Tired of Tide? Done with Downy? Gaining nothing from Gain? If so, we may have the solution to your laundry woes. Believe it or not, Pine-Sol — yes, the multipurpose cleaner — is a surprisingly effective tool for eliminating strong, musty odors from clothing. Here’s why you should give this game-changing tactic a try.
More Than Just a Fresh Scent
Unlike other multisurface cleaners, Pine-Sol is perfectly safe to use in a laundry load, as long as you add it to a wash with only water and regular detergent. Be sure to never mix Pine-Sol with bleach or ammonia (or anything containing either of those ingredients), as that can produce toxic fumes. As long as you follow this one (very important!) rule, it’s completely fine, a fact confirmed on the brand’s own website.
Start by sorting your laundry into whites and colors. Then, add one of the piles of clothes to the machine along with your regular detergent — just make sure it’s bleach- and ammonia-free.
Before you start the wash, add ¼ cup of Pine-Sol Multisurface Cleaner to the main wash compartment — avoid adding it directly into the drum or the softener compartment. It’s safe to mix Pine-Sol with your detergent in the main wash compartment but be careful not to overfill it. Now, continue the wash and dry cycles as normal, and your laundry will come out fresher than ever. You might also notice that the inside of your washing machine looks cleaner after using this method.
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This trick works particularly well for tackling those gross, musty odors that regular detergents may struggle to eliminate. It’s also capable of getting rid of tougher grease and oil stains, so consider trying it with your next load of odorous or heavily stained laundry.
Test Before You Wash
According to the parent company, “Pine-Sol Multisurface Cleaner is recommended for colorfast items only.” So, before you use it, you should always spot-test your clothing. Here’s how: Apply a single drop of Pine-Sol to a concealed, colorful area of the garment, wait five minutes, and then rinse it out with water. After the spot has dried, if the color remains unchanged, it’s safe to use. But if you notice any discoloration, it’s best to avoid using Pine-Sol with that piece of clothing.
