Can you leave clothes in the washer overnight? Laundry experts explain why it is advised against

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.

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.'

While there are ways to get mildew smells out of clothes and towels, it's best to save yourself the trouble by drying clothes quickly, either in the best tumble dryer, on a washing line outside, or on a clothes airer, such as the Joseph Joseph Eclipse 3-Tier Adjustable Laundry Drying Rack available at Amazon, which I tried, loved and recommend for drying laundry in tiny spaces.

'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.'

All prices correct at time of publication.

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.

Taking your clothes out of the washing machine straight after the cycle is only one part of ensuring fresh-smelling results every time. Ensure you regularly remove mold from the rubber seal on your washing machine and leave your washing machine door open between washes to further fight odor-creating bacteria and keep clothesd cleaner.