- Don't use fabric softener or extra detergent, as both can damage the fibers and cause unpleasant odors.
- Avoid overwashing clothes. Wash towels in hot water and let them air dry completely for best results.
- Clean your washing machine regularly to prevent odor buildup.
Ideally, towels should smell fresh and clean after washing, but that's not always the case. If you notice a musty smell after removing your towels from the washing machine or closet, there are six possible reasons.
"If your towels still smell musty after washing, it's usually due to lingering bacteria, detergent buildup, or poor drying," says Dr. Christina Braley, founder of Aembr.
Dr. Braley explains that it's essential to start with a clean washing machine, as well as choosing the right water temperature and care products. Below, you'll find the six main reasons why your towels still smell bad after washing and what to do about it.
Dirty Washing Machine
To ensure your towels are completely clean and smelling fresh after every wash, it's essential to start with a clean washing machine. Although we wash towels regularly, cleaning the washing machine is often overlooked.
"Running a regular rinse cycle with white vinegar or baking soda helps prevent grime buildup in the washing machine," says Dr. Braley.
To give your washing machine an extra boost from time to time, she recommends running a hot water cycle with vinegar without detergent, as this can make a big difference.
Improper Drying
Allowing towels to dry completely after washing is essential to prevent
unpleasant odors. Dr. Braley explains that towels are designed to absorb
moisture and can develop mold and mildew odors, even immediately after
washing, if they aren't given the proper time and conditions to dry
thoroughly.
Be careful not to fold or store towels that are still slightly damp, as even clean towels will eventually develop a musty odor.
Tip
"If you love having a pleasant-smelling home like I do, finish the process by spraying an air freshener in your closet—think of it as a signature scent for your towels," says Dr. Braley.
Fabric Softener Use
Although you want your towels to be soft and fluffy after every wash, Dr. Braley advises against using fabric softener.
"Avoid fabric softeners, as they coat the fibers and reduce the absorbency of towels over time, making them harder to clean," says Dr. Braley.
Vinegar is a natural alternative to fabric softener. In addition to eliminating odors, it dissolves detergent residue and buildup on towels, leaving them softer and cleaner. Vinegar also cleans the washing machine, deodorizes, and removes built-up dirt and unpleasant odors.
Detergent Buildup
Dr. Braley says detergent buildup is a common cause of unpleasant odors on towels, even after washing. It may seem like using more detergent when washing towels cleans them better and improves their smell, but the opposite is true.
Using too much detergent leaves residue that, over time, builds up on the surface of towels, preventing them from washing properly and causing an unpleasant odor even after washing.
Washing Towels in Cold Water
To ensure your towels stay fresh and smell good after washing, Dr. Braley recommends washing them in warm or hot water with a mild detergent. While cold water is gentler on fabrics, it doesn't remove dirt, body oils, or odor-causing bacteria as effectively as hot water, and your towels are likely to linger after washing.
An Overloaded Washing Machine
Loading as many towels as possible into a single load may seem like a smart way to save time, money, and energy, but in the long run, the opposite actually happens. Loading too many dirty towels into the washing machine causes uneven distribution of water and detergent during the wash cycle. This means towels aren't cleaned properly and detergent residue may remain on some, leaving stains and unpleasant odors.