Cleaning expert reveals shockingly short time you can leave wet clothes in the washing machine
- Replies 9
The familiar hum of the washing machine signals the start of a task many of us find mundane—laundry.
But what happens when life gets in the way and we forget the wet clothes in the washer?
How long can we leave damp laundry in the machine? The answer might surprise you.
Canadian cleaning expert and cosmetic scientist Mary Futher, also known as Madame Sweat, has a stern warning for those guilty of leaving our laundry unattended for too long.
According to her video online, you should never let your wet laundry sit for more than half a day.
‘How many hours is too many hours?’ she said.
'The rule of thumb is if you left your laundry sitting wet more than 12 hours, that’s the cut-off point,' she advised.
This might seem like a short window, especially for those of us who have a habit of starting a load of laundry before bed and forgetting about it until the next day.
However, leaving wet clothes in the washing machine for too long can lead to musty smells and even mould growth, which can harm our health.
Healthline, a trusted online health information resource, explained that mildew is a fungus that thrives in warm, damp environments—like a washing machine filled with wet clothes.
While not everyone is sensitive to mildew, exposure can lead to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, or itchy eyes in some people.
If you find that your clothes have a distinct mildew odour after being left in the washer, Futher suggested doing another wash.
'You need to rewash and use half a cup of [bicarb soda] with your detergent to get rid of that mould and build up,' she said.
Healthline also recommended washing the affected fabrics with one cup of white vinegar or bicarb soda and adding an extra rinse cycle to eliminate mildew and its sour smell.
Futher's advice has resonated with many, with her video garnering more than 440,000 views.
Viewers have shared their experiences of forgetting their wet laundry in the washer.
'If I forget my clothes in the washer, I automatically rewash them. I don’t care how many hours it’s been,' one commented.
Another shared, 'Left it for 12 hours once, and after wearing my dried clothes for a day, I had welts all over my body.'
A third viewer added, 'Two hours is my max. Otherwise, I rewash them. I can smell the mildew if it’s too long.'
'I don’t know the amount, but my nose does. The slightest whiff of mildew and I rewash,’ another suggested.
Watch Futher's video below:
The bathroom can be another place where we spend time—and where mould can also grow. Did you know that we have been doing a common bathroom habit wrong? In a previous story, an expert shared his most important advice in preventing mould in the bathroom. Read more about his advice here.
What are your laundry habits, members? Have you ever experienced the unpleasant surprise of mildew in your washing machine? Let us know in the comments below.
But what happens when life gets in the way and we forget the wet clothes in the washer?
How long can we leave damp laundry in the machine? The answer might surprise you.
Canadian cleaning expert and cosmetic scientist Mary Futher, also known as Madame Sweat, has a stern warning for those guilty of leaving our laundry unattended for too long.
According to her video online, you should never let your wet laundry sit for more than half a day.
Mary Futher explained how long we can keep damp laundry in the washing machine. Credit: @madamesweat / TikTok
‘How many hours is too many hours?’ she said.
'The rule of thumb is if you left your laundry sitting wet more than 12 hours, that’s the cut-off point,' she advised.
This might seem like a short window, especially for those of us who have a habit of starting a load of laundry before bed and forgetting about it until the next day.
However, leaving wet clothes in the washing machine for too long can lead to musty smells and even mould growth, which can harm our health.
Healthline, a trusted online health information resource, explained that mildew is a fungus that thrives in warm, damp environments—like a washing machine filled with wet clothes.
While not everyone is sensitive to mildew, exposure can lead to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, or itchy eyes in some people.
If you find that your clothes have a distinct mildew odour after being left in the washer, Futher suggested doing another wash.
'You need to rewash and use half a cup of [bicarb soda] with your detergent to get rid of that mould and build up,' she said.
Healthline also recommended washing the affected fabrics with one cup of white vinegar or bicarb soda and adding an extra rinse cycle to eliminate mildew and its sour smell.
Futher's advice has resonated with many, with her video garnering more than 440,000 views.
Viewers have shared their experiences of forgetting their wet laundry in the washer.
'If I forget my clothes in the washer, I automatically rewash them. I don’t care how many hours it’s been,' one commented.
Another shared, 'Left it for 12 hours once, and after wearing my dried clothes for a day, I had welts all over my body.'
A third viewer added, 'Two hours is my max. Otherwise, I rewash them. I can smell the mildew if it’s too long.'
'I don’t know the amount, but my nose does. The slightest whiff of mildew and I rewash,’ another suggested.
Watch Futher's video below:
The bathroom can be another place where we spend time—and where mould can also grow. Did you know that we have been doing a common bathroom habit wrong? In a previous story, an expert shared his most important advice in preventing mould in the bathroom. Read more about his advice here.
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