Need help with stinky towels!!!!!
By winky73
@winky73 (1404)
United States
November 15, 2007 2:59pm CST
Okay....the problem I'm having may not seem like much of a problem....but it's starting to frustrate me.
All my towels have a mildew smell to them.It doesn't matter what laundry soap I use.....I have even gone as far as washing them 2-3 times in a row....but still....they smell....or at least the smell comes back as soon as they get wet.
I have tried different soaps,softners,vinegar and color safe bleach....all with the same end result....stinky towels.
Let me add that I can only wash my laundry in cold water since the water heater in the garage is no longer working right and our landlord has not fixed it yet.I've never had this problem before washing clothes in cold water and even now it's just the towels that are doing this.
I never leave them in the washer longer than I have to....so it's not from that.
I'm starting to think that buying all new white towels(which can be bleached),might be the solution.....unless someone here can give me some idea on what els I can try.
5 people like this
8 responses
@Nerophile (72)
• United States
15 Nov 07
I often have this problem too but generally it is because I've left the towels too long in the washer. The product that has worked great for me is Oxyclean. The powder kind. I add half a scoop to the wash when I rewash stinky towels and it does the trick. For extra measure I throw a dryer sheet in the wash water. I was just noticing last night how incredibly clean and fresh my towels were smelling.
I think it's the combo that gives the extra scent.
I do feel guilty about th environment when I do this. Especially since I've already wasted water by having to run a second load, that would not be needed if I had just remembered to take them out of the washer. I try to make up for the impact to the environment in other ways like shorter showers and extra recycling.
I hope this helps. I've gotten the Oxyclean at wally world or at target before but I think they also have it at grocery stores.
@winky73 (1404)
• United States
5 Dec 07
Okay....the Oxyclean didn't work to well....but I found out that most colored towels are safe to bleach.
All I do now is run the washer full of water add the soap and about a cup of bleach....than I add my towels.I only had one light blue towel that has now a sort of pink color from the bleach.....but all the other ones are just fine.
Best of all.....the towels come out smelling fresh and clean.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I'm so happy to hear that the towels are smelling better.
I've faced similar issues. When our faucet in the bathroom wouldn't
stop leaking we had to turn off our hot water heater.
Then all my laundry had to be done in
cold water. It took awhile to get used to.
Now I don't know how to do laundry any other way!
It's hard to explain.
Thanks for the tip on doing color towels with bleach.
I didn't know that was possible.
I do now!
@balalaika (97)
• Argentina
19 Feb 08
The same thing happens to my sheets...!And even tho i clean them time and time again they still smell a little bit D: i know it sounds gross but i can't help it, i don't know why this happens, i'm not doing anything weird, just sleep, i've read that when this happens it's because of sweat but i've no idea...if anyone has any tips on what to use for cleaning them that'd be nice.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Oct 09
use plain old arm and hammer baking soda in the rinse, no more stink.
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
22 Jun 08
Hi winky73,
How is your towel now? have you ever using softener for your laundry? make sure you wash 3 times row in fresh water after washing them with your soap. Then used your softener. And hang them under the sun. Make sure it's really dry whe you bring them into the house.
OoXx~dian
OoXx~dian
@ALouie (118)
• United States
15 Nov 07
I also frequently have this problem. Usually it depends on the type of towel. Some towels smell right away and others last a long time. It has a lot do do with chance. Keep trying different towels until you get the right ones. Then stay with the same brand, style, and color.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
23 Oct 09
Baking soda is great for fresh-smelling towels! Add a cup to your wash and see if they smell better. It takes smells out of anything. If that doesn't work, sprinkle it on each towel and roll them up and seal them in a box for a day then wash them. That should take care of it!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Oct 09
hi winky the only way towels get stinky and smell of mildew is tat they stayed damp in a warm room. You need to get them really dry either in a drier or outside on a clothes line. also rinse them in a vinegar or baking soda, I think baking soda is best baking soda in hot water then rinse them again and the stink will be gone.baking soda is an odor eater for sure. The baking soda really does take any bad odor out of towels or anything else stinky. It evens take the stink out of stinky socks and shoes.
@sarahkskeeters (235)
• United States
29 Nov 07
Oooooh, I'm glad to see this post. I've been doing laundry all morning and I have the same complaint! Unlike you, though, I did leave a load of towels in the washer too long, which was what started the problem, but I have rewashed them and cannot get the smell out. I've tried different detergents, running 2 cycles back-to-back, and they still stink. I did notice that when I dry them they no longer smell bad, but they don't smell fresh and clean either, so then they go back into the washer. If you can't use hot water at home, though, I would suggest making a special trip to the laundromat or to a friend, neighbor, or relative's house, because cold water is probably not going to get your towels clean and fresh like you want. I'm curious to hear if the oxyclean worked for you, though, so let us know!
