It's hard to avoid the musty smell of towels. After all, you wash them once and then they sit in your closet until you have time to use them again. Sometimes they stay there for weeks or even months before they're ready to be hung up on the line again. But if your towels are starting to smell a little funky—not a bad way, just not fresh anymore—don't worry: there's an easy way to make sure that doesn't happen in the future!
Why Do My Towels Smell Musty?
Mildew grows in damp environments and moist areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Moisture from shower steam, humidity, or water can cause towels to smell musty. If you leave your towel hanging up after drying off with it (or even just letting them sit), it will become damp and start to grow mildew over time.
How To Make Old Towels Smell Fresh Again?
Wash them in hot water with detergent.
Dry them in the sun.
Leave them in the sun to dry, if possible.
Add a cup of baking soda to the wash if they're really stinky and you don't have time to wait for them to air out.
If all else fails: use fabric softener on your towels!
What’ll You Need?
- Laundry detergent and soap
- Fabric softener (optional)
- Dryer sheets (optional)
- Baking soda (optional)
Step to Step
- To make old towels smell fresh again, you will need to wash them in hot water with a good detergent and vinegar.
- Wash the towels in hot water with a good detergent. Make sure the water is as hot as it can be without damaging your towels or making them shrink too much from the heat.
- Add vinegar during the wash cycle--it's best if you add it before adding any other clothes so that all of your laundry get cleaned at once!
How To Keep Towels From Smelling In The Future?
To avoid the problem of towels smelling in the future, you should wash them weekly and dry them on a rack. Storing them in a dry place will also help to keep them fresh.
It's important not to leave wet towels on the floor or overload your washing machine--both of these things can cause mold growth which can lead to an unpleasant odor.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to get rid of musty towels, it's time to give them a sniff test. If they still smell like mildew and need another round of treatment, try repeating the steps above with fresh baking soda or vinegar. But if they pass this test with flying colors (and maybe even smell better than before), then congratulations! You're ready to start using them again
