A Simple Solution for Gross, Smelly Towels

Smelly towels are a result of too much product buildup. Doucefleur/Shutterstock

If my inbox is any indicator of what’s going on in the world, and I believe it is, smelly towels are a growing problem for consumers—and certainly for my dear “Everyday Cheapskate” readers. And it’s a rather new problem, the result of modern things such as front-loading, high-efficiency washing machines, detergents, fabric softeners, and damp conditions.

If you’ve noticed gross, smelly towels in your houses, albeit appearing to be washed, dried, and ready to go, perhaps you’ve also noticed that your towels have begun to repel rather than absorb water.

Smell

That moldy, mildewy, gross smell? It’s the result of the buildup of detergents and fabric softeners that haven’t been rinsed out properly, together with damp, moist conditions. What you have there is a breeding ground for bacteria. No wonder you’ve got a big, gross, smelly laundry problem.

Absorbency

If your towels have stopped doing what they’re supposed to do well—absorb water—that problem stems from the same source: detergent and fabric softener buildup. Seriously! With detergent and laundry, more is decidedly not better.

Science

You’re going to use white vinegar and baking soda to fix this skanky problem once and for all. But don’t use these products at the same time. This will be a two-step process.

Vinegar contains acetic acid that breaks down mineral deposits and dissolves the buildup of detergent and fabric softeners. Baking soda is alkaline and breaks down dirt and grease while neutralizing odors.

Used together, white vinegar and baking soda counteract each other. For this process, we want them to do their work independently. This will strip the residue and leave them fresh and able to absorb more water again.

Wash No. 1

Load towels into the washer loosely. Set it for a long wash cycle and fill with the hottest water that you can manage. Turn the water heater up to 140 F for this event, or boil water on the stovetop and carefully transport it to the washer. The point is that the water must be very hot to kill the bacteria. Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the load. Allow it to run the entire cycle, and then leave the towels in the washer.

Wash No. 2

Fill the machine once more with the hottest water possible. This time, add 1 cup of baking soda. Run the entire cycle.

Dry Completely

Whether you hang the towels outdoors or put them in the dryer, make sure that they’re completely and thoroughly dry. Now smell them. If they don’t smell fabulously clean, repeat Wash No. 1 and Wash No. 2 as necessary until the odor is completely gone. The investment you’ve made in these towels makes them worth the effort.

Maintenance

Find your owners manual and discover the exact amount of detergent that you should be using in your washing machine. Measure it every time. Never add more than recommended, especially if you have a front-loading, high-efficiency machine that uses very little water.

Never use softening products—liquid softener or dryer sheets—on your towels. These products coat the fibers with a thin layer of chemicals, which make towels less absorbent and prone to product buildup, aka smelly towels!

Instead, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the last rinse. This will get out the last of the detergent, which causes towels to become scratchy, and prevent that horrid product buildup that can turn smelly.

Always dry towels thoroughly before folding and storing them.

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