Wet laundry and busy schedules do not go together and nearly every person has left a load in the laundry at some point. Being aware of the time you can leave clothes in the machine without risking getting smelly, mildew, and the additional effort to wash the same clothes again.
The majority of laundry professionals concur that the maximum time that clothes can be allowed to remain in the washer without being spoiled is approximately 8 to 12 hours before they become odored or susceptible to mildew. In drier, colder houses, that window may extend to the upper end, but in hot or humid areas, the maximum time that clothes can be left in the washer without problems can be as low as 6 hours.
Wet clothes in a closed washer provide ideal conditions of bacteria and mildew due to moisture, warmth, and absence of air. This is the reason why the duration of time you can leave clothes in the washer is not only a question of convenience, but it also has a direct impact on the odor, the health of the fabric, and even on your skin.
Do you know how many hours clothes can remain in the washer? The most secure solution is to remove them within a couple of hours after the completion of the cycle. The usual rule is 8 to 12 hours, although you need to take into account other factors such as your laundry is humid or the door of your washer closes tightly. But remember, the shorter, the better.
The sniff test is the way to go whenever you are in doubt. When the load still smells fresh, then you are likely to be within the safe margin of time that you can leave clothes in the washer without rewashing.
The clothes may be fine when kept in a cool room, 6 to 8 hours but when kept in a hot and closed washer, 10 to 12 hours and above, the musty smells may easily be formed. When you leave your clothes in the washer overnight, and they still smell even slightly, it would be more proper to wash or rinse them again and not dry them in that situation since they may fix the smell.
As soon as you exceed the time within which clothes can be left in the washer, bacteria and mildew start to develop on wet clothes and in the machine. It may leave behind lingering smells, spots and even reduce the life of your clothes in case it occurs frequently.
If you left clothes in the washer overnight and remember them the next morning, check them right away. If there is no smell, a quick spin or short cycle may be enough; if there is any mustiness, run another wash before drying.
You will need to wash them again with a longer or more intense washing cycle and an odor-neutralising additive, like vinegar or baking soda, depending on its interaction with the fabric, if clothes have been in the washer for 3 days. Wash the washer drum also, because once it has been long the mildew may adhere to the rubber seals and surfaces.
When you leave wet clothes in the washer for a week, you will most likely find a smell. Some of the clothes can be rewashed and odor removers can be used but delicate or highly stained clothes cannot be reversed and must be discarded.
Wet fabric is an ideal environment for microbes that cause musty, “wet dog” odors. Once you pass the safe limit for how long clothes can sit in the washer, these microorganisms multiply rapidly, causing smells that can linger even after another wash if not treated properly.
Front‑load machines with tight seals and closed doors trap more moisture than top‑load washers, so how long clothes can stay in the washer tends to be shorter in front‑loaders. Leaving the door slightly open after cycles can help air things out, but it does not extend how long clothes can sit in the washer by more than a few hours.
Thick materials such as towels and jeans retain more water and begin to smell more quickly than light weights. A very full drum also stays damp longer, which is another way of shortening the length of time that you can leave clothes in the washer before odors are created.
Too much detergent or cold water will cause residue that feeds odor-causing bacteria. That means if you routinely over-soap, how long will you allow clothes to sit in the washer before they may start to smell less than the standard 8 to 12 hours?
If you notice any of these, you are past the safe limit for how long clothes can stay in the washer and should treat the load as “forgotten laundry” rather than ready‑to‑dry clothes.
If you left clothes in the washer overnight but they only sat 6 to 8 hours and smell normal, a quick rinse and spin might be enough. In that case, how long can clothes sit in the washer has not been exceeded by much, so a short cycle can refresh them before drying.
For loads that smell musty, run a full wash again with a good detergent and, if the fabric allows, warm or hot water. Many people find that adding white vinegar or baking soda can help remove the smell from clothes left in the washer overnight or even left clothes in the washer for 3 days.
Some clothes might not be salvageable in case you leave wet clothes in the washer and after a week, you still see some stains or smell mildew after a few washes. Then the fibers may be ruined and they may still remain stinking despite the number of times you wash them.
Use a phone timer or enable end-of-cycle notifications so that you can be notified of a load completion as soon as possible. The most effective method of maintaining the time that clothes have been in the washer within the safe range is to establish a habit of doing the laundry immediately.
You can also schedule your loads around your schedule. Start cycles when you know that you will be home in the next hour or two, instead of right before bedtime if you have more likely forgotten and left clothes in the washer overnight in the past.
If you are sick of ticking timers or worrying about leaving clothes in the washer overnight, you can hand off the whole process to NoScrubs. Our team handles wash, dry and fold with a precise time so there is no risk of your clothes being soiled in the washer.
Instead of wondering about how long you can leave clothes in the washer, you bag your clothes, we pick them up and you get them back totally dried and folded and ready to put away.
Generally, the safe answer to how many hours clothes can remain in the washer is approximately 8 to 12 hours, although it is always better to be sooner. In case you have ever left clothes overnight in the washer, or 3 days or even a week, run the load through a quick rewash and odor elimination process and attempt to get the next load going as soon as the first load has been completed.
Whether you're juggling work, family, or just want your weekends back, NoScrubs makes laundry easy. Book a pickup now and never do laundry again!
Book online or through our app. We are available 7 days a week!
We pick up your laundry within your scheduled 2-hour window
Get your cleaned, fresh laundry back in as fast as 4 hours!
Whether you're juggling work, family, or just want your weekends back, NoScrubs makes laundry easy. Book a pickup now and never do laundry again!
Book online or through our app. We are available 7 days a week!
We pick up your laundry within your scheduled 2-hour window
Get your cleaned, fresh laundry back in as fast as 4 hours!
