Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Eliminate 6 Common Laundry Odors

If you're of a certain age, you probably remember your parents or a nurse bringing out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to treat your scrapes, cuts, and wounds. This use of the antiseptic is no longer recommended for wounds but you can put hydrogen peroxide to use in other valuable ways, including in your laundry. If your clothes still smell after washing, they might need a treatment with 3% hydrogen peroxide to help destroy odor-causing bacteria. When your clothes, towels, or sheets have an unpleasant odor, hydrogen peroxide is your trusty helper for getting rid of even the most persistent smells such as sweat, smoke, and more. 

Hydrogen peroxide can tackle various odors and get your clothes smelling fresh once again. Always read any garment or sheet label before using something new on fabric. Hydrogen peroxide has a bleaching effect, which may ruin your clothes. Before treating fabrics completely, do a small test, preferably on a hidden patch to see if it lightens the spot. Now get ready to add a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to your laundry room, as these unbearable smells are no match for it.

Smoke can linger in clothes even after washing, and it can get on your clothes after being near a fire, grilling, or being exposed to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke in particular is actually made of 400 odorants, and the powerful smell of cigarettes is difficult to get out of clothes, linens, and pillows. With its ability to break down odors and bacteria, hydrogen peroxide offers a good alternative to deodorizing sprays, which may only mask scents. To treat smoke in clothing, mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water, then apply to fabric with a sponge or cloth. Let the solution sit for 60 minutes, then wash the clothing again. The persistent smoke smell should be gone.

Did your last hike end with an unfortunate encounter with a certain critter? Hydrogen peroxide is the cleaning staple you need for skunk smell. Skunk spray contains ingredients called thiols and thioacetates, which make a sulfur smell. Chemist Paul Krebaum's formula, first reported in the Chicago Tribune in 1994, treats the stench to dissolve thiols into odorless elements. Just use 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of dish soap. After mixing together, don't apply directly to the fabric, but instead, use it in the wash cycle to dilute it, reducing chances of discoloration.

Are you guilty of leaving your wet towels in the washer and find they smell musty after a tumble in the dryer? It's time to use your new laundry bff, hydrogen peroxide, to treat the stink. Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water in a pail or tub, then let your towels soak for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes is up, wash the towels as you normally would with hot water and the detergent of your choice. Dry the towels thoroughly, preferably in the sun, to ensure the mildew-like smell disappears. 

Have an accident-prone pet? You can use hydrogen peroxide to treat smelly pet poop stains on clothing. It's a blessing for parents as well, whether you're washing a onesie after a diaper blowout or cleaning up after an "oopsie" during potty training. If your clothes have been the victim of a poop stain, and a regular wash won't get it out, try this. Sprinkle baking soda over the smelly area, then spray with a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 8 ounces of cold water. Dab and treat, then wash the garment. 

Your heart and muscles appreciate working up a sweat in the gym, but your clothes do not. The smell of sweat may cling to the fabrics, especially synthetic materials. This is because these materials wick away sweat, which means washing can't target the sweat well. Luckily, hydrogen peroxide is ready to give your sweaty clothes a good clean. Turn your clothes inside out to expose the sweatier side directly to the cleaning product, then spray the spots that smell the worst with hydrogen peroxide, let sit for 10 minutes, and wash like normal.

Were you 10 seconds late with the tuna, and Fluffy decided to take revenge on your bedding? When you get a whiff of your urine-soaked linens, you likely feel like it might be destined for the trash. Feline urine is one of the most stubborn scents thanks to its uric acid, which has a half-life of six years. However, you can just soak the urine-smelling area in hydrogen peroxide for about 10 to 15 minutes, rinse, then let air dry before washing them as usual.