The Science-Backed Fall Laundry Reset I Do Every Year

September always makes me want to reset everything. School is back, fall sports are in full swing, and I will slowly be pulling sweaters, blankets, and cooler-weather clothes out of closets. In Texas, it can be in October or later, but for many of you, it can be any day now.

But here is the part I think a lot of people miss: your fall clothes do not always need another wash—they may need the right chemistry.

Instead of completely changing my laundry routine every September, I make a few simple adjustments based on what I am actually washing: stored clothes, sweaty sports uniforms, backpacks, cozy blankets, and anything that has developed that stale or musty smell.

As a chemist, I would rather use the right product for the job than simply add more detergent.

If you are interested in any product from this post, be sure to check out our idea list here.

1. Add a Bioenzyme Booster to Regular Loads

This is probably my favorite fall laundry trick.

I add a bioenzyme laundry booster to regular loads when clothes need a little extra help, especially after they have been sitting in storage or after a busy week of sports.

Don’t forget, detergent and enzyme boosters do different jobs.

Your detergent contains surfactants that help loosen and lift oils, dirt, and grime from fabric so they can be rinsed away. An enzyme booster adds another layer of cleaning by helping break down specific types of organic residue, including proteins, starches, fats, and other messes.

That makes enzymes especially useful for:

Sweat and body oils
Food stains
Sports uniforms
Kids’ clothing
Towels
Clothes that smell stale after storage

I like the Dirty Labs bioenzyme laundry booster because I can add it to a normal load without completely changing my routine.

Another reason I like modern enzyme products is that many are designed to work well in cooler water. That is helpful because I prefer washing a lot of everyday clothing in cold water when the care label allows.

👩🏻‍🔬 Chemist tip: More detergent is not always better. If something is not coming clean, it may need a different type of cleaning action.

2. Refresh Fall Clothes That Have Been Stored

Sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans, and fall pajamas can develop that stale closet smell after sitting untouched for months.

For most washable clothes, I start with a normal wash using an eco laundry strips plus the bioenzyme booster.

I also make sure I do not overload the washing machine. Clothes need room to move so water and cleaning ingredients can circulate through the fabric.

If something has a stronger musty smell, I may use a washing soda soak before washing.

Washing soda is alkaline and can be useful for certain laundry odors and buildup. I do not use it in every single load, but I like keeping it on hand for those deeper fall refreshes.

3. Treat Fall Sports Stains Before Washing

Fall sports season brings grass, mud, sweat, food, and plenty of mystery stains.

This is where pretreating makes a big difference.

I keep my favorite pH neutral stain remover near the laundry room and treat visible stains before putting the item in the wash.

My simple routine is:

Pretreat → Wash → Check → Dry

Always check that the stain is gone before putting the clothing into the dryer. Heat can make some stains much harder to remove later.

For extra-dirty sports loads, I treat with the stain remover, then I use my regular detergent or eco-strip plus the enzyme booster instead of simply pouring in more detergent.

4. Give Backpacks a Fall Reset Too

Backpacks get dirty much faster than we realize.

By September, they are already collecting crumbs, dirt, sticky spills, and playground grime.

My method is simple. I empty everything out, vacuum the inside, pretreat visible stains with my favorite stain remover, and check the care label.

If the backpack can be machine washed, I wash it on a cold, gentle cycle with one eco laundry strip and let it air dry completely.

This is one of my favorite back-to-school cleaning tricks because it is simple and gentle on backpack fabrics. It works so well, this reel went majorly viral last month!

5. Switch Back to My Eco-Strips for Everyday Loads

Fall gets busy quickly, and I like anything that makes laundry easier.

You have seen this mentioned in many of the tips in this post because fall is all about doing things quicker and easier. For regular everyday loads, I use my favorite eco laundry strips. They are easy to store, easy to measure, and keep my laundry area from filling up with bulky containers.

Then I keep the specialty products nearby for when I actually need them:

Eco-strip for everyday cleaning. Enzyme booster for extra grime and odors. Stain remover for targeted messes. Washing soda for occasional deeper refreshes.

That is much simpler than having a different detergent for every type of load.

6. Wash All the Cozy Fall Blankets

Before the cozy season officially starts, I wash all the blankets that have been stored away.

Blankets can collect dust, pet hair, skin oils, and that unmistakable linen-closet smell.

I wash each one according to its care label and make sure it is completely dry before putting it on the couch, bed, or back into storage.

For blankets that can go in the dryer, I also like using wool dryer balls instead of automatically reaching for fabric softener. This makes them really fluffy!

They are simple, reusable, and something I can keep using year-round.

7. Finish With Fabric Spray

Once everything is clean and completely dry, I love finishing with my favorite plant-based fabric spray.

I lightly mist blankets, pillows, or stored linens so they smell fresh when I pull them out again.

But I always follow one rule:

Clean first. Scent second.

A fabric spray should be the finishing touch, not a way to cover up something that actually needs to be washed.

My Easy Fall Laundry Reset

You do not need an overflowing laundry cabinet to reset your home for fall.

My September staples are simple: eco-strips, Dirty Labs bioenzyme booster, washing soda, a good stain remover, wool dryer balls, and a fabric spray.

Together, they help me tackle stored clothes, sports uniforms, backpacks, blankets, stains, and musty odors before the really busy holiday season begins.