Can Laundry Sit in the Washer Overnight?

It’s 8pm and you’ve finally finished the last of that huge pile of laundry that’s been haunting you for over a week. The kids are settled in for the night, you’ve had your dinner, and you’re ready to crash on the couch and enjoy the rest of the evening. But the laundry isn’t finished yet. Should you leave it to sit in the washer overnight or do you have to be a responsible adult and put the wet clothes into the dryer before bed?

In most cases, leaving your laundry to soak in the washer overnight won’t cause any serious damage. However, there are a few things to consider before letting that laundry sit damp all night long.

The Fluff Factor

One of the first things that may happen if you leave laundry in the washer overnight is a loss of fluffiness. As the wet laundry sits, the weight of the water and the other clothes may cause some items to become pressed flat or creased. This is especially common with things like bath towels and some fabrics like cotton or linen.

If you pull your laundry out in the morning to find that it has lost some of its fluffy softness, you can restore some of the texture by giving items a good shake before tossing them in the dryer. The heat from the dryer will also help to relax the fibers and restore that freshly washed feel. So while you might lose some fluffiness overnight, it’s rarely permanent damage.

Beware of Sour Smells

One of the biggest problems with leaving laundry in the washer overnight is that wet fabric exposed to air could start to develop a sour odor. This smell, which is similar to that stale “wet towel” smell, is a result of bacteria growth on the damp laundry.

Thankfully, this odor is usually only a surface problem and doesn’t necessarily mean your clothes are ruined. A good dry in the dryer or some time in the sun should help to refresh most smelly pieces. However, if clothes are left sitting wet for multiple days, the sour odor can sometimes set into the fibers, making it harder to remove.

To avoid a smelly laundry situation if leaving clothes overnight, be sure to use enough detergent and run with hot water. The heat and detergent will help inhibit bacteria growth. You can also add a half cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle to help combat odors. Then, be sure to get the laundry into the dryer first thing in the morning before strong smells have a chance to develop.

Lint and Dust Loves Wet Fabrics

Here’s one problem you may not anticipate with leaving your clothes sitting wet overnight – lint and dust loves to stick to damp fabrics! If you leave that wet load of laundry uncovered in the machine, any airborne lint, dust, pet hair and more could settle onto your nice clean clothes.

When you uncover your load in the morning, you may find debris stuck to the entire surface of anything sitting on top. This lint and dust gets caught in the weave of the damp fabric as it dries, becoming a pain to remove.

To avoid this strange phenomenon of laundry lint magnets, be sure to close and latch the washer lid securely if you won’t be getting back to the laundry until the next day. This will protect clothes from dust and particles in the air as they sit damp in the machine.

Potential for Mildew Growth

One of the biggest risks of leaving laundry in the washer for more than a day is the potential for mildew growth. Mildew is a type of mold that grows on damp surfaces, including fabrics.

When left sitting wet for prolonged periods, mildew can start to grow on laundry, especially in warm humid environments. At first it may just look like grayish fuzzy spots or white threads on clothes. But if left unattended, mildew can spread across entire garments, leaving behind permanent staining and damage.

To avoid mildew growth if leaving laundry overnight, be sure to use plenty of laundry detergent. Detergent helps lower the pH level of fabric, making it harder for mildew spores to grow. You should also wash laundry on the hottest setting appropriate for the fabric, as heat inhibits mildew. Then, move the laundry to the dryer first thing in the morning to prevent damp conditions.

If you do discover mildew growth on laundry, there are ways to try removing it and saving clothes. Just don’t let it sit and spread or it will be much harder to rescue your clothes!

Other Issues to Watch For

While smell, lint, and mildew are the main concerns with leaving wet laundry overnight, there are a couple other problems that might pop up in some circumstances:

Dye Transfer

If your load contains any brand new dark fabrics, be cautious about leaving these damp with lighter items. The excess dye can sometimes bleed out of darker fabrics onto lighter pieces if left sitting wet together for prolonged periods. Check for signs of dye transfer before drying.

Tangling

Agitation helps keep clothes separated and untangled during the wash cycle. With the machine off overnight, thinner fabrics may sometimes wrap around each other if overloaded in the washer. Check for tangles before moving to the dryer.

Clothing at Greater Risk for Damage

While most modern everyday fabrics and laundry loads should come through an overnight washer soak just fine, there are a few instances where leaving them to sit could cause issues:

Delicates: Silks, lace, and very delicate fabrics are more prone to snagging and texture damage when left sitting wet. The weight of soaked fabric can sometimes be enough to pull more delicate threads.

Special Care Fabrics: Fabrics that require special washing instructions like wool, silk, and handwash items are better off being moved to the dryer after their prescribed wash cycle. Extended soak time could cause shrinkage, texture changes or other damage.

Heavily Soiled Fabrics: Laundry that is very heavily soiled with grease, oils, or thick substances may be more prone to staining and residue if left sitting wet. The gunk can seep further into the fibers as it sits.

Waterlogged Fabrics: Finally, laundry overloaded to the point of not having room to circulate may end up waterlogged if left overnight. Excess moisture without agitation can lead fabric damage over time.

So unless your load happens to contain these more high maintenance fabrics, most of your laundry should come through an overnight stay in the washer no worse for wear. Just be prompt about getting it into the dryer in the morning!

To Sum Up:

For most people, throwing in a load of laundry at night and letting it sit soaked in the machine until morning is not going to lead to any laundry catastrophes. However, prolonged exposure to water can impact fabric textures, lead to sour smells, and allow growth of mildew if you make a habit of it.

To avoid any issues when leaving laundry overnight:

• Wash with plenty of detergent and in hot water
• Be sure to securely close the washer lid
• Move laundry to the dryer first thing in the morning
• Check for any signs of odor, staining, or damage before drying

While not recommended, letting laundry sit wet for a night here and there likely won’t ruin your clothes. Just don’t be surprised if that fluffy bath towel isn’t quite as soft and fuzzy the next day! Implementation of a few precautions can help minimize any adverse effects.

You’ll also want to avoid making this an everyday habit, as repeated exposures could increase risk of permanent stains, smells, and deterioration down the road. Think of it as the occasional necessity instead of standard procedure.

The bottom line? Though not ideal, letting your clothes soak in the washer overnight once in awhile generally won’t cause any long term damage. Just handle that wet laundry first thing when you roll out of bed, and your clothes should survive without an issue!

References:

Barker, S. “Can I leave my laundry in the washer overnight?” 2022. https://www.Reviewed.com [1]

Bendure, Z. “Is It Bad to Leave Laundry in the Washer? The Effects of Letting Wet Laundry Sit Overnight.” 2022. https://tidyhomeguide.com [2]

John, P. “What Happens to Laundry That Sits in Washer Overnight: Effects, Tips, and Advice.” 2022. https://www.washyd.com [3]

Stuart, C. “Dirty Laundry: The Dangers Of Leaving Clothes In The Washing Machine.” 2018. https://topcleaner.org [4]