Nothing feels more invigorating than a reviving rubdown post-shower. However, your spirits start deflating to encounter that your towel smells a bit weird. And now you need to know why your towel is smelling mildewy like they sat wet for so long. Don’t worry! We are here to reveal the root cause behind that weird smell and will help you refresh your musty towels.
Reasons Why Your Towels Smell Like Mildew
One of the main causes of this awful smell is detergent build-up. Using too much detergent is not good for your towels. Usually, washing machines fail to rinse out all the detergent and fabric softener and the residue start building over time.
When this residue builds up in the fibres of your towels, it stops them from drying and absorbing effectively. Your towels then become a breeding ground for bacteria and hence the musty smell.
Another reason behind smelly towels is that you don’t let your wet towel dry properly after use. Your towel is going to stay wet if you simply throw your wet towel into the hamper. While your towel is wet, it will eventually attract mildew and end up catching a gross smell.
HOW TO GET MUSTY SMELL OUT OF YOUR TOWELS?
You can make your musty towels fresh again and prevent them from the musty smell by following these easy steps:
Step 1: Machine Wash with Hot Water and White Vinegar
Put your towels in the washing machine along with one cup of white vinegar. Do not add detergent or fabric softener especially bleach. Wash it on a hot water cycle and let your washer do the trick. Vinegar will act as a natural fabric softener.
Step 2: Machine Wash with Hot Water and Baking Soda
Once the wash cycle is done, rewash your towels through the regular cycle again, by using only a half cup of baking soda. Start a second hot water wash cycle with no detergent or fabric softener. Only baking soda will do the job.
Step 3: Dry Your Towels Thoroughly
Once you have done with the second wash, you need to thoroughly dry your towels. You can toss them in the dryer, hang them on a clothesline, or do any way you prefer to dry them. Once your towels are dry, they will smell great and fresh.
Instructions:
This vinegar-baking soda treatment should take care of most odour problems of your towels. You can keep repeating the three steps if your towels still smell a bit gross. Also, note that this is a cleaning treatment and you should not use it as an everyday washing method to clean your towels.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOWELS FRESH?
Now that you know how to restore freshness to your towels, let’s discuss how to make sure that they stay that way. Follow these guidelines to keep your towels soft, clean, and smelling fresh:
1. Always allow your towels to dry completely between each use to avoid germs and bad odours. The best way is to hang your wet towel to dry.
2. Always store completely dry and clean towels in a well-ventilated space that is dry and cool. If your towels are not fully dried, moisture can breed bacteria and cause a musty smell.
3. Stick to the recommended amount of detergent. Excess detergent can leave behind a residue on your towels. When this residue builds up, it does not let your towels dry effectively.
4. Avoid using fabric softener on towels. Fabric softener can leave a residue that makes your towels less absorbent. Use white vinegar instead as a natural fabric softener.
5. Wash your towels frequently. It is recommended to wash bath towels after every three uses. Wash your towel twice a week if you shower every day.
6. Give your towels the white vinegar and baking soda treatment every third or fourth wash to keep them fresh and fluffy.
Do try out these tips to enjoy fresh, soft towels any day. If you want to know how to properly care for your towels, do check out our related blog to learn some amazing tips to keep your towels clean, absorbent and fluffy for the long haul.
