How can I get my towels to smell fresh? They always have a funky smell after even one use.?

Answer 1

They probably aren't being hung in an area ventilated well enough for them to dry quickly.......maybe hang them outside the steamy bathroom near a source of fresh air to dry?

Answer 2

Sometimes you can use too much detergent and that leaves residue on your laundry. Every once in a while I will do three rinses on my clothes. Then sometimes with the smaller things, I get a big pot and add something like Miracle White to it and boil my white articles or hand towels.

Yes, mildew is a big problem too. I have make sure my fact towels are dry before I put them in the hamper or the mildew sets in.

All of the advice is great except you have to be careful with liquid bleach. It melts polyester and if your towels are not 100% cotton, they will get holes in them.

I suggest that you start over by re-washing all your towels, rinsing them more than once and then getting them right into the dryer. You can use dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener. But softener does leave a coating on your clothes. What I do is buy really fragrant bar soap and put it in my towel cabinet and lingerie drawers. It is an old school thing but works great and for a really long time. I've had some bars stored that way for over a year and they still smell wonderful. Good luck.

Answer 3

The funky smell is mildew--you've either let the towels sit wet in the washer too long, or you didn't dry them completely, or they don't dry out after you've used them. Once the smell is there, it will continue, even if you wash the towels, until you take steps to kill the mildew. Here's how:

Wash the towels in hot water, but DO NOT use bleach--instead, add some white vinegar to the wash cycle. I use between 1 and 2 cups, but I've seen other online tips that say 1/4 to 1/2 a cup is fine, too. Vinegar is non-toxic, color-safe, and really inexpensive. Your towels won't smell like vinegar when you're done, either. :) (You can add a small amount to the rinse cycle instead, if you like, but I think it makes more sense to add a little more to the wash cycle.)

Make sure you get the towels out of the wash quickly and that you dry them completely in order to keep the smell from returning!

Answer 4

1. Wash in COLD water.
2. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to water as it is filling.
3. Gain detergent works best for keeping the smell, I personally love the new apple mango one.
4. I use the Gain softener that goes with the detergent.
5. Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of ammonia. Believe it or not it kills the smell.
6. Use the powdered version of OxyClean and add one scoop.
7. Make sure you don't overload the washer or the dryer. I will wash one load, but dry it in two loads.
8. After you are done using the towels, make sure they are hung up completely open.
9. Also if they are white, use bleach. If they are colored, use color safe bleach.

I have 5 kids and my husband does pipelining maintenance so laundry is something I am starting to get very good at. LOL!!! I can't stand stinky towels. But the ammonia and baking soda definitely work.

Answer 5

Bacteria causes the funky towels. Bacteria grows on damp and wet towels. So things likes leaving wet towels in a hamper until they're washed and folding them while they're not completely dry will bring on smelly towels. Some fabrics and some colors are especially prone to becoming smelly (dark blues, dark browns, dark reds). Use an effective deteregent, softener (altho that takes away some of the absorbent qualities of the towel). Hang them to dry in an airy place, near sunshine if possible. If you tumble dry them and they aren't fully dry, hang them up to air dry before you fold them. Or if during winter months, hang them near the heater or radiator.

Answer 6

I, too, love fabric softener in my rinse cycle for towels BUT the use of fabric softener on towels prevents them from soaking up water.

Fabric softener is made from something that is sort of waxy which causes it to adhere to the fabric fibers.

You might try buying a type of liquid freshner made specificially for linens. I think places like Linens n Things and Bed Bath & Beyond sell these. They're usually lavender scented but there may be other fragrances available.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

If you are leaving the clothes in the washer overnight and then trying to dry them it will cause the clothes or towels to have a real funky smell. I'm thinking that is the problem becauses other then that you shouldn't have any problems. Try drying them right after you wash them that should take care of the problem.

Answer 8

Gain is awesome the detergent and the fabric softner work great together, the smell lasts for days in your towels, i would say it is one of the best out there. It is a little more expensive but not that bad, its worth it. It will make all your clothes and towels smell wonderful!

Answer 9

Skip the fabric softener which leaves a coating on your towels and makes them less absorbent. Instead add about 1/4-1/2 cup of Baking Soda to the wash (in addition to your detergent) and dry them immediately and thoroughly after laundering them. Works every time.
Good luck!

Answer 10

Well it depends on what you do after you use them. You might want to gather all the towels in your house, add hot water to a bucket or a tub or something, and I recommend using Tide and a little bleach. Then soak your towels in there for maybe 30 minutes. Then rinse them well, and put them in the dryer (or in the washer if you want it to be really clean).

After you use them, don't leave them in a pile on the floor, or when you hang them up make sure it's not bunched up. Use a clothes hanger if you have to.

Answer 11

hang them in a place where there's direct sunlight and be sure that it's totally dry if you re-use it...

it would also be best if you wash your towel with fabric softener/conditioner like Downy, there is a variant of this brand that contains antibacterial properties, since bacteria may be one of the factors causing a funky smell to your towels...