Should You Rewash Clothes Left in Washer?

While Martha says it's fine to leave wet clothes in the washing machine overnight on occasion, she does caution against making it a habit. If you want your laundry to look and smell its best, give yourself plenty of time to wash, dry and fold clothes before bedtime.

What to do if you left your clothes in the washer?

Simply run the wash cycle again. Definitely don't dry the clothes if there's any hint of them being not fresh; the smell will not go away and you'll have to do the whole load again anyway. And try not to make a habit of leaving wet clothes in the washer.

Is it bad to leave wet clothes in the washer?

In general, you can leave your wet clothes for a maximum of eight to twelve hours, according to an expert from the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science. ... Bad smelling clothing is typically caused by the growth of bacteria and even mold, which can develop if wet clothes are left in the washer for too long.