Clothes that are left in the washing machine for too long usually develop a musty odor, so you may want to rewash them.
However, if the clothes still smell nice, washing them isn’t necessary. So, how long can you keep your clothes in the washing machine?
According to Martha Stewart, it’s okay to leave wet clothes in the washing machine overnight, as long as you don’t leave them there for too long. If you transfer them to the dryer in the morning, they should still feel fresh.
While it’s best to put them in the dryer right away, wet clothes generally shouldn’t be left in the washing machine for more than eight hours.
In some cases, it’s possible for clothes to not smell as bad for up to 12 hours.
It’s important to note that mold thrives in warm, humid environments, and a washing machine is an ideal place for it. As the bacteria grow, they produce organic compounds responsible for the unpleasant odor.
Cleaning expert and scientist Mary Gagliardi notes that factors such as soil level, detergent, wash water temperature, extra rinses, and bleach use can affect how clean your clothes will be and how long they can stay in the machine.
If you wash your clothes with bleach, you can leave them in the machine longer. However, this mainly applies to socks, sheets, underwear, T-shirts, and tea towels.
On the other hand, towels, due to their thickness and high absorbency, retain moisture longer than other clothing. This increased moisture retention makes them especially prone to mold and bacteria growth if left in the machine.
