How can I get the musty smell out of my bath mat?

Question

Regular laundering does not work, it's just stinky and tends to make the whole load stinky. It's part of a theme set, so buying a new one, while a possiblity, is not what I want to do. Any ideas?

Answer 1

fill the washing machine with warm water, add 1 cup of baking soda. mix it around with your hand til its blended. throw in thw mat. turn the machine on and let it run for 5 min. now shut it off and let the mat soak for a few hours or overnight. turn on the machine and let it finish its cycle. add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Answer 2

Wash it with your detergent and add baking soda or vinegar to the water to freshen and deoderize. Also, if it wouldn't damage it, add some bleach to kill the mildew. (It sounds like there is mildew in the backing that is making it smell. ) Try hanging it up after using it and see if that helps. Perhaps allowing it to air dry would stop the mildew from developing. If it keeps happening, maybe you should get a different type of bath mat- it's not worth the smell and bother! Just get one in a color that matches your decor. My bathmat hangs on the tub behind the shower curtain and no on sees it anyway!

Answer 3

Your best bet, if it is colorfast, and hopefully a light color at that, is to take the whole set and wash it in as hot a water as you can, with a bit of bleach. The reason to wash them all together is so that if any fading does occur, it will be on all the pieces and will hopefully be uniform. Using the lowest amount of bleach will help minimize the fading and mixing it in the wash water before adding the items first should also help. Using the hottest water you can will help the bleach infuse into the fabrics completely and help to remove the mold and mildew that have infected that item. AS SOON AS THE CYCLE FINISHES, run the fabric through one more time, this time with a cup of white vinegar in the rinse water. You could also add a cup of baking soda to help. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CYCLE ENDS, remove all the items and put them into the dryer or hang them, preferably outside in the sun, if there is a pattern, hang with the wrong side out so that it will minimize any additional fading. Once an item is infected with mildew or mold, getting rid of it is IMPERATIVE, as each time it gets wet, it will continue to mold and mildew and infect other laundry items. It is important to clean these items that are infected and thoroughly launder and dry them. I hope these tips help! Good luck!

Answer 4

assuming this item can't be bleached I would try presoaking by itself in laundry soap mixed with baking soda. I would also add a fabric softener to the rinse.

Answer 5

soak in baking soda for about an hour in bathtub or washer. Should do the trick. Use warm water.

Answer 6

Soak overnight in soapy water with a bit of clorox, then wash all by itself in your washer use warm water if possible.If entire scent is not gone repeat process.Soon after your odour will be gone.

Answer 7

you could try washing it by hand with a big brush and soap then rise it and add some dawny for it could smell good and put it to dry on top of the door not dryer.

Answer 8

wash it with baking soda,then air dry it,when finished drying try to freebreez it,that should do the job,i know how it is to have a set that you really like,whatever you do don't let your man get to it.

Answer 9

i find that using household cleaners like pinesol or lysol help with getting rid of odors in fabric along with the regular laundry soap,,also,, try oxyclean it really works

Answer 10

i think u should buy another one with no plastic cover on the back. all cotton