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Why Do My Clothes Still Smell After Washing?

May 02, 2025

Most people do laundry at home, and it always ends up with an issue and questions, ‘why do my clothes still smell after washing?’ It could be because of using unsuitable cleaning agents. Furthermore, leaving clothes in the washing machine for too long can also leave a smell on fabrics. So, for guidance, you can look for an expert cleaner like ByNext.

We provide high-quality laundry and dry cleaning services for all fabrics, tackling both fresh and stubborn odors. Even if your outfits are durable or delicate, our professionals will wash them with modern materials.

So, if you have a question, ‘Does dry cleaning remove smell?’ our expert guide in this blog will provide you with a solution.


Why Clothes Still Smell After Washing

Outfits that smell after washing could be due to multiple reasons, such as the effectiveness of the cleaning agents. Another reason could be washing clothes once, which requires multiple rounds.

So, a solution would be to check the care label instructions when washing clothes. This way, you can prevent your clothes from smelling and completely remove stubborn odors.

Stop Smelly Laundry Now!   


Common Causes for Smelly Clothes

Mildew smells in your clothes occur because there are common causes that people often overlook. It leaves a permanent stain and produces smelly odors, making it even harder to deal with. So, if you’re thinking, ‘Why do my clothes still smell after washing?’ let’s look at these problems.


Bacteria Buildup In Your Washing Machine

People often wash their outfits and leave the washing machine filled with the residue. It forms bacteria in the washing machine, and on the second round, the clothes get an unwanted smell instead of being removed. It's better to clean the washing machine after each use to remove odors.


Leaving Clothes in the Washer Too Long

Leaving clothes in the washer for too long is another reason for people asking, ‘Why do my clothes still smell after washing?’ Even after clearing the residues, the smell of odors remains that gets into your clothes. 

Make sure to take your clothes out of the washing machine as soon as the cycle ends.


Overloading the Washing Machine

Overloading washing machines and not leaving enough space inside can leave odors on your outfits. That’s because outfits require room in each cycle for proper swing. If the washing machine is overloaded, you won’t be able to remove odors. Instead, your clothes will smell more.


Using Low-Quality Laundry Detergents or Incorrect Amounts

Using low-quality detergents or adding the wrong amount can cause odors to persist on your clothes. That’s because the laundry detergent under these circumstances won’t remove stains.

Your clothes still stink after washing because the cleaning agent didn’t remove the stains properly. Check the care label instructions on your clothes to see what type of detergent is recommended.


Hard Water and Mineral Residues

People who use hard water to wash their clothes will always have their hands full with smelly outfits. That’s because it builds minerals that aren’t absorbed by the washing solution. Instead, it appears on outfits and makes everyone think, ‘Why do my clothes still smell after washing?’

To prevent this common issue, use clean or distilled water to wash your outfits and avoid mineral residues. It’ll provide you with a solution to your question, ‘why do clothes still smell after washing?’


How to Get Rid of Smells from Clothes

You’ll find multiple ways to get rid of the cigarette smell from your clothes, but one or two techniques should be enough. Instead of opting for multiple treatments, you can use these solutions. It would be the answer to your question, ‘Why do my clothes still smell after washing?


Vinegar or Baking Soda for Fresher Clothes

Vinegar and baking soda are natural cleaning agents that deal with unwanted smells and odors. If your outfits still smell after washing, cleaning them with baking soda or vinegar can be effective.

Prepare the solution with the exact amount required for cleaning your outfits and leave them in it for a few minutes. So, even if your clothes still stink after washing, the natural cleaning agents will freshen up the fabrics.


Laundry Boosters or Sanitizers

Commercial products, such as laundry boosters and sanitizers, are effective in eliminating odors caused by bacteria on clothing. Check out the instructions for using the laundry boosters and apply them to outfits. This way, you don’t have to look for solutions to ‘why do my clothes still smell after washing?’


How to Keep Your Washing Machine Clean

Cleaning your washing machine is essential to protect your clothes from unwanted odors. That’s because not clearing the residues and leaving clothes inside the washers leaves a smell. It makes people think, ‘Why do my clothes still smell after washing?’

Here’s the solution you can opt for to keep your washing machine clean and prevent odors.


Running a Hot Water Cycle

When you're done washing your clothes, clear the detergent residue and run a hot water cycle. This way, even if the tiny stains are stuck in the corners of your washing machine, hot water will remove them.


Cleaning the Rubber Seals>

Rubber seals are a specific part of washing machines that people often overlook when cleaning their machines. The molds and bacteria start to form, and your washing machine starts to smell.

Make sure to clean the rubber seals after washing your clothes to prevent unwanted odors in your washing machine.

Also Read - If your outfits caught the smell of smoke, and you don’t know how to deal with that, check out our blog to remove the smoke smell from clothes.


Clothing Types Most Prone to Odor Retention>

 

Most people are unaware that certain outfits are prone to odor retention and wash them without making any arrangements. Not cleaning washing machines and using an unsuitable laundry detergent are the reasons.

So, here are the outfits you should make arrangements for when washing them.

  • Wool
  • Denim
  • Silk
  • Rayon
  • Polyester

Professional Laundry and Dry Cleaning for Odor Removal>

Most people think, ‘Does dry cleaning remove smell?’ Why not contact a professional like ByNext and find out?  We clean outfits with modern techniques and conduct and inspection to asses the condition of odors.

This way, we can satisfy customers with high-quality results by preserving the quality of their clothes and removing odors.

Get Expert Odor Removal Now!  


About ByNext>

ByNext is an expert laundry and dry cleaner in the USA that caters to customers' requirements and offers quality washing. Our service keeps people’s schedules hassle-free with a convenient pickup and delivery.


Furthermore, we provide customers with a cost-effective pricing structure with multiple cleaning plans. So, they can choose one that suits their outfits, and to get their clothes on time, we offer a fast turnaround time.


Locations We Serve>

Our service is available in some of the popular cities of the USA, so people can easily contact us. New York, Manhattan, and Brooklyn are the famous places where people can get our service.

We’ll representative will guide them properly about the service so they can choose the right one. We’ll help customers get their outfits washed and smell nice, all while offering them convenience.


FAQs - Does dry cleaning remove smell>


Does dry cleaning remove odors?>

Dry cleaning outfits to remove odors is effective, as the process helps in removing them. The solvents used in the washing procedure enhance the fabric quality and give your clothes a fresh scent.


Does dry cleaning freshen up clothes?>

Outfits with stains can be freshened up with a proper dry cleaning process. The dirt and oil marks can be easily removed, leaving you with clean outfits that have a fresh scent.


Does dry cleaning get rid of vomit smell?>

Vomit on clothes forms odors that make the fabric dirty, and the smell irritates people. So, dry cleaning these outfits with modern solvents will wash your clothes and remove the smell of vomit.


How to get the sick smell out of clothes?>

To get the sick smell out of your clothes, scrape off the dried stain marks with a sharp object. Now, rinse the fabric with cold water and soak the garment in a solution of baking soda and vinegar for 30 minutes. Wash your clothes with a normal cleaning agent.


Wrap Up!>

So, here’s the solution if you’re still wondering, ‘why do my clothes still smell after washing?’ The common causes, like bacteria buildup, could be removed by using baking soda and vinegar. It’ll help you make your outfits smell fresh and look pleasant.

The expert dry cleaning services will use modern techniques to preserve the quality of your outfit.