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mbowie1034's avatar
mbowie1034
Explorer
Jun 15, 2016

Musty Sheets

We had left all our sheets stored in the camper while we were off the road and now they all have a musty smell that won't wash out! Any tips or experience in getting rid of this odor in sheets and blankets? They've been washed twice and still smell!
  • You can also use straight white vinegar in your wash as a deodorizer. I put one cup in with all my loads of towels and sheets. It has worked very well for me in getting rid of musty odors when damp things have been left to sit for too long...
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:

    Wash in HOT water with no soap just baking powder to get rid of musty smell
    Then dry and let then cool completely down before folding/storing


    I believe you meant baking SODA, (rather than the powder which comes in small cans to make your biscuits rise, Old Biscuit!)
  • Fabreeze perhaps?

    ...or.. next time you have a campfire, hang the sheets on a clothes line down wind of it... it will give a more authentic camping feeling to the sleeping. :)
  • Sorry but not washing sheets in hot water has little to do with a musty smell.

    The sun idea is a great idea as is adding baking soda to the wash cycle or vinegar to the first rinse cycle as they are both natural deodorizers.
  • Musty smell comes from couple of things:

    Not washing in HOT water....cold/warm does not kill bacteria
    Folding/storing when damp....hot folded sheets then stored will be damp when they cool off
    Tight storage areas w/o air circulation


    Wash in HOT water with no soap just baking powder to get rid of musty smell
    Then dry and let then cool completely down before folding/storing
  • After washing hang them outdoors in the sun. They may be a little stiff because they are not tumbled in the dryer.But the sun will do wonders.

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