Can you leave clothes in the washer overnight? Laundry experts explain why it is advised against
By Ottilie Blackhall,
23 days ago
Laundry is a chore that many people prefer to put off. Often, we can be tempted to delay starting, or worse, leave clothes screwed up in the dryer. But can you leave clothes in the washer overnight?
Tempting as it may be, the short answer is no, particularly if you want to avoid a build-up of bacteria, mold, and mildew which will create more washing for yourself and could damage your garments.
We spoke to laundry experts for their thoughts on the debate, and here they share their tips on how to do laundry correctly, to ensure fresh-smelling washing every time.
Can you leave clothes in the washer overnight?
The experts have spoken – never leave laundry in your washer overnight if you can, and avoid doing it at all where possible, they say.
Justin Carpenter, founder of Jacksonville Maids begins, 'You should only leave clothes in the washer overnight if you are planning to rewash them. For example, if the clothes are either super dirty, from the thrift shop or you just came back from camping, then it's OK to leave them because you will likely need to wash them again to really clean them.
'I would say at most leave your clothes in the washer for two hours, and that is at a push,' he adds.
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When tackling heavily soiled clothes, we recommend using a powerful stain and odor-fighting detergent formula to get the most amount of dirt out in one cycle, which will help you save money on laundry and protect your garments for wear.
Generally speaking, however, you should aim to remove your washing as soon as the cycle is complete urges James King, operations manager at DeluxeMaid . 'The moment the washer beeps, I almost always rush to pull the clothes out, still warm and fresh,' he shares .
Given that it is not recommended to leave your washing machine unattended while it's running, either overnight or when leaving the house, you should schedule your laundry to avoid leaving it to sit for longer than one hour.
The dangers of leaving clothes in the washer overnight
James King, a cleaning expert, explains that the main reason you should not leave your clothes in the washer overnight is the risk of mildew. 'Mildew is no joke,' he says. 'Not only does it make your clothes smell, it can also leave those unsightly spots, especially on fabrics such as cotton or linen.'
'For me, it also feels oddly satisfying knowing I’ve saved myself from the hassle of rewashing or deep ironing wrinkles,' says King. 'Plus, if you end up having to rewash them, it's not just a waste of water and electricity, but also your precious time. So, it's best to scoop up your laundry and get it into the dryer as soon as the wash cycle is done.'
Wool dryer balls are the best eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets. Not only can they be reused time and time again, but they help to fluff up clothes and reduce static.
Whether you are drying clothes outside on a washing line, or are hanging them up on a clothes rack, heavy duty clothes pegs keep them in place to avoid anything flying away or dropping on the ground.
FAQs
Can I leave clothes soaking in detergent overnight?
Leaving clothes to soak in detergents, either in a sink or your washing machine, is best avoided. Chemicals used in laundry detergent tend to be strong, meaning prolonged exposure can damage your clothes.
If you are soaking clothing to remove stains, 30 minutes is usually long enough to help relax the fibers and lift the stain. At most, only leave clothes soaking for three hours before rinsing and washing using a regular laundry cycle.
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