The Bottom Line If you've left clothes in the washing machine for over 12 hours, they probably need to be rewashed. If it has between 8-12 hours, give them a simple smell test, but they probably won't need to be rewashed. If it has been under 8 hours, you can just dry them straight away.
Rescuing your forgotten load
Clothing that's only slightly whiffy can simply be air-dried. If you hang the item up outdoors, the breeze and fresh air will help remove the mildewy odour and save you the trouble of having to run another load.
If damp clothes or bedding have been left in the washing machine or a basket for more than 8-12 hours we recommend giving it another wash. If it's been over 12 hours it's a safe bet that they will need to be re-washed.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid leaving clothes in the washer for more than 8 to 12 hours.
However, it is also very easy to misjudge how long something needs to dry, which can lead to irreversible damage to your clothing. Clothes left too long in the dryer can suffer from shrinkage, warping, and melted or stretched elastics.
You can leave washing out overnight, but it may not dry as effectively without the sun's rays. Laundry left out overnight may further dampen due to mist, dew or unexpected rain. If you need to leave laundry outside at night, it's best to do so in the summer, since the air will be warmer and drier.
Generally, it takes about 30 to 40 minutes to dry an average load of laundry on a medium setting. However, some loads will only take 20 minutes, and others may require 60 minutes or more.
The Bottom Line. If you've left clothes in the washing machine for over 12 hours, they probably need to be rewashed. If it has between 8-12 hours, give them a simple smell test, but they probably won't need to be rewashed. If it has been under 8 hours, you can just dry them straight away.
While it's best practice to place your garments in the dryer or on the clothesline right after the cycle finishes, it's perfectly okay to leave your wet clothes in the washer overnight, Martha says. "I mean, don't leave it for a long time—don't leave it for a week," she says.
It won't hurt to leave your clothes in the washer for up to 12 hours. However, according to Mold Busters, bacteria, mildew, and visible mold can grow on clothes in as little as 24 to 48 hours. When bacteria and mold grow unchecked, they create the distinct musty laundry odor we've all come to recognize.
Thankfully, if you're stuck wondering how long to leave wet clothes in the washer for, the answer is simple. In general, you can leave your wet clothes for a maximum of eight to twelve hours, according to an expert from the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science.
There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.
How long does it take for wet clothes to develop mildew? If you're wondering how long before wet clothes get mildew on them, it's probably faster than you realise. It can take as little as 8 hours (and up to 12 hours) to develop.
Drainage Hose May be Blocked or Kinked
The most likely cause for a washer to return soaking wet clothes is a drain hose problem. Here is how you should resolve and clean: Clean the filters in the water supply hose. Attention: The leaking water may be very hot with a risk of scalding.
Keeping wet or even moist clothes in unventilated areas or closely together becomes a breeding ground to grow mold on clothes. If you have recently washed your clothes, it is always best to dry the clothes in sunlight as soon as possible. If you do not have a way to dry clothes outside, dry them in the dryer.
Typically, this means checking the drain hose, drain pump, and any filters or coin traps that could be blocked. Other causes of clothes still being wet after the spin cycle include an unbalanced washer, using the wrong detergent, or a worn or loose drive belt.
A normal drying cycle can add around 45 minutes to your laundry routine for a total washing and drying time of about an hour and 45 minutes. Drying cycle times can vary, with delicates cycles taking around 15 minutes and heavy duty towels cycles taking close to 3 hours.
However, drying delicates may take only about 15 minutes, while drying heavy-duty towels can take up to three hours. The level of dampness and the washer rinse temperature will both play a part in how long it takes your clothes to dry.
While it's hard to generalize about how long it will take your laundry to air-dry—fabric type, air temperature, and presence or absence of wind all play a part—expect it to take 2 to 4 hours for most types of fabric on a pleasantly warm day with a light breeze.
Louise Carter at Sleep Bubble urged: “Avoid drying clothes indoors where possible, but never dry them in an occupied bedroom as they are the worst rooms. “Damp laundry increases air moisture by 30 percent, magnifying the risk of breathing difficulties while sleeping and compromising the immune system.”
Damp clothing and dirty clothing that is packed together without proper airflow are breeding grounds for nasty-smelling bacteria, mildew or mold —all of which can contribute to bad odors that linger after the wash. To combat this, make sure your dirty clothes are dry before tossing them in a basket.
You can try washing them again, but once mildew smells penetrate the fabric, it usually takes more than a regular wash cycle to remove them.
Don't allow your wet clothes to sit too long. The Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science's lead home economist, Lucinda Ottusch, gives a concrete guideline of 8-12 hours before odor, a sign of mildew, begins to occur. What to do if your clothes do smell off? Simply run the wash cycle again.
A musty smell on fabrics is typically the result of stinky mildew byproducts, including spores and other microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOC). As mold grows on your fabrics, it releases these organic compounds into the air, resulting in the tangy, earthy aroma we recognize as musty smell.
How often you need to wash your bras isn't an exact science. But dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says that as a general rule, you should wash them after every two to three wears.