Does anyone else out there have a problem with stinky bath towels? I feel gross saying this, we are not dirty people (lol!) but our bath towels always end up stinky. Washing regularly doesn't really alleviate this problem. One time I think we washed with some peroxide in the machine and I do think that worked some. Still, do others have this problem?! Why does this happen and how can I stop it?
Do a towel-only load, and put 2 cups of vinegar in with the soap. Do an extra rinse.
The wonders of vinegar just came up in a recent post.
I used to have that problem too. I started adding vinegar and baking soda to the washing machine when I wash towels and I ALWAYS do a double rinse on towels. Since I started doing those things I don't have stinky towels anymore.
After you use the vinegar in the wash.. never again use any type of fabric softner again.. no dryer sheets either.
These products coat the fabrics.. It is very difficult to wash it out.
The linen companies never suggest these products ever be used.
Remember how soft and absorbent your terry cloth used to be? The reason they are not now is because of this coating.
My stepson. Even DH does not know how he can take a shower and the towel will knock your socks off.
We use vinegar (plain white) in the gym clothes and stinky towels laundry. Works a charm.
1 cup of vinegar in a high/large load to every 4 towels. They need to be run through 2 times and then again with a cup of baking soda. Do not use any fabric softener in the washer or dryer. Make sure that they are both completely dry and cool before folding them. I got a small wood clothes drying rack for my laundry room and any item that is thick is finished by hanging for 6 hours and then folding after the dryer. Never use fabric softener on towels, washclothes, pot holders, kitcken towels, beach towels. Watch out for added softeners to detergents. Also make sure a towel is never tossed into a hamper wet as it will grow and retain mold. Hang up to dry over the shower rod to dry before tossing in the hamper. Also if you do use softener in other clothes you will need to not only wipe the lint from the lint trap but use detergent, water and a scrub brush or tooth brush to wipe down the build up on the lint trap of softener. This also is the cause of a less effective dryer, and can cause a block of air flow that causes a dryer fire.
I second the white vinegar in the wash.
The other thing you can do is reduce the detergent amount a bit. If you have detergent build up on your towels the smell will stick with them after they are washed. Detergent works by encapsulating the dirt and then you rinse it away, but if you don't rinse all of the soap out, then some of the dirt sticks around. Open up the washer during the rinse cycle to see if there are still lots of bubbles, if there are you have detergent build up.
I started adding white vinegar to my wash loads and my towels don't have that stinky, stale smell to them. Towels are the worst offenders, can't even forget about them during the day. They absorb all odors. They must be removed asap to the dryer or outside to dry. I add about a cup to the load for wash and no problems--unless my kids used the towel to mop up something really nasty and it sits. Then I have to soak a bit with the vinegar. It is also great with blankets and sheets.
Yup, know exactly what you mean! It started when we got the front loading washer. I bleach when I can, use HOT water and smaller loads. I also run my washer through a clean cycle.
Are you washing them after every use?
I've never had this happen. I use Tide with Bleach Alternative for all of my laundry. The only thing I can think of is that the towels are not 100% DRY when you take them out & fold them & put them away. They have to be 100% dry.
Have you ever tried some OxyClean in the washer? I'd try that.
Either add some Borax to your washload or line dry your towels. Either one is oder killing.
Are they old? Sometimes once the towels are so old the smell just dont come out. I myself was dealing with old towels and finally decided to trash them and buy new. You may also want to try washing with vinegar. There is also a newer downy scent pearls that smell wonderful. Good luck!
I start my washer filling and add the detergent then add some bleach, maybe 1/2 cup. It kills bacteria and makes them smell cleaner. I do it on all towels, dark and light. I don't wash them together so I do add more bleach to the lighter towels. I have done this for years and don't have any sports or yucky looking fading either. I have the water about half full and the bleach in it already before adding any towels.
Add white vinegar to your load of towels. Use it as you would fabric softener, in place of the fabric softener. (added - sometimes I add even more to the wash itself, just pour it in!)
Also, decrease your load size while keeping the water level the same.
We have used the same towels for years with no smelly problems!
Good luck!
Add baking soda to the wash next time....if you still have the hint of smell??? use a bottle (yes, a bottle) of vinegar in the wash.
ensure they are dry when you take them out of the dryer - NOT DAMP!!!
Make sure that you hang the towels OPEN when you are finished with them. If that means hanging them over the shower rod - then do it. they HAVE to HAVE air CIRCULATING not just to be "hung up"...
Just like people who complain about mold in their showers - they close the shower doors or completely close the curtain and the air cannot circulate - so water sits stagnate...
Pour some vinegar in the wash with the soap. Vinegar is a natural antimicrobial, and does wonders as a deodorizer..helps make them softer too.
Yes and I have no idea how to stop it other than buying new ones which I have done!! I will get out of the shower with a new towel and start drying and all of a sudden you smell rotten wet towel smell. Gross! I am anxious to hear what others have done to get rid of it.
I only use white towels as bath towels and I bleach them every time I wash them. No stink! I hate that smell they can get without the bleach. It makes me feel dirty and gross when I dry off with a towel that has that funky smell!
I used to have this problem too. Since I got my front load washer I wash my towels on the "sanitary" cycle and the problem went away. I also use vinegar to rinse. I have never had a problem with mold or smell with my front load. I clean it once a month and leave it partly open when not it use. It also has a fan to help dry it out.
This happens to me too. They smell fine right out of the dryer and then you use them and once they are wet, they have a funk to them. I can sympathize with you, but have no advice on how to fix it besides buy new towels, which is what I seem to do, every other year.
We had this problem too so we bought Clorox bleach washing machine cleaner. You use it once a month and it cleans everything out and towels will smell better.
Vinegar in the wash! I know others have suggested it repeatedly but it totally gets rid of the mildew smell. I know have a 'sanitize' setting on my new washer and that works too, but it's a 3 hour long cycle!
I always put 1/2 cup of baking soda in the washer with my towels, it does wonders to keep them fresh! Also, are you using fabric softener? If you are and you do not dry them all the way they will stink.
