How long can wet clothes be left in the washing machine?

Did you wash your clothes and can't hang them up right away, or did you forget about them and leave them in the washing machine for too long? Are you wondering if you should wash them again? The answer depends on how long the soaked clothes have been in the washing machine.

Maximum time you can leave wet clothes in the washing machine

The buzz on #CleanTok and Instagram is that you have a 12-hour window before you have to wash those forgotten clothes in the washing machine. But you can stretch that window even further, up to 24 hours, says Jill Roberts, PhD, associate professor of environmental health microbiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health.

Bacteria need something to eat, and in a lab environment under 'perfect conditions' (meaning warm and with a food source), bacteria will start growing in 16 hours, Roberts said. But that's under perfect conditions, not inside a washing machine, where many — though not all — bacteria and other microbes will be killed in soap and water.

There's still mold growth to deal with, though, and the warm, moist environment of a washing machine will "enjoy" mold, Roberts says. But mold growth doesn't happen instantly, nor does it take just a few hours, which is why Roberts doubles that 12-hour time frame.

Can these bacteria and molds harm you?

Usually, there's nothing to worry about, even if bacteria start to grow. "There's no good route of transmission from clothing to infection," says Roberts. "We don't eat clothes or make sandwiches on them — agents that can speed up that transmission . "

If you have severe allergies, you may be affected by molds and allergens found outside, not by what's growing in your washing machine.

What happens if you leave clothes in the washing machine too long?

As you probably know from personal experience, clothes can smell musty and musty. That's why Melissa Dilkes Pateras, a popular laundry expert on TikTok and author of A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home: Housekeeping Hacks You Can't Live Without, suggests you try your best not to go past the 12-hour mark. If you smell musty when you open the washer, it's time to rewash.

Lesley Montoya

Update 26 May 2025