Have you ever dried your face or body with a towel that just smelled gross? Ya, me too and it’s one of my biggest pet peeves! Musty or stinky towels are a problem that happens from time to time, but fortunately, there are easy solutions to refresh them and bring back their delicious freshness.
I’ve tried three of the most common smell removing methods and am sharing my go to - tried and true - way to remove smells from your towels. Let’s get it into it. But first….
What Causes Musty Towel Smells? Musty or stinky towel smells are often caused by a buildup of bacteria, mildew, and mold. This buildup can occur when towels are not dried properly after use or stored in damp environments. The most common culprit is leaving a damp towel on the floor or in the hamper and not letting it properly air dry.
What I tested.
To run this test, I had 3 very old and musty smelling soft rib towels that I used for this experiment. I decided to try 3 common methods to remove the smell, they were:
- Vinegar soak: I fully submerged one soft rib Turkish bath towel in a mix of vinegar and water (equal parts) and left it undisturbed for about an hour. I then ran it though a regular wash and dry cycle.
- Baking soda spritz: I laid one bath towel outside in the sun and gave it a heavy sprinkle of baking soda all over. I let it sit for a few hours and then ran it though a regular wash and dry cycle.
- Double wash with vinegar and baking soda: I first washed the bath towel with vinegar and then washed it again with baking soda and detergent, and ran it through a normal dry cycle.
The TRUE way to get that funky smell out of your towels.
After testing, I found a clear winning method to get that musty smell out of your towels - here it is, the one-two punch that will keep that nasty smell away.
How to Keep Your Towels Fresh: Now that your towels are ohhhh so fresh and so clean, here are some tips on keeping them that way:
- Allow towels to dry completely between uses by hanging them in a well-ventilated area.
- Wash towels regularly to prevent bacteria buildup.
- Avoid overloading the washing machine, as this can prevent towels from getting thoroughly cleaned.
- Periodically add vinegar or baking soda to your wash routine to prevent odors and maintain freshness. Never add them together as they will essentially cancel each other out.
There you have it! Hope this get the smell out of any towels (or clothes) that you have.
