As a mom of two athletic teenage boys, a husband who works in construction, and our aging German Shepherd Lucy who sheds like a polar bear, I deserve a PhD in laundry.
But one thing I never mastered was getting rid of that musty smell. You know the one. It clings to clothes, doesn’t wash out with detergent, and leaves a funk in our washing machine.
I’ve tried everything. Baking soda, essential oils, hot water, stripping the laundry in my bathtub. Even the viral TikTok vinegar hack. Nothing worked.
So when I saw ads for Downy Rinse, I figured it was just one more hyped up product that wouldn’t live up. Then a fellow mom at a basketball game said it’s the only thing that gets rid of that smell. Even stinky hampers piled with her kids’ post-practice clothes.
Curious, I looked into it… and realized I didn’t know everything about laundry after all.
Here Are 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Downy Rinse Sooner
1. Musty odors aren’t caused by dirt. They’re caused by buildup.
Over time, sweat, skin oils, lotions, and even leftover laundry products can cling to clothing fibers. They trap odor-causing residues, causing that ingrained, musty stench.
2. That’s why clothes may smell clean but still smell off.
I could never understand why my husband’s work clothes and my boys’ sports gear still smelled weird straight out of the wash. Turns out, oil and sweat residue embedded into the fabric was holding onto odor, no matter how much detergent I used.
3. Downy Rinse is NOT a fabric softener or detergent.
This was my biggest misconception. Downy Rinse is a simple, citric acid-based deep cleansing fabric rinse designed to work with your detergent, not replace it. Its job is to help remove whatever your detergent may leave behind.
Pour the right amount for the size of your load in the fabric softener drawer so that it’s released during the rinse cycle. It’s best to skip fabric softener in the same load since there’s usually only 1 fabric softener compartment.
4. Detergent cleans, but it doesn’t finish the job.
Detergents work at a higher pH, which is great for cleaning stains, but they can leave behind pH-sensitive residues and buildup. That’s what causes stubborn odor problems.
5. Downy Rinse works by lowering the pH.
Downy Rinse uses citric acid to lower the pH during the rinse cycle. This helps breaks down persistent residue, especially pH-sensitive ones, so it can finally be rinsed away.
6. The vinegar hack barely works. Now I know why.
Yes, vinegar uses the same idea, but it’s very weak, only about 4-5% acetic acid. You’d need 5 cups of vinegar to get anywhere close to Downy Rinse’s results, and even then it tends to leave a lingering vinegar smell. No wonder it never worked for me!
7. It doesn’t just remove odors. It helps remove odor-causing residue at the source.
Because it helps remove odor-causing residue, clothes don’t have that musty smell, even if you forget a load in the washer (we’ve all been there).
8. It actually makes clothes look brighter.
By removing what detergents can miss, it helps lifts the dull grime that makes clothes look gray or dingy. Our whites and colors are cleaner and brighter than ever.
9. Clothes feel lighter and fresher.
With the residue and buildup tackled, fabrics stay light and airy. These days, our clothes feel like new.
10. Downy Rinse helps fight odors in your washing machine.
It even helps fight the damp smell that lingers inside the washer itself. Laundry is enough of a chore without dealing with a smelly machine. So this is a win.
Final Thoughts
After decades of washing stinky uniforms, Lucy’s massive fur balls, work clothes, and everything in between, I thought I’d seen it all. To me, once my hard-working partner, kids, and pets entered the picture, laundry odors were just part of life.
I didn’t realize that our laundry wasn’t completely finished after the wash. It needed a real rinse.
Downy Rinse is that one easy step my laundry’s been missing all along. Now our clothes, bedding, and towels come out soft and fresh-smelling.
Tried everything and still dealing with lingering odors? It’s time for Downy Rinse. Looking back, I only wish I’d tried it wayyy sooner!