If you’ve struggled with sour, smelly towels or trying to get rid of that musty smell on them, you’re not alone. The secret to making towels smell fresh is to break up the build-up trapped in the fibers.
That’s because the culprit behind musty smells and sour towels is bacterial growth. This happens when body oils, soap scum or mold spores get trapped in the fibers. Then, every time you use the towel, this moist environment promotes further growth.
If you’re tired of putting up with it, follow my steps to get your towels smelling again, then read my tips for keeping them fresh.
Start with a two-cycle deep cleanse
If your towels already smell sour, a regular wash cycle just won’t cut it. You need to remove this hidden dirt. Try this two-cycle method to deep clean your towels:
- Washing with vinegar: Place your towels in the washing machine without adding detergent. Add two cups of white vinegar directly to the drum or fabric softener case and run a full cycle using warm water. This breaks down the mineral deposits and kills the bacteria that cause these odors. (Apple cider vinegar is not a good substitute here because of the risk of staining and the presence of sediment.)
- Washing with baking soda: Leave your towels in the washing machine and run a second cycle with hot water. This time, add 1/2 cup of baking soda directly to the drum. (That’s bicarbonate if you’re in the UK.) This neutralizes any lingering odors and leaves the fibers feeling naturally soft.
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Daily rules for fresh towels
After deep cleaning your towels, keep the musty and musty odors from returning with these simple habits.
Change them regularly
The more you use towels or washcloths, the more body oils and bacteria accumulate on them. Throw your towels in the cover after each use and change to a fresh hand towel daily. Hang your bath towel to dry after each use and wash it every 2 to 3 days.
Fabric softener
I know, it sounds counterintuitive because we all want soft towels, but liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets coat your towel fibers in a waxy residue. This destroys their absorbency and locks in a foul, sour smell. Try adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to fluff up the fibers and prevent static. (Apple cider vinegar is not a good substitute here either for the reasons I explained above.)
Use less detergent
Modern laundry detergents are highly concentrated. Using just 1 to 2 tablespoons per load of towels is enough — even when washing a large load. Too much soap doesn’t rinse all the way through and will just trap bacteria inside the fabric.
Wash the towels in hot water
Repeated studies show that hot water does a better job of killing odor-causing bacteria and mold on towels. So use the hottest, longest setting on your washing machine and save the cold water wash for clothes.
Do not overload the machine
Fabric needs room to spin in the washing machine to release germs and soil, so don’t wring it. Add towels one at a time to the washer and stop when there is about a hand’s width between the top of the pile and the top of the drum. This might mean doing another load, but it’s better than putting up with sour-smelling towels.
Dry them immediately
Never let wet towels sit in the washing machine after the cycle has finished because mildew can start to grow in just a few hours. Dry towels immediately after the wash cycle is complete, either by hanging them on the line or tossing them in the dryer.
Make sure they are bone dry
Do you use a dryer? Choose the medium or high heat setting and use the moisture sensor option (automatic drying) or keep running until they are completely dry to the touch.
Line drying? Hang the towels in bright sunlight and feel both sides, especially the bottom, to know they are done. Any lingering damp quickly turns to a musty smell once your towels are folded and put in the closet.
Keep your washing machine clean
Your towels can only be as clean as the machine they are washed in. Once a week, wipe down the inside of your washing machine with equal parts water and vinegar and always leave the lid or door open between washes so it can air out completely. You might want to clean it thoroughly twice a year as well.
Keep towels smelling fresh in the linen closet
After washing and drying your towels, keep them smelling great by storing them properly in the closet.
Don’t squeeze them
Leave plenty of space between the stacks of folded towels on the rack so air can circulate. This prevents them from collecting moisture when it’s wet and helps keep your towels fresh. You can even put sachets between the layers to add a nice scent.
Add a DIY linen cabinet pouch
To make homemade linen closet bags, combine a moisture absorbent material with one or more aromatic ingredients in a muslin bag or shallow bowl. Moisture wicking materials help eliminate musty odors while aromatic ingredients add a subtle fragrance. When the scent fades, do it again.
- Materials that absorb moisture: Charcoal, clay or crystal kitty litter, silica gel, baking soda, cedar shavings, chalk sticks or dust, uncooked rice.
- Aromatic Ingredients: Cinnamon sticks, cedar shavings, lavender flowers, dried herbs, eucalyptus leaves, flower petals, star anise, dried citrus slices or peels, tea leaves, cloves, bay leaves.
Rotate the set in use
It’s important to have more than one set of towels so you don’t end up using a dirty one or have to rush on laundry day. I always keep one set in use, one in the wash and one on the shelf. This also prevents overusing the same set so you can spot when a set needs a good double wash.
Make a homemade linen spray
For extra freshness, try my easy DIY linen spray recipe, combine 4 ounces of a fast-evaporating, antibacterial ingredient like rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, or white vinegar with 12 ounces of water to dilute and 20 drops of essential oils for fragrance. Lightly mist your towels before hanging them up for use.
Getting those towels fresh and keeping them that way is all about consistency. Once you get these small, practical steps into your routine, you’ll be drying off with a fresh towel every time.
