My towels tend to have an odor to them after one use. It is sort of a musty smell but not quite.?

Question

My husband dosen't smell it but both of my daughters do. What should I add to make them smell fresh and clean?

Answer 1

febreeze

Answer 2

The towels have this smell because they aren't really clean in the first place. The laundry detergent and/or fabric softener you use is just covering up the smell, and when they get wet upon first use the real smell is activated.


This can be caused by one or both of two things. First, your washing machine might have mold build up. You can remove the tub portion of it and thorough clean the inside of it, which would be best. Or you can run an empty load (don't put any clothes in it) using 2 cups bleach and hot water to kill and remove the mold. However, this might not get to all of the mold infested areas, if mold in the machine is your problem.

The second cause could be that your towels have gotten moldy through other means than your washing machine, maybe from laying around wet for hours at a time. Either way, they need to be thorough cleaned in a clean washing machine. Buy some Lysol disinfectant cleaner or something similar. Put the towels in the washing with some in the water and soak them for a couple of hours, then wash the towels in warm water and detergent.

Edit: Using a product to cover up the smell doesn't get rid of the source of the smell, which is the mold. And the mold and bacteria which causes it is dangerous to you and your family.

Answer 3

Even after one use towels can start to smell musty especially if they are not spread properly to dry. Best cure is to make sure they are spread out and if they're very wet they should go in the wash.

Answer 4

Dry them immediately from the washer (after washer stops) to the dryer. Sometimes not drying them immediately will create a musty smell in towels.

When you wash towels put lots of downey liquid and then I put then in a dryer with a fragranced bounce/fleecy.

Answer 5

Hello =)

Wash in hot, rinse in hot (or warm if you don't have a hot setting)..

Use a little (very little) clorox -- even if the towels are coloured.

Don't leave them sit in the washer wet....get them right into a hot (hottest setting) drier.

That should solve the problem

It actually is a little bit of mildew forming from them lying in a pile, wet, after use. Only heat and bleach will kill the mildew organisms. Anything else will just be a cover-up..

Namaste, and Happy Holidays,

--Tom

Answer 6

Don't leave your towels in the washer too long, that musty smell is mold. If you do happen to forget them in there, then run them through the wash again with hot water... and if they are white/light, use bleach.

Answer 7

Your towels are growing bacteria on them because you hang them up wet and they are in a warm climate, next time you wash your laundry use some scented fabric towels or after each use you can spray them with Frebreeze, that will stop smell and give your bathroom a nice fresh smell also.

Answer 8

Sams Club sells a product called Odor-Ban. It is a germicide along with many floral fragrances. It will kill nearly any odor, many of which are bacteria based. You'll smell a bit on the flowery side, but it will kill that lingering laundry odor. Good Luck.

Answer 9

This is caused by mold.

The best thing for it is a cooler, less humid environment and washing the towel after each use.

Putting harsh chemicals on it might cause an allergic reaction, and is probably not the healthiest thing you can do. In that area, I'd limit it to one Bounce dryer sheet per load.

Answer 10

I love the product call SoilLove, it comes in a green bottle for like 1.69 at Albertsons. I put it in a spray bottle and just mist your towels before washing them. Also used as a stain remover. You could also try dryer sheets for your dryer, but if your washer will allow it use a downy ball and "Downy" in your wash.

Answer 11

dryer sheets. but it might be the location in which you are storing them, like a musty smelling closet, or under the musty smelling sink. I suggest improving the ventilation in these areas, cleaning them up, and adding an air freshener there.