Fresh Laundry?

Question

I do laundry often. Espeically face & body towels usually the same day. But, I noticed since i moved into my new house that the towels never smell fresh. They keep this mildew odor and it's only on the towels. I use Tide w/Downy and Snuggle fabric softner and that still does not help. I'm wondering if it's something with my water. I moved earlier this year into a new constructed home/sub division. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Answer 1

Is the area served by well water? It could be the water itself.
Were the towels left damp for several days? Mildew could have developed as a result.
Keep the lid of the washer open when not in use to prevent mildew from forming inside

Here are a few things to try:
First wash the towels in HOT, 110-120°, water.

You could try drying the towels outside on a sunny day. Sometimes the sunlight is enough to do the trick.

Adding regular bleach when you wash your white towels should kill the mildew. Read the care instructions on the towels to be sure this is ok. Do not use regular bleach on colored towels. Dry immediately

Add 2 cups of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to the final rinse. Dry immediately

Always make sure your towels are completely dry before putting them away.

Answer 2

Your water source could very well be the problem. Make sure that your clothes are fully dry when you put them away. Try to line your drawer with fabric softner and put some fabric softner on top of your towels then close the drawer. See how that works.

Answer 3

Do all the things the above person said, after you've washed them in a regular load of hot water and added 1 cup of ammonia.

Do not try to cover the smell with Downey or Fabreeze.

Answer 4

im asuminng u probably have some plumbing problems and u should avoid using ur towels or until u get ur problem worked out and go to a launderomat , its that or u have not been putting ur clothes in the dryer for a long time...

Answer 5

sounds like its the water, have it checked , or install a softner,