- Skip fabric softener and extra detergent – these can damage towel fibers and trap odors.
- Don’t overload the washer – towels need space to clean properly.
- Use hot water – this helps remove dirt, oil, and odors better than cold water.
- Dry completely – make sure towels are completely air-dried to avoid odors.
- Clean your washing machine often – a dirty washing machine can leave a bad odor in your laundry.
Towels Smell - The Hidden Lesson in Laundry
Emma was a college student living in a small apartment in Austin. She liked to keep her place clean and cozy. Every Sunday was laundry day - a routine she followed like clockwork. But lately, something strange was bothering her: No matter how many times she washed her towels, they still smelled bad.
At first, she thought maybe she was using the wrong detergent. So she bought a new fancy one with a "sea breeze" scent. The result? Her towels now smelled like sea breeze, with a hint of mildew.
Frustrated, Emma added extra fabric softener the next time. Then she tried hot water. Then vinegar. Then baking soda.
Nothing worked. The towels always came out of the dryer with a damp, musty smell that made her nose wrinkle every time.
One afternoon, her grandmother came to visit. Emma casually mentioned the towel problem, expecting her grandmother to suggest another product to try. Instead, her grandmother smiled and said:
"Show me your laundry room."
They walked forward, and Grandma looked around carefully. She picked up a towel, sniffed it, then looked straight at Emma.
"It's not the towel problem," she said softly. "It's your washing machine."
"What? But I clean the outside all the time!" Emma replied.
Grandma laughed. "Honey, it's the inside. If your machine isn't clean, how will it clean your clothes?"
Emma paused. She had never thought about cleaning the inside of the washer.
This weekend, following her grandmother’s advice, Emma ran an empty hot cycle with white vinegar and baking soda. She cleaned the drum, cleaned the rubber seals, and left the lid open overnight.
Then she washed her towels again—no extra detergent, no fancy tricks.
This time, she smiled in surprise when she took them out.
They smelled fresh. Clean as they should.
That day, Emma learned two things:
Always clean what needs to be cleaned.
Sometimes, when something in life smells bad, the problem isn’t on the surface—it’s hidden deep down, where we rarely think to look.
It’s natural for towels to smell fresh and clean after washing, but that’s often not the case. If your towels still smell bad even after you’ve washed them or taken them out of the closet, there are six common reasons why they might be causing the unpleasant odor.
If your towels still smell after washing, it’s often due to bacteria buildup, soap scum, or the towels not drying properly, says Ember founder, Dr. Christina Brielli.
Dirty Washing Machine
To keep your towels truly clean and smelling fresh, it’s important to start with a clean washing machine. We wash our towels well, but we often forget to clean the machine itself – and that can affect the smell of our towels.
"It's helpful to do a regular vinegar or baking soda rinse to help prevent buildup in your washing machine," says Dr. Briley.
If you need to completely freshen up your washing machine from time to time, a hot water cycle with just vinegar and no detergent is the best way to go.
Improper Drying
Towels are typically made to absorb moisture, so if they aren’t dried properly after washing, they can harbor mold, bacteria, and odors. Dr. Briley explains that even if towels are freshly washed, they can still smell when they’re wet. To avoid this problem, spread towels out in a well-ventilated area or dry them on a full cycle in the dryer to keep them germ-free, fragrant, and usable for a long time.
Make sure you don't fold and store any towels that are still slightly damp. Even if they have been washed, moisture remains in the fabric, which can lead to a musty and unpleasant odor.
"If you want your home to smell fresh and nice like I do, spray a light mist of a clean house spray in your linen closet at the end,” says Dr. Briley. It adds a soft, pleasant scent to your towels—like a personal touch of perfume.
Fabric Softener Use
If you want your towels to stay soft, fresh, and highly absorbent after every wash, it’s best to avoid using chemical fabric softeners. Renowned expert Dr. Brierley advises,
“Avoid fabric softeners, as they coat the towel fibers and reduce their absorbency over time—making it harder for towels to get truly clean.”
A great natural alternative? Vinegar.
Vinegar not only breaks down soap residue that builds up on towels but also helps restore their softness and cleanliness. It effectively eliminates odors, leaving your towels fresh and revitalized.
The best part! Vinegar also freshens up your washing machine by tackling grime and lingering odors.
If you want to use vinegar instead of fabric softener, always choose white distilled vinegar. Don’t use apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar—they have color in them that can leave stains on your towels or clothes. White vinegar is clear and safe to use in the wash.
Too much soap can cause towels to smell
Dr. Breley explains that smelly towels are often caused by leftover soap. It may seem like using more detergent will make your towels cleaner, but that’s not true.
Using too much soap leaves a layer of residue on your towels. Over time, this buildup makes it harder to wash your towels thoroughly, and they can start to smell bad even after a fresh wash. Using the right amount of soap is the key to fresh, clean towels.
Avoid washing towels in cold water
Dr. Breley recommends using warm or hot water to wash your towels if you want them to smell clean and fresh. Cold water is gentle on the fabric, but it doesn’t do the best job of removing dirt, body oils, and odor-causing bacteria.
If you always wash towels in cold water, they may still smell musty or stale even after a thorough wash. Using warm or hot water with a mild detergent will give better results.
Don’t Overload Your Washing Machine
Stuffing too many towels into one load might seem like a time-saver, but it actually causes more problems. When the washer is too full, water and detergent can’t move around evenly.
This means your towels won’t get properly cleaned. Some may still have stains or bad smells, and others might come out with leftover soap on them. For fresh, clean towels, give them enough space in the wash.