2. Add vinegar to your load as a fabric softener

Your clothes won’t smell like vinegar, so don’t worry! In addition to odor removal and fabric softening, vinegar also helps to prevent mold growth and residue buildup in your detergent drawer. However, just apply vinegar twice a month, not more, as this item can eventually weaken elastics and fragile materials. And besides having a clean washing machine you’d also want to have it for many years too!

3. Never overfill the washing machine!

Although it might be tempting to do that, especially after a vacation or a trip when you have a ton of laundry to wash listen to the experts and try to wash smaller loads every time.

How clean—and odor-free—your clothes are capable of becoming might also depend on the amount of your washing loads. Although doing full loads of laundry can help families save money on water expenditures, it’s vital to avoid overfilling your machine because doing so can reduce the wash’s efficacy and leave lingering aromas.

Additionally, and perhaps most significantly, alternate between packing clothing and heavier things like towels. While you may think using a larger quantity of detergent will make your laundry and your bed sheets smell great, it will produce the opposite effect.