How To Stop Towels From Smelling In One Easy Wash!
You take a shower and dry off with a freshly cleaned towel, but as soon as it gets wet it starts to stink. I have had towels in the past that could have made you want to take another shower. I didn’t want to throw perfectly good towels away, but the way that I was washing towels obviously wasn’t working. To fix my problem I went looking for the secret of how to stop towels from smelling.
How to Stop Towels from Smelling
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Stinky towels are the pits. Our bathroom doesn’t air out well, so during baths and showers it’s full of moisture and it holds on to it. This keeps our towels from drying well which can give them an awful mildew smell.
The smell got even worse when we got our front loading energy efficient washer and dryer. Actually most of what we wash started having a stink problem after we got the new washer, but the solution for that can wait for another post.
My personal towels were the worst of the lot. Those towels seemed to hold on to the horrible mildew smell and not let it go.
Eventually I got to my breaking point. Constantly using stinky towels was driving me nuts. I turned to Google to find out the best way to wash towels to stop them from stinking.
I was a bit surprised by what I read to do, but I was willing to try anything to not have stinky towels in the bathroom anymore. The cleaning process actually ended up working quite well, but it was two little items that I added later that really helped make it all work.
Products Needed to Get Smell Out Of Towels
Steps for How to Get Mildew Smell Out of Towels
Keeping the terrible mildew smell out of your towels is actually quite easy. You just need to get very basic and go natural. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous to try anything that wasn’t approved HE cleaning items in my front load washer, but it all worked out great.
Wash Towels with Baking Soda and Vinegar
To kill off the mildew smell you first need to wash the towels with baking soda and white vinegar in very hot water. Baking soda and white vinegar do not mix well though, so don’t put them in the wash at the same time or you’re going to end up with a messy chemical reaction.
To keep things simple use half a cup of baking soda in place of your detergent. For regular washing machines put the baking soda into the machine just as you would the detergent. For those of us with HE machines take the liquid cup out of the detergent compartment and then put the baking soda in that area just as you would if you were washing with a powder detergent.
To keep the baking soda and vinegar separate in the wash you will use the white vinegar in place of a fabric softener. If you have a regular washing machine pour a fourth of a cup of vinegar in to the machine during the rinse cycle. If you have a HE machine pour the vinegar in to the fabric softener compartment. You’ll want to pour it to the full line.
A lot of sites online say not to do a load of laundry with these two products together, but I have done it myself. I promise that if you wash it this way with the products separate that you will be fine. If it worries you though then wash the towels one time with baking soda and then do another wash with the vinegar.
Still a bit confused? Check out my post about washing towels with vinegar and baking soda safely to get more detailed information and to see visual pictures on how to do it.
Dry Towels Thoroughly
Making sure that your towels get fully dry is a very important step in the process of getting smell out of towels. Many people suggest hanging your towels outside as the UV light can help rid the towels of mildew. This is also a great way to save on your electrical use too. I always find though that when drying towels outside I’m usually left with very hard and stiff towels that are no fun to dry off with.
Instead I have found the best way to dry my towels well is in the dryer with special dryer balls. Mine are actually cute little cacti. I received them as part of a thank you package for a giveaway I ran on the Rock-A-Bye Parents a few years ago. I had never owned or used dryer balls before. I decided to try the dryer balls out though because during my research I found that dryer sheets aren’t good for towels. They can actually cause a wax buildup on the towels which can contribute to many different issues for your towels.
When I gave my little Cactus Dryer Buddies a try I found that they did an amazing job drying my towels. I have done this wash process with and without the Cactus Dryer Buddies and I can safely say that my towels smell even better after the process when I use them. Plus they keep the wax off of my towels so they stay softer. I won’t dry my towels without these little guys now!
Freshen Towels When Necessary
At this point you should have nice fresh smelling towels again. You shouldn’t need to wash them this way every time that you wash your towels. In fact, if you do wash them several times in a row this way you may find that they take on a different sort of smell from the vinegar.
If your towels do start to smell like mildew again just repeat this washing process. After that you’ll have nice smelling towels once more.
Due to my hard water, and all of the moisture that my bathroom likes to hold on to, I do have to give my towels a good smell boost from time to time. I have also found that I can keep things fresh by washing with a mix of baking soda with a powder detergent and adding just a small amount of vinegar.
It has now been many years since I searched the internet to find out how to stop my towels from smelling. I was at the point that I was ready to throw my towels away, but I’m so glad that I found this laundry method instead. Years later my towels are still in use!
I find if I put towels in dryer for a bit and then hang them, they don’t come out crunchy.
I hang mine outside until the smell is gone.
I’m so glad that works for you! I never had luck with that, but that could be because of my hard water adding to the problem.
I have a front load machine also.
I frequently add white vinegar in the fabric softener cup to loads of laundry for towels, and any sweaty clothes. It really helps.
And definitely dryer balls, I use the wool ones.
No dryer sheets-too many chemicals.
I also love to hang laundry out-but always put in dryer for 10 minutes after I bring in.
You can get bugs on the clothes and not know it!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I know a lot of people are worried to try it, so I appreciate someone backing me up. 😉
I actually had this same problem, I did try this way of washing my towels. We also have very hard water, but I have a top loading HE washer. This didn’t help with my towels because we don’t get very hot water in our washer, due to a tankless water heater. So what I ended up doing was the very old fashion way,I literally boiled all of my towels. I then washed the towels in baking soda. That saved my towel, but it was a long tedious process. it’s almost time to do it again……
Oh my Cheryl, that sounds like quite the headache! I’m glad you found a way to make it work, but that sounds tough. I wish I had some advice to make things easier for you.
I’m so glad I ran into your site and found this helpful tip! Thank you! I will try this today when I do the laundry. Just wondering if the hot water is necessary for the best result. My tap doesn’t have hot water but I live in a tropical country so our water doesn’t really get freezing cold. Do you think room temp water will get the same cleaning effect?
A big purpose of the hot water is to help disinfect the towels. I personally find that my towels stay softer when I use hot water as well. You should still be able to get rid of the bad smell without hot water. I would just was them on as hot of a setting as you are able to.
I use white vinegar in my regular clothes rinse. It takes perspiration smell from clothe
s.
In the summer I hang my towels on the line. To soften them up after airdrying is to put them in the dryer on air, it works great.
Thanks for sharing your tip! 😀
You might want to invest in a fan to vent the moisture from the bathroom. Not only does the moisture make your towels smell musty, it may be causing moisture to accumulate in the walls. That moisture can lead to toxic mold that can cause illness. Removal of toxic mold can be very expensive.
Thank you so much for the suggestion Kathleen. We do have a fan blowing often in there. Sadly this is a very old house that holds onto a damp cold feeling. We had to rip into one of the walls a few years back due to a shower leak and I am happy to say we didn’t find any mold issues. It is something I keep in mind for sure. I really appreciate your concern. 🙂
What type of detergent do you use on an every day basis?
I have been using the Costco liquid and adding a little vinegar to it. I also haven’t checked to the ingredients in the Costco brand.
I would love to move to an all natural way.
It’s a bit of a mix. For most loads I use either baking soda, baking soda mixed with some powder detergent, or simply powder detergent. I have been pretty happy with Gain powder detergent. I switched to powder due to smell in our clothes from my front loader. I still use Purex liquid detergent for blankets and sheets though.
This might sound like a silly question, but using only vinegar and baking soda – without any detergent (soap) – does that actually “clean” your towels or clothes? I’m a “clean” freak! and worry that without some kind of detergent, I’m really not “cleaning” the towels! Thank you.
It doesn’t sound silly at all! I had the same thought when I first read about using them. Baking soda does actually clean the laundry. Truly it’s been used as a cleaning product for many things for a VERY long time. We just don’t often think about it that way any more. Many people ditch traditional detergent and just use baking soda because it’s a chemical free option. It truly does just as good of a job. It just doesn’t have perfumes and stuff added in. Plus with the addition of vinegar and hot water your towels will most certainly be clean! 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, When you wash a normal to large load of everyday clothes how much vinegar & baking soda do you use? I have an old fashioned top loading machine. Thanks so much!!
Sorry, me again… I just re-read your article a bit slower this time, and found my answer. Great article btw!!
Glad you found the answer and that you found the information useful! 🙂 I hope it helps.
It isn’t really the soap that cleans your laundry… it is the action of the water being swished through the weave of the fabrics. They just make more money when they can sell you soap.
I find it quite a shame that the expensive front loaders have this problem. It makes me sooo mad!!! I always have a slight odor in my washer. I keep the door propped open and keep an open box of baking soda in it when not in use. Never a problem like this with years of using a top loader. Grrrrrrrr
I never thought of leaving an open box of baking soda in the washer. What a brilliant idea Sally! I have to agree though. It’s crazy how the front loaders struggle with that problem. For my space I can only have a front loader because my washer and dryer need to be stacked, so it’s something I simply have to learn to live with. Thank you so much for sharing the tip!
Check out Melaleuca’s cleaning products if you are still looking for natural cleaning. I’ve been using these products for over 12 years. It’s worth checking out.
1. You can use just the vinegar & towels come out fresh
2. This works for any musty laundry- my older kids have forgotten their laundry in the washer for a couple days & we rewashed with vinegar & everything came out odor-free.
Isn’t it amazing what vinegar can do? Sometimes the best products are just sitting right under our nose.
I wonder if this would work on pillows as well
I’m sure it would! 🙂
Six years ago I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This was a shock as there is NO history of cancer in my family. So I started doing research, and opened my eyes about the toxins to which we are exposed every day. I made a vow to live as toxin-free as possible. So I dumped the laundry detergent (occasionally I use 1/4 of the recommended amount, but do not buy the over-advertised stinky chemical concoctions we are brainwashed into thinking “this stuff is good for my laundry”). I have the HE front loaders, but kept my old top loader (had it installed in the basement), and am happy I kept my top loader. I never (EVER AGAIN!) will use any kind of commercial fabric softener. Google the ingredients and you’ll stop using them, also. Using a fraction of the recommended detergent reduces or eliminates much of the static when you dry your clothes. I use the plastic dryer balls, and I make hand-felted pure wool dryer balls. I also have stopped overdrying things, preferring to “nearly” dry them in the dryer, and then give them a shake and let them finish air drying, either in my laundry room or outdoors on my “solar” clothes dryer (lol … clothesline!). I use no “air fresheners”, and that includes toxic Febreze. If I want to freshen up my house, I open the windows, weather permitting, and if not, then I’ll put a small saucepan on the stove with a little cinnamon, bring it to a quick boil and then simmer it for half an hour, give or take. NO TOXINS! I’ve changed my eating habits, and have to say that six years after my diagnosis, and with (literally!) cleaning up my act, I am probably feeling better than I have for years. I strongly recommend to everyone that you do an inventory of toxins in your lives, and avoid them at all costs (and that includes artificial sweeteners, junk food, anything with artificial colours, etc. etc.). Save your kids from decades of exposure to poisons we are told are safe, and live as healthy a life as possible.
Oh my! Cancer is so scary to hear. I hope that yours is in remission and I’m glad you’ve been able to find so many ways to make healthier choices.
I have MS and am trying to get rid of toxins as well, but in your post you didn’t mention the type of detergent you occasionally use. The reserch is tedious and I will take any help I can get. I have found a tooth paste, shampoo/body wash and deodorant that is acceptable. But I have almost resorted to making my own laundry detergent. I have even tried one that I got from a farmers market.
Thank you for this reply… your an inspiration !! I agree 100% with you about the toxic overload! I’m so glad your feeling better than ever and I share in lots of the same things you do!!
I’m so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Thank you for sharing this information! It makes perfect sense to me. As a new career change later in life, I’m going back to cleaning houses and really want to be as clean but thorough and natural as possible. I’ve cleaned the washer- not an HE – with vinegar and the juice from a lemon and was very pleased. Clean and very fresh smelling. I’m so happy you shared this because people need to know. I’m doing a very deep inventory and as I make and test my own products will do a dump run…so to speak. Thank you again and it’s great to know what you did and how much toxins you removed from your life! Very inspirational. Blessings to you Rosemarie ❤️
I splurged for Tide as well and my towels were back to smelling musty which surprised me, I have used Persil and my towels smell good even though we hang them up and reuse a couple of times.
Honestly, I’m not a fan of Tide. Partly because I don’t care for the smell, but I’ve never found it to be an amazing product. I’m glad you found a product that worked well for you.
I am an older lady and there is nothing like adding bleach to your wash water to get rid of mildew. I have a front loader and what i do is wait for all the water to enter the machine in the beginning. Then I take about 1 qt or more of water in a container and put in maybe 1/3rd cup regular bleach into it…I open the detergent drawer and pour it all in while the machine is washing. Bleach gives your sheets and towels a fresh smell. Do not put bleach directly into those machines in the slot for bleach…it blotches your clothes. A little bleach now and then will not fade your colors, but it works well on sheets and towels and will disinfect and get rid of mildew. Old school still works.
Thank you so much for sharing Patricia. I don’t often use bleach in the wash. Especially since most of my towels are not white. It can be a great way to really get things clean though. 🙂
Thanks for your tips. FYI, You can dry your towels outside and get the benefits of the UV rays and then toss them in your dryer for 10 minute with the dryer balls to soften them up.
Yes, that’s a wonderful way to save some money on electricity too! 🙂
Huge shout out to replacing your fabric softener with vinegar for good! I did it years ago after spending a ton to have a camera put down our pipes. I asked what that blue stuff was that was coating the pipes. Yep! It was my fabric softener. I haven’t regretted it. Everyone that stays here raves about how fresh our sheets smell. Vinegar rinses clean so there is no lingering odor.
Oh my, that sounds like a mess! I have used fabric sheets, but I’ve never actually used liquid fabric softener. It wasn’t something my mom used so I was never taught to actually use it. Guess I lucked out there. 😉 I’m still amazed though at how amazing the vinegar is. Sometimes the basic things really are the best.
Love seeing all these remedy’s I haven’t got a tumble dryer and I dry my washing and towels on the line or an airer but they always feel stiff has anyone got any ideas how to keep them softer thank you
I hope someone can give you some tips that don’t require a dryer. I have found that good wind movement can help hang drying laundry from being so stiff when they’re dry, but a lot of that depends on Mother Nature so that can just come down to pure luck.
I have made dryer balls with leftover wool yarn. No more fabric softener used! I love them.
No fabric softener needed and reusing leftover items too! A win-win for sure! 🙂
I have a front loading machine and have had many top loaders. My towels have never smelled. These are the reasons: 1. I leave my machine opened to dry out, prevents mildew from forming. 2. My front loader, I run the clean cycle periodically to help with soap build up in the machine. 3. I never use fabric softener or fabric softener sheets for the towel/washclothes, the build up from these products prevents the towels from absorbing water (probably the wax build up you mentioned) so when they are washed again they only attract more soap build up, hence most of the smell. Good way to eliminate the odors. AND I love my dryer balls.
Very good tips! Thank you so much for sharing. I had someone tell me when I bought my front loader to leave the door open to dry out. Sadly my towels become smelly from my bathroom. My towels cannot dry out well between uses just because the bathroom has so much moisture. I have a plant in there that I almost never water because it gets enough just from the moisture. I’m glad you’ve lucked out with no stinky towels!
Your right about leaving your (front loader)
Washer door open while not in use.
It actually says that we are suppose to leave the door open, in the manual, otherwise the leftover water will start to
Mold….
In your description of putting the vinegar into
The compartments, did you say that you remove
A piece of the compartment, THEN you put the vinegar or baking soda in that spot? Or am I misunderstanding? Thank you for thinking s. Information because My hubby loves the super fresh smell of towels and I really do struggle to get them smelling that way, EVEN though I use Tide AND. Liquid Snuggle plus a dryer sheet! It’s rediculous! I’m happy to try this out to get a better result.
So the piece that I remove is the one on the front left. In the picture I have above I have already removed the cup that holds the liquid detergent. It is made to be removed for the use of powdered detergent. Then I put the baking soda in that spot. The vinegar goes into the same spot where you would add the laundry softener. Hope that makes sense! 🙂
I’ve always done this when I wash towels but lately the hubs say they still smell funny. I now add about 30 drops if a citrus (grapefruit, lemon or orang; it must be citrus) essential oil to the rinse dispenser BEFORE I add the vinegar and that seems to do the trick. Grapefruit is my favorite for this but lemon is often cheaper. The citrus is also a disinfectant. Those worried about the smell shouldn’t worry as it does not leave a scent because of the vinegar.
What a great tip Susan! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
What if you don’t have that kin dispenser on your machine? Can you mix them together and and to water?
Hi Sara. If you don’t have that kind of dispenser then you can wash the towels with baking soda, and then once your washer reaches the rinse cycle you can add the vinegar directly to the wash. The same way you would add fabric softener to the laundry. I hope that makes sense. 🙂
Tide liquid detergent made my towels smell musty. when I use Arm and Hammer liquid or Sunlight powder they didn’t smell musty any more.
I am not a fan of Tide detergent. I don’t like how it makes any of my laundry smell. I’m glad you were able to find such an easy solution for getting rid of the musty smell!