How do you get urine smell out of clothes that have been washed?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 14, 2026
If you're dealing with a smelly piece of clothing that's already been washed and dried, consider soaking it bleach or washing it with an enzymatic detergent. If the garment is freshly soiled and especially smelly, try washing or soaking it with vinegar instead.
How do you get urine smell out of clothes that have already been washed and dried?
Vinegar is very effective at removing the urine smell from clothing if the smell has dried or been there for a while. It works incredibly well for removing both pet and human urine, and you can use it right in your washing machine.
How do you get the smell of urine out of clothes in the washing machine?
Use bleach and laundry detergent to wash clothes
Measure the right amount of bleach and laundry mixed with lukewarm water in the washing machine and let it spin. Let the bleach do its magic by breaking down the stain particles and eradicating the foul smell.
What neutralizes the smell of urine?
Mix Baking Soda, Peroxide and Dish Detergent
Make a solution of baking soda, peroxide and any dish detergent. The combination of the three is often powerful enough to drive away even the strongest of urine smells. Mix together 8 fluid ounces of peroxide, 3 tablespoons baking soda and a few drops of dish detergent.
Does vinegar neutralize urine?
Vinegar is an excellent urine stain remover; it breaks down the uric acid in urine and makes the stain easier to remove.
21 related questions foundDoes vinegar get rid of urine smell?
Vinegar Cleaning Solution–Add one part white vinegar to one part water. Urine smells like ammonia, and this is neutralized with white vinegar. After blotting the area dry, pour the vinegar solution on the affected area, and let the solution soak for 10 minutes to reach the deepest fibers in the rug.
Can you use vinegar and laundry detergent together?
You can't mix laundry detergent and vinegar when washing clothes. A mixture of both substances will result in a neutral solution that may impede washing because most detergents are alkaline, whereas vinegar is acidic. However, you can use both during a single wash, provided you use them separately.
What happens if you use vinegar and laundry detergent together?
Remember that mixing vinegar and laundry detergent simultaneously makes both items obsolete. The mixture turns into salt and water, which cannot clean your clothes. You can either use Vinegar as a bleach before cleaning your load or as a disinfectant and fabric softener after the detergent cleans the clothes.
Can vinegar damage your washing machine?
Just as it does in a dishwasher, vinegar can harm rubber parts inside a washing machine, which will eventually lead to leaks. Though laundering your clothes with vinegar is a cost-effective, natural way to soften and deodorize fabrics, avoid using it in your washer too frequently.
Does vinegar and baking soda get rid of urine smell?
The white vinegar solution method works to both clean urine stains and eliminate lingering smells. Baking soda is a natural odor neutralizer, and white vinegar breaks down many of urine's strong-smelling chemical compounds.
How long does it take vinegar to neutralize urine?
When vinegar is poured onto the contaminated area, within 5-10 minutes, that stain will be broken down and essentially eliminate the urine.
How do you wash clothes with vinegar?
The acidic nature of white vinegar can be used as a fabulous clothes whitener and brightener of dingy white and colored clothes.
- Add a half cup of vinegar to your wash during the rinse cycle to brighten clothes.
- You can use the fabric softener dispenser or just add it manually during the rinse cycle.
Can you soak clothes in vinegar and baking soda?
It Removes Odors
If your clothes smell like sweat or smoke, soak them in a baking soda solution overnight. That is 1 cup of baking soda in 1 gallon of water. If you are washing sports bras and leggings, use baking soda and vinegar in laundry. Add ½ cup each without detergent and then wash on a regular cycle.
Can you soak clothes in vinegar overnight?
The acidic properties of white vinegar help restore dingy whites to their original bright state. All you need to do is fill a bucket with hot water, add 2 cups of white vinegar and let dingy clothes soak overnight. By morning, your old clothes will be noticeably whiter.
Is there a difference between white vinegar and cleaning vinegar?
White vinegar has 5 percent acidity; while cleaning vinegar, on the other hand, has 6 percent. Although it's only a one percent difference in acidity, it actually results in cleaning vinegar being 20 percent stronger than white vinegar.
Does pee stain clothes?
The urine can leave acids in the fabric that will affect the fibers with time. If you are using a home dry cleaning kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.
Is bleach or vinegar better to clean washing machine?
You can clean a top loading or front loading machine with white vinegar or bleach. My preference is to use either white vinegar OR non-chlorinated bleach because they are safe, all-natural solutions, but some washing machine manufacturers recommend only using chlorinated bleach.
Can I put baking soda in washing machine?
Safe to use in both standard and high-efficiency washers, baking soda is one of the top two best products (along with distilled white vinegar) for making your laundry greener by reducing your dependence on harsh chemicals.
Does baking soda damage washing machine?
Baking soda acts as a natural brightener and deodorizer. If you have particularly smelly clothes, using a full cup of baking soda will not harm your washer. You'll get better results if you allow the clothes to soak in the baking soda and water for at least 30 minutes before completing the wash cycle.
Is vinegar or baking soda better for laundry?
Baking soda in the laundry can be a great addition for a natural fabric softener or controlling excess suds, while vinegar in laundry can be an amazing agent for getting those whites extra sparkling and banishing mildew odor. They help even the best laundry detergents to be more effective.
How much baking soda do I put in my laundry to get rid of the smell?
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash load of your top-loader or front-loader machine. You can sprinkle the baking soda directly on the clothes rather than adding it to the detergent cup or compartment. If you're out of laundry detergent and need to do a wash, use 1 cup of baking soda in place of detergent.
Where do you put baking soda in the washing machine?
For Extra-Clean Clothes
“It will help lift dirt and grime from clothing,” says Reichert. Don't put baking soda in your washer's detergent dispenser, however. Instead, sprinkle it into the empty drum of your washer, then add clothes and whatever detergent and fabric softeners you'd normally use.
Will baking soda ruin clothes?
The white residue from baking soda can fade the vibrant hues of your favourite cashmere wool and silk fabrics. Baking soda has a very high pH level which can fade the keratin protein in organic fibres. Some dyes will also react negatively with baking soda leaving your fabrics looking dull and discoloured.
What does Borax do for laundry?
Neutralize laundry odors: Borax inhibits fungi and mold4, which often grow in the moist environment of your washing machine and are notorious for giving it a musty odor. It also helps to get rid of ammonia odor in baby clothes, diapers, bed pads, and incontinence pads.