how do you get that terrible smell out of you towels?

Answer 1

Sour smelling towels are a common problem, and no matter how long or how often they’re washed, the sour smell sometimes remains. Towels are often thick and plush, and cotton is highly absorbent. Towels dry slowly, and before they end up in the wash, they can develop strong odors. These are is some of the main reasons sour smells permeate the fabric and hold on indefinitely.

If your towels smell sour, try the following washing tips and suggestions. It is possible to remove the sour smell, and you can do it without spending a small fortune in the process. Don't turn your sour towels into rags. These tips and suggestions for removing sour smells from fabric really work. Your formerly sour towels will come out of the dryer smelling clean and fresh.

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.

This is my help from Washington, D.C. USA.

Answer 2

Add vinegar to the final rinse. Or you could try baking soda in the wash. And make sure to dry your towels thoroughly: It doesn't take much to encourage mold and mildew to grow.

If that doesn't work, there might be a problem with your water. You should be able to send a sample for testing.

Good luck!

Answer 3

The smell comes from being wet and mildew. Use a dryer sheet when you dry them and then I suggest using a fresh towel each day.

Answer 4

Mold and Mildew, also known as fungus, are a real mixed bag of opinions. Some sources report that bleach will kill all organisms while others say that bleach is not useful in killing the fungi because the roots of the problem are not removed because the bleach does not penetrate. That would not be the case of a towel. In fact I find this question perplexing. A towel washed in bleach should be cleaned. Prehaps you are not doing something right. Are you using water and drying right away? Some say that sun will kill the fungi better than a dryer. Are you storing the towels in a fungus ridden drawer or closet? How to Remove Mold and Mildew When the weather is damp, you may find items in your home that have musty odors and mildew stains. Once you find mold and mildew spots, remove them as soon as you can. Old stains are very hard to remove. To remove mold and mildew stains from fabric: Brush off all the mold. If you can, take the item outside to do this. If you can not take the item outside, use a stiff brush or broom and brush the item over a piece of newspaper. Then, roll up the paper and throw it away. If the mildew is on a carpet, vacuum to remove as much as you can. Throw the vacuum cleaner bag away after vacuuming the mold. Dry-clean materials that can not be washed. Be sure to point out spots to the cleaners. Wash clothing at once with laundry soap and water. Rinse well, but dry in the sun, not the clothes dryer. Heat from the dryer may make spots harder to remove. If a stain remains, try to: soak in a laundry pre-soak product such as Axion or Biz. bleach the spots, but first be sure the bleach method you choose will not change the color of the fabric. Use: €a non-chlorine bleach that is safe for all fabrics. €a lemon juice and salt solution for colored fabric. €a mixture of 2 Tablespoons of chlorine bleach in one quart of water. Use hot water if it is safe for the fabric. Never use chlorine bleach on silk or wool, or a fabric that says "no chlorine bleach" on the label. €dye the item a darker color if the stain remains. This may cover the stain so you can use the item. Bath tubs, shower stalls, tiled floors and bathroom walls often have mildew. Use a brush. Scrub with a mixture of 1/2 to 1 cup of chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water. Wear water-proof gloves to protect your hands. An old toothbrush works well on grout. Soak plastic shower curtains in a solution of chlorine bleach and water. Then wash. Upholstery, mattresses and rugs should be cleaned using as little water as possible. Brush off mold. Shampoo lightly with an upholstery shampoo, or use a rug shampoo on carpets. Wipe with a damp cloth. Dry in the sun, if possible, or use a fan. Spray with a fungicide spray. Luggage and leather shoes should be aired and dried after brushing off mold. Make a mixture of 1 cup denatured alcohol and 1 cup water. Dip a cloth in this mixture and wring it out. Rub mildew spots gently. Dry well. You can also use saddle soap. Dry and air well before storing. Remove the odor of mildew as soon as you can. Brush the area. Then wash and dry well. The odor often goes away when the area is dry. You may wish to spray with a fungicide spray. Prepared by Barbara Dahl, Consumer and Family Economics Educator, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service

Answer 5

After you wash and dry your towels, do not fold them. Stretch them out on your washer and dryer or the back of a chair and let them dry overnight. Dryers don't completely get towels dry, there is always a little more dampness left in them.

Answer 6

Put a couple of cups of white vinegar in your wash water. Works good for removing odor of cat urine so should work on almpst anything else.

Answer 7

Put vinagar in the wash water, [use warm water]