Left Your Clothes in the Washer Too Long? Here’s How to Tell If They Need to Be Rewashed

Left Your Clothes in the Washer Too Long? Here’s How to Tell If They Need to Be Rewashed

When you’re doing a million things at once, it’s so easy to forget all about the load of laundry you threw in the wash—until you find it the next morning. Sound familiar? Then you may have wondered at what point your clothes need to be re-washed and whether you can simply dry them instead of rewashing. Well, we asked laundry experts the best way to handle this situation. Read on to learn what they said. 

How Long Can You Leave Laundry Sitting in the Washer?

The length of time clothes can safely sit in the washer depends on numerous variables, such as the temperature, materials, and type of washing machine you have, explains Anthony Sullivan, a spokesperson at OxiClean. “Warm, damp environments create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mildew, so a closed washer full of wet clothes can quickly become an issue,” Sullivan says. Heavier fabrics, such as towels, denim, and sweatshirts retain moisture and are more likely to develop odors, Sullivan explains. Although there are no hard rules, it’s usually best to rewash clothes after 24 hours—sometimes even after 8 to 12 hours if clothes are smelly. 

If we’re only talking a few forgotten hours, then your load is likely OK, according to Morgan LaLonde, senior brand manager at Whirlpool Laundry. That said, you want to avoid making a habit of neglecting your clothes. “Trapped moisture can permeate the washer's drum and gasket, leading to persistent smells transferring onto future clean loads of laundry,” LaLonde says. 

How Can You Tell If Clothes Should Be Rewashed?

The biggest tell? Scent, our experts say, particularly if you detect stale or sour odors. “A musty smell isn’t always overpowering—sometimes it just smells slightly off,” Sullivan says, comparing it to the scent of a wet towel left in a gym bag or a basement. Clean laundry, on the other hand, should smell neutral or be lightly scented. “My best advice is to trust your instincts; if you’re questioning the smell, it’s usually worth rewashing,” Sullivan advises. If there are only a few items that smell off, it’s best to rewash the whole load since bacteria can easily spread to nearby items, according to Sullivan. 

And while it may be tempting to just throw your items into the dryer—and hope the heat kills off any bacteria—LaLonde warns against that. “Drying is not a cure-all for mildew,” LaLonde explains. “Consumers should prioritize removing the bacteria and odor-causing residues before the heat of the dryer function sets the odor in the fibers to stay."