My towels have a musty smell to them, how can I get it out?
Question:My washer has a stainless tub--I have tried vinegar with each rinse cycle, I have tried cleaning my washer/washing towels with a product called purewash, I use gain laundry detergent and downy softener. I immediately put them into the dryer after washing and do not let them sit and sour. They smell ok when they come out of the dryer, but the minute they get wet, they smell musty.help!
Answers:
I have kids that just throw the towels everywhere so of course they get musty! I use Ammonia or 20 mule team Borax every-time I wash my towels to get rid of the smell and it works perfectly! I have also heard the "do not use fabric softener" rule.I disobey it every single wash! I was born and raised with Downy in my towels and I just have to do it! Just be sure you use HOT water with the ammonia or borax it will help a great deal..Hope this helps
Ughhhh I hate it I have it that problem too and I will be checking back for some help with that too!!
Try using drier sheets. I can't think of what the problem could be because as long as you take them right out of the washer and put them into the drier they should smell fine. Just try drier sheets and see if that works
I'm not sure you can prevent that. It is partly that the dust collects on them when you hang them to dry after use, and partly that new mildew or whatever is starting to grow on them. If you want clean smelling towels, I think you need to always use a fresh towel. The only suggestion I have is to make sure the bathroom they are hanging in is mildew and mold-free. I had some mold hidden between the sink and the bathtub--once I cleaned out that cranny with a coathanger and bleach, towels stayed fresh longer--about four days. Before that they'd smell after just one use. Oh, and bleach kills that stuff, so bleaching your towels will help if you can do that without ruining the color.
See if washing fewer towels at a time works.
Once you've let them sour they will stay that way till you find a way to get rid of it permanently.
I suggest Oxyclean in a wash load with HOT water. It doesn't do as good in cold water.
It will get out everything! I love it and it takes out the stinky yellow underarm stains my husband has on his white undershirts. They do the same thing, smell good, but as soon as they get warm on your body they start to smell again. Once I started using oxyclean I haven't had anymore problems with it.
Don`t ever put fabric softner in with your rinse water or the fabric sheets neither. This makes the towel less absorbent to dry after showering and I too have noticed a musty smell when I put them away in my linen closet.
I now lay downey sheets in between my towels and they are no longer musty smelling!
Go the laundry mat and rewash!
If that don't work then buy better towels.
I bleach my towels. I use about half the recommended amount and it doesn't bleach out the colors but helps keep them smelling fresher and I feel like they are cleaner.
All of the above suggestions sound good and I have used them all.
My towels did stop smelling musty but I forgot which one helped.
Just make sure you wash and dry them as hot as possible.
If none of the above help, try hanging them outside on a clothesline to dry on a sunny day. I know they will not be as soft (wind helps that) but it may take out the musty smell. (you can always bring them in to the dryer to fluff them up)
OK, I know, so who has a clothesline nowdays.
Try washing them with oxyclean. Let them soak in the oxyclean (about 4 scoops added to the wash) for at least 4 hours to overnight.
Scalding hot water is the only change you need to make.
BLEACH THEM...
AND PLEASE GET TIDE DETERGENT WITH BLEACH FOR FURTHER USE...USE BORATEEM FOR FRESH WASH
Downy softener holds down absorbency, especially if your towels are dark colored. It sounds like the towels are getting either only partly dry and then folded, the mustiness never completely left the towels, the storage area is musty or the bathroom is musty.
You have to play detective to find where the problem lies. I would take a few towels of different colors and try using Oxygen cleaners, Biz, and detergent to get them really, really clean and fresh. Then dry completely either outside or in the dryer.
Do sheets and other items get musty washed in the same load?
Are you the only one who notices?
Is there a black mold on the rubber washer seals?
Are you using regular detergent in a front loader that requires HE detergent (low sudsing)?
Are you using the HOT temp or low temp?
the best thing I have found to get rid of musky smells is by adding ammonia to the wash. Use less detergent because ammonia is sudsy.
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