You generally don't need to throw away smelly towels; they can often be revived by deep cleaning with vinegar and baking soda to strip detergent buildup, which causes the odor. However, if towels have visible mold or continue to smell after deep cleaning, they should be discarded as they become a health hazard. Always ensure towels are completely dry after washing to prevent mildew from returning.
Bath towels are the workhorses of the towel family, used daily and exposed to frequent washing. As a general rule, it is recommended to replace your bath towels every two to three years, with five years the maximum.
Try as you might to keep your towels clean, they can often end up smelling less than fresh. One of the main reasons for this is the build-up of detergent; soap residue can collect in the fibres of your towels over time and prevent them from effectively absorbing water.
Towels are prone to bacterial growth for several reasons.
First, they're used in bathrooms, which are naturally rife with moisture, and bacteria grow in wet places. Second, they're very absorbent, and they can stay damp for quite a while after use – particularly in those humid bathrooms.
To help get odor out of towels, it's best to wash them separately and using hot water. Towels are thick and have many fibers to absorb water, dirt and residue in their everyday use. Hot water penetrates the fibers best and helps your detergent do its job.
Freshness comes from frequent laundering, thorough drying, and subtle fragrance techniques like essential oils or scented sachets. Softness is preserved through gentle detergents, fabric conditioners made for towels, and proper storage in dry, clean spaces.
Detergent Buildup
Dr. Braly says detergent buildup is a frequent reason for towels smelling musty even after a wash. While it may seem like using more laundry detergent when running a load of towels will clean them more thoroughly and make them smell better, the opposite is actually true.
While vinegar on its own is a miracle worker, it becomes a superstar when coupled with baking soda. To perform this deep clean, you'll need to run two towel-only loads. But, in this method, you load the towels with a quarter cup of baking soda first. Then run the washing machine on the hottest cycle possible.
Smelly kitchen towels are caused by bacteria, moisture, and detergent residue, but the good news is they can be freshened up with the right care routine. By washing in hot water, using vinegar and baking soda, and ensuring they dry properly, you can keep your kitchen towels odour-free and hygienic.
The "bathroom towel trick" usually refers to a popular, space-saving, and decorative towel rolling method that makes towels look like spa rolls, creating tight cylinders that store neatly and look elegant in bathrooms, often by folding in triangles and tucking the end into a pocket. Another less common "trick" involves using a towel for jawline exercise, where you bite down on a folded towel to strengthen jaw muscles, or a cooling method with a wet towel near a fan.
“On day zero, when the towels are washed and still not used, you can still culture bacteria from the towel. On day one, the bacterial count increases. On day five of use, your towel contains so much bacteria, which I'm sure some of you can smell.
Towels should be replaced when they become scratchy, have an odor even after washing, are no longer absorbent, are ripped or fraying, or are several years old. Bathroom towels should typically be replaced every two to five years, and kitchen towels every one to two years, depending on usage and quality.
"Wash your towels in hot water with a cup of vinegar, and then run again in hot water with a half-cup of baking soda. That will strip your towels from all of that residue and mildew smell and will actually leave them feeling fluffy and smelling fresh."
If the dryer isn't regularly cleaned or properly ventilated, mold can develop inside, causing a musty smell that then transfers to the laundry. Lint filters and the condenser, which are not cleaned regularly, can also trap dust and detergent residues, contributing to the unpleasant odour.
Now, follow these steps to get your towels smell-free:
If your towels are less absorbent than they once were, they may have a film from dryer sheets and fabric softeners. Stripping will help remove the residue and improve absorbency. If your towels feel stiff or sticky, it's time to strip the residues to return their soft feel.
Wash towels at 40°C (warm) for regular cleaning and to preserve softness/color, but use 60°C (hot) for a deeper clean, sanitizing to kill germs, especially if someone is sick, to remove oils and bacteria, but be aware it can wear them out faster. Use a good detergent and avoid fabric softener to maintain absorbency.
Fabric softener might make your towels feel fluffy at first, but over time, it coats the fibers with a waxy layer, trapping moisture, bacteria, and bad smells.
Hot Vinegar Wash: Add 1-2 cups of plain white vinegar (no detergent!) to the washing machine and run a cycle on the hottest setting. 2. Hot Baking Soda Wash: After the vinegar cycle, run another wash with 1 cup of baking soda, also on a hot cycle. This freshens and deodorizes your towels.
Soak Clothes in a Vinegar Solution:
Vinegar is a natural odor neutralizer and can help eliminate mildew smells. Fill a basin or sink with a mixture of one part white vinegar and two parts water. Soak your clothes in this solution for at least 30 minutes.
Additionally, according to a 2024 survey of 1,376 hotel managers by Wellness Heaven, which asked them which items are most commonly stolen, towels top the list, with 79.2 percent reporting guests nipping the cozy threads. They were followed by bathrobes, hangers, pens, and cosmetics, rounding out the top five.