How to get the smell out of towels

Do your clothes have a moldy, mildew or sour smell? Learn this quick trick on how to get the smell out of towels?

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I know you’ve all done it, left the clothes sitting in the washing machine too long.  When you go to pull them out, they have a horrible mildew smell.  I just went to do laundry and our pool towels were stuffed in a tall laundry basket.  Man, those smelly towels had been in there a long time!

If you’ve ever tried to wash musty smells out of clothes the regular way, you know that doesn’t really take the smell out.  I’ve washed clothes two and three times before and the stinky smell just doesn’t come out.  Keep reading to learn how to get the stinky smell out of towels.

How to get the smell out of moldy towels

Getting the stinky smell out is so easy.  I was talking to my sister-in-law the other day and she had no idea how to do it, but I’ve been doing it for years.

You load your smelly clothes or bath towels in the washing machine for a load of laundry.  Don’t stuff your machine or do a large load because you want the towels to have room to slosh around and get nice and clean.

Using vinegar is one of the easiest things to do to remove mildew smell. Pour one to two cups of distilled vinegar and run the wash cycle like you normally would without adding detergent.  Usually, I don’t measure it out, I just give a good pour!  Many times I use the speed wash cycle for this step. Use hot water.

Now you’ll want to wash towels a second time using your regular laundry soap. I’ve never used liquid fabric softener because I don’t like all the strong smells, but if do use it, go ahead and add it to your softener dispenser now.

How to get mildew smell out of towels using baking soda.

Yes, there is another way to get the smell out of your towels and clothes. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer.

After your vinegar wash, instead of going straight to the regular wash, you can sprinkle 1/2 cup baking soda on your clothes or towels. Run your machine on another wash cycle.

You can stop here and dry your towels or wash them another time using your normal laundry detergent. The underlying moldy smell should be gone. It’s time to remove your towels from the washer and move them to the dryer.

Drying your towels

Did you know some people dry their towels wrong?

Many people stuff their dryer full of clothes. Think about doing smaller loads.

1. It takes longer to dry.
2. Clothes may not dry completely.

I normally need to dry towels longer than the normal load, because they can still be a little wet. Even if they are a little damp, a new moldy smell will start.

Wool dryer balls are great to use too because they create more space between your clothes. They are also reusable. Many people choose to use these instead of dryer sheets.

Can I use fabric softener on towels?

Everyone wants their towels to smell good and feel soft, however, you shouldn’t use fabric softener on towels. The liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets make towels less absorbent. It should be okay to use every once and in a while, but I wouldn’t make it a habit for every load of towels you do.

More cleaning tips

• 50 places forget to clean
• 30-day cleaning challenge
• The Kon Mari Method you have to start today!

Try this great natural way on how to get that smell out of moldy towels the next time you get that awful whiff.