Forgetting wet clothes in the washing machine can lead to musty smells and even mould growth.
But how long can you actually leave damp laundry in the washer before mildew and bacteria starts to form?
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Cleaning expert Mary Futher, from Canada, warned you should never let your wet laundry sit for more than 12 hours.
“How many hours is too many hours?” the cosmetic scientist said.
“The rule of thumb is if you left your laundry sitting wet more than 12 hours that’s the cut-off point.”
If your clothes end up with a distinct mildew odour, the founder of Madame Sweat says the best course of action is to do another wash.
“You need to rewash and use half a cup of baking soda with your detergent to get rid of that mould and build up,” she said.
According to Healthline, mildew is a fungus that thrives in warm, damp environments.
Not everyone is sensitive to mildew in clothing or in the washer, but health experts warned people could experience symptoms such as wheezing, coughing or itchy eyes.
To get rid of mildew on your laundry and its characteristically sour smell, Healthline suggests washing the affected fabrics with one cup of either white vinegar or baking soda and adding an extra rinse cycle.
Mary’s video has been viewed more than 440,000 times, with many sharing their own experiences after 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 said.
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 added: “Two hours is my max otherwise I rewash them. I can smell the mildew if it’s too long.”
While another suggested: “I don’t know the amount but my nose does. The slightest whiff of mildew and I rewash.”
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