"I do not advise storing clothes in a washing machine between uses," Ireland shared with us. "Clothing in the washer vat would reduce light and air flow, which could prevent your washing machine from drying completely. This could promote the growth of mold or mildew on your clothing — mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. They could grow on your clothes and reproduce by spores that travel through the air and cause mild health problems."