Do you have smelly towels? Are they not quite as absorbent as they used to be? I use a simple trick to remove the smell from towels. It just takes two simple products.
When drying off with your bath towel, you might catch a musty smell, which is, shall we say, an unpleasant odor. You know you just washed it, so why in the world would it have a sour smell? Who wants to dry off with a smelly towel?
After a time, towels and washcloths can accumulate detergent and fabric softener. This buildup can even waterproof your towels. This not only makes towels smell bad but also reduces their absorbency.
Rather than toss them away and purchase new ones, you can bring new life back to your towels with a simple solution — White Vinegar and Baking Soda.
These two will work together: The white vinegar will strip the detergent and softener buildup. Then, the baking soda will help remove the odors. Before you know it, they will not only smell much better but also become more absorbent.
Other cleaning tips:
HOW TO REMOVE MILDEW SMELL FROM OLD TOWELS
To get rid of your stinky towels once and for all, you just need this simple recipe.
Here’s what you need:
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1 cup of distilled white vinegar
- Washing Machine with HOT water (do not use any other temperature setting)
Whichever method you use below, DO NOT use detergent or dryer sheets. That will just create more buildup.
TOP LOADING MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS
Place your smelly towels in the washing machine and fill it with hot water. To make it extra hot, you can boil a large pot of water and pour it into the machine.
Once the tub is filled with water, pour in a cup of vinegar and run the machine through a wash cycle. When done, refill the basin again with HOT water. This time, add 1/2 cup of baking soda once the tub fills. Run through another cycle.
Dry as usual, and your towels should be as good as new! If they are not as clean as you would like, just repeat the process.
FRONT LOADING MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS
Place your towels in the washing machine. Add one cup of vinegar to the laundry detergent dispenser. Run a cycle using HOT water and a HOT rinse cycle.
When done, repeat the process, but use 1/2 cup – 1 cup of baking soda in the dispenser. Run again using hot water.
You will dry your towels like you usually do. If, after you are through, they still smell, repeat this process.
Also See: Best Washcloths That Don’t Stink
TIPS TO AVOID GETTING SMELLY TOWELS
1. Don’t allow odors to build up in your machine
When done with the laundry, keep the door open, if possible. The heat and moisture in the machine can cause mildew to build up, which will transfer the odors into your towels.
2. Do not use too much detergent
Believe it or not, you do not need to use the amount of detergent listed on the product label. In fact, you can use 1/3 of the amount they recommend, and your clothes will still get clean.
This tip will not only prevent build-up but also help you save money, as you won’t go through detergent nearly as quickly!
3. Make sure the towels are completely dry before folding and putting them away
If they are slightly damp at all, it will create odors.
4. Hang your towels up after each use
Don’t just hook it on the wall, or even fold it and place it on a towel bar. Keep it open across the bar until dried.
5. Clean your machine
Take the time to wash your machine to kill odors. You can do this by adding one cup of vinegar to an empty machine and running hot water through it. Then, repeat the process with 1 cup of baking soda.
6. Routinely use vinegar
One of the simplest ways to avoid getting stinky towels is always to use vinegar. Add a 1/2 to 1 cup to your detergent each way. It will clean and prevent the build-up from happening.
Simple things you can do to get rid of the mildew smell on towels and prevent it from happening again.