My towels and washcloths have a stench. They smell fresh when they come out of the dryer, but as soon as they are wet they have a very strong musty/mildew smell.
I use Tide w/bleach, warm wash, cold rinse, and a dryer sheet.
They only smell when they get wet. Even if it is 5 minutes after they are taken from the dryer.
What is causing this smell? I live in a military housing community and have asked others in my neighborhood if they have the same problem and they do not.
2006-07-20 07:09:28 · 5 answers · asked by serenity_cherub 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
The following may be factors:
Age of the towel.
Improper rinsing or using too much soap that isn't getting completely rinsed out.
The water that you're using for laundry.
The location where they're stored.
Some combination of the above.
I have a similar problem with men's underwear. Body odors can be really difficult.
There is a Febreze brand product for [supposedly] removing odors from laundry - Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator" It's sold in half-gal. jugs and is not cheap. You could try that. I use it on underwear.
Also, try using warm rinses and setting your machine to rinse twice; you may not be getting all the soap out.
Evaluate how much soap you're using - you may be able to get by using less.
Did they get mildew on them in the past from being wet, dirty and stored in a stuffed hamper?
Is your washer old? Could the mildew smell be originating in the machine?
Is your water hard? or softened? If it's hard, try adding a softener to the water. [Do they still sell Calgon?] Then rinse twice.
Try HOT washes and double hot rinses.
Change detergent brand.
Try an experiment: take your towel laundry to a laundramat in another town (to get a different water source). Do they still smell? Then it's probably not the water.
Buy new towels! If they immediately start to stink like the old ones, you will have a clue.
2006-07-20 07:27:43 · answer #1 · answered by Kraftee 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most likely the problem is bacteria. If you can wash your towels in hot water
I suggest you do so and add a little baking soda to the wash cycle. I use
vinegar to soften clothes in the rinse cycle this might help too.
2006-07-20 14:17:56 · answer #2 · answered by Ammy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible that your bleach is causing a foul smell, either that or check to see if they are coming in contact with any dusty things and picking up mildew that way. Try a different kind of detergent. "All" is good.
2006-07-20 14:14:24 · answer #3 · answered by Maedhros 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you wash make sure they are dry or else it will build a smell to it.
2006-07-20 15:06:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
SCRUB HARDER RUBBER DUCKY
2006-07-20 14:13:31 · answer #5 · answered by Penney S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋