How do you get the sour smell out of towels? I notice the smell after about 2-3 uses, i use fab/soft regulary

Question

I've tried several different fabric softners and they only last a couple days. I think its more intense on the thicker more expensive towels. Please help

Answer 1

Buy some dry bleach or some Borax, that will refreshen them.

Answer 2

Hi, it sounds like your towels are not drying all the way between showers/baths .. it's more noticeable on the thicker towels because they will of course need more time to dry. If they are staying damp overnight, they will start to smell sour within a couple of days. Try towel bars instead of hooks, even over the shower curtain rod if necessary. (In Germany lots of homes have heated towel racks, helps with drying and has the towels nice and cosy when you get out of the shower ..... it's great but I've never seen them here unfortunately.)

As for washing, I would suggest hot water, powdered detergent and an additive, like Borax or Amaze, and NO fabric softener. Vinegar in the rinse is a good idea. Fabric softener really reduces the absorbability of even the best towels. If you use the dryer, make sure they are "bone-dry" before removing and folding your towels. If the weather (and space) allows, hanging them outside to dry is the best you can do.

Hope you get your problem resolved.

Answer 3

Stop using fabric softener and just wash the towels in hot water with no detergent and an extra rinse for 2 or 3 cylces... then make sure towels are hung to dry after each use..the fabric softener leaves a residue that holds dampness, dirt and odors..you will be amazed if you watch a load being washed without detergent for a while at how gray and sudsy the water becomes...try it then cut way back on detergent and eliminate fabric softener

Answer 4

Add a little baking soda to the next wash and make sure the towels are getting thoroughly dried before folding.

As far as a sour smell after a few uses, make sure that you're allowing the towels plenty of air exposure between uses and that your bathroom isn't excessively humid. If you use one side of the towel more, turn it out when hanging.

Really, though, after about three uses, you should probably launder a towel anyway, in my opinion.

Answer 5

I was having the same issue with my clothes and towels. I hung some clothes out on the line and noticed that those items never got the "smell". What I realized was that my clothes were not getting all the way dry. My dryer is 12 yrs old, so I lengthed the drying time on and that has cleared up the problem of mildewing smelling clothes. Also had hubby check the hose and that had a lot of lint built up. He replaced the hose and that seem to help things dry better tto.

Answer 6

Next time you wash them put a cup of baking soda or washing soda in the wash water with the regular detergent. That will help freshen the towels and get rid of the sour smell. Also, be sure they're completely dry before you take them out of the dryer. You can buy washing soda in a yellow box next to the detergents at the store. It's more practical for multiple uses. It really helps with sheets, towels, and workout clothes that can't be bleached.

Answer 7

"GoodyTwoShoes" & "Kanadeiri. . ." have a point. Also, make sure, esp. if you use a building's laundry or a basement area, not to leave your laundry, towels esp., too long before drying.
I am very busy, and forget, and by the next day, in summer esp.--they can 'sour.' This happens wherever you have a hummid climate. And, NEVER stack them up in a hamper. This worsens the problem: leave in an open basket if you have the room. And, don't fold them even if damp, neat looking or not. That always continues the problem. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Don’t Overload

The way in which you do your laundry is as important as the products you use. People often make the mistake of overloading their washing machine. They stuff too many towels or other fabrics into the washer in an effort to save time and money, and the soapy water can’t properly circulate or agitate.

Instead of stuffing as many towels as possible into the washtub, layer them loosely, and cut back on the number you wash at one time. Chances are if your laundry is able to properly agitate in the soapy water, towels that once had a sour smell will come out clean and fresh.

Clean Your Machine

Just because the interior of a washing machine fills with soapy water doesn’t mean it doesn’t require occasional cleaning. If your laundry has a sour smell, once or twice a month run hot soapy water and bleach through your empty machine. If you just can’t stand to waste water, bleach, and soap, toss in a few rags and kill two birds with one proverbial stone.

White Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most versatile natural cleaning products. White vinegar is inexpensive, and it really works. Besides effectively cleaning and deodorizing hard surfaces, white vinegar is also great for freshening clothes and getting rid of a sour smell.
If you’re having a problem with sour smelling laundry, add white vinegar to the load. The first time you add white vinegar to a load of sour smelling towels, add one cup during the rinse cycle. If you have a fabric softener dispenser, fill it with a cup of vinegar instead of your normal liquid fabric softener. For subsequent wash loads reduce the amount of white vinegar to one half cup. Although vinegar has a strong smell, the odor of vinegar won’t remain in the towels once they’re dried. You’ll only notice soft fluffy towels that smell clean and fresh.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is also a natural cleaner that’s great for cleaning and freshening fabrics as well as hard surfaces. Along with your regular laundry detergent, measure about ½ cup of baking soda, and add it to the wash. After the towels have agitated for a few minutes, turn off the washing machine and let them soak for a few hours. Once a few hours have passed, continue washing the towels as usual, and dry them as directed. Towels that once smelled sour should come out clean, fluffy, and smelling great.

Dryer Time

Don’t make the mistake of leaving your freshly washed towels in the dryer when the dryer is through. Once the buzzer sounds, check your towels immediately and remove them if they’re dry. If your towels are the least bit damp, continue drying them until they are fully dry. Clean damp towels will turn into sour towels that will smell anything but clean.

Sunshine

Try good old-fashioned sunshine to help remove the sour smell from towels. Wash your towels as directed above, and add liquid fabric softener during the rinse cycle. Instead of tossing the towels in the dryer, take advantage of the free energy offered by the sun. If your towels have been properly washed, they won’t smell sour once they’re dry.

Answer 9

I add some Clorox 2 powder and some baking soda in the wash and I use Downey in the rinse. Keeps the towels smelling fresh for several days.

Answer 10

the best thing to do is not fold them when they are wet, hang them on a radiator or spread them out to dry and do the same when you have used them too you will find they stay a lot fresher by doing this and you will be able to smell your fabric softner on them for longer. when you fold a towel that is wet it will start to smell because damp gets trapped on the fibres. hope this helps.

Answer 11

are u talking 2-3 uses as in, shower, dry off, hang up. next day shower dry off, hang up the next day.
or are you saying after you wash and dry the thing 3 times, the towel starts to smell quicker?

if its the first, the towel isnt drying well enough. a, its probably in the bathroom, hung up on a wall towel rack, and in the dark. at a minimum, take it off the wall rack, and buy a free standing one which gives it more room to breathe and dry.