# Wet laundry

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-laundry/473603>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 20, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-laundry/473603 "2008-11-20T03:53:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-laundry/473603/1 "2008-11-20T03:53:41Z")

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How long can I leave wet laundry in the washing machine? I did a load this morning and forgot to put it in the dryer. It’s been sitting in the maching for about 12 hours now. Can I throw it in the dryer or should I rewash it?

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**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-laundry/473603/2 "2008-11-20T03:59:49Z")

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Been there, dun that. I smell it, if it smells like dank, mold, mildew; into the wash it goes. If it just smells wet, into the dryer.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-laundry/473603/3 "2008-11-20T04:01:45Z")

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If it smells, just rewash it. The limit is about 24 - 36 hours IMHO before it starts to get funky.

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**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-laundry/473603/4 "2008-11-20T04:36:18Z")

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> [@Shagnasty](#):
>
> If it smells, just rewash it. The limit is about 24 - 36 hours IMHO before it starts to get funky.

It strongly depends on where you live. I like your range, and it’ll probably be towards the lower end in more humid climates where there are more mildew spores in the air, and longer in an arid climate, where the clothes will dry out faster.

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**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wet-laundry/473603/5 "2008-11-20T21:45:49Z")

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i would let it go through the rinse cycle. a bit of downey, and zip it through the rinse cycle, then dry.