The exact amount of time you can leave wet laundry in the washing machine

A cleaning professional has revealed exactly how long you can leave your damp, wet clothes in the washing machine without having to rewash the load.

The struggle of forgetting laundry in the washing machine is something many have faced, along with the ‘musty’ mold smell that comes with day-old laundry.

Mary Futher, who goes by Madame Sweat online, said laundry can be left out for up to 12 hours without mold developing.

Over a period of eight to twelve hours, it is unlikely that an undesirable odor will form, and even less likely that bacterial mildew will develop.

“You should wash again and use half a cup of baking soda with your laundry detergent to remove the mold and mildew after that cutoff point,” she said in an video.

Many reported that their routines were stricter when it came to rewashing forgotten laundry.

‘Two hours is my maximum, otherwise I would wash them again. I can smell the mold if it goes on too long,” said one mother.

‘I don’t know the amount, but my nose does. The slightest hint of mold had me washing again,” echoed another.

While some were more relaxed in their approach.

‘I leave [wet laundry] Regularly indoors for 24 hours,” one mother wrote. “I usually put a charge in it when I put my toddler to bed and swap it out the next night to start a new one.”

“Mine’s been there for four days,” said a second.

“I just add half a cup of white vinegar to each load and it can last two days without smelling,” another revealed.

Australian homemaking site Stay At Home Mum recently shared an advice guide on how often we should wash a range of commonly used items

Australian household site Stay home mom recently shared an advice guide on how often we should wash a range of commonly used items.

EVERY DAY

While washing your face, teeth, and underwear every day may seem obvious, there are other clothing items and household items that we should also include in our daily washing routine.

Shirts, blouses and tights should all be washed every 24 hours. Likewise, tea towels and tea towels or other materials regularly exposed to food deserve a daily cleaning.

THREE TO FIVE DAYS

Pajamas, pants, skirts and towels should be cleaned about twice a week to keep them spotless and odor-free.

WEEKLY

Stay At Home Mum takes a closer look at heavier household materials and recommends changing your sheets and pillowcases once a week to ensure freshness.

Denim and dressing gowns should also be washed every seven days. The blog recommends washing bras once a week to preserve their delicate fabric, but suggests rinsing the garment in the shower every evening for extra freshness.

ONCE A MONTH

Your mattress will benefit from a quick vacuum once a month, while mattress protectors and duvet covers should also be washed.

The car and dishwasher deserve a good scrub every 30 days, just like the inside of your handbag.