it’s not too late to rescue your clothes and other dirty laundry.
Instead, the cleaning pro said you need to take action immediately – as she revealed her mould-busting hack.
The TikToker revealed: “You need to rewash.
“And use half a cup of baking soda with your detergent to get rid of that mould and mildew.”
Other cleaning pros have also weighed in on the topic, with many agreeing with Madame Sweat that there’s a key time period we should all take note of.
The experts at website lifesavvy.com explained: “Oh no! You left your clothes in the washing machine for too long, and now they have a musty smell.
“That’s a relatable issue most of us have experienced at one time or another. While it’s okay sometimes, leaving clothes in the machine for too long will definitely necessitate a rewash.”
They went on to share how the “magic number” is “somewhere between eight and 12 hours.”
Any time after that, they warned that, due to the wet and warm conditions, bacteria can start to grow at a rapid rate.
And if you’re unsure of whether they’ve been sitting there for too long?
The cleaning pros shared how they would do the sniff test to make sure.
They continued: “If you’re uncertain that your clothes have sat for too long in the machine, the best way to tell is with your nose.
“Once that musty odour sets in—which can be as little as 8 hours—it’s not likely to go away in the dryer.”
So they also suggest re-washing – adding an extra top tip of rearranging your clothes to avoid them sticking together so that they get the “thorough wash” they’re in need of.
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