How do you get rid of the stinky smell on dish towels, even after they've been washed?

Question

My dish towels tend to still have a nasty, moldy, smell even after laundering. What can I do????

Answer 1

You can also soak them in vinegar for an hour and wash them again. It should work.

Answer 2

Once it has the nasty smell:

- Wash in HOT water

- Add Borax/Oxi-Clean/Bleach

- Put in dryer immediately and dry on high heat

To prevent rags and towels from ever getting really foul smelling, use them once and then throw them in the wash.  Don't leave a wet rag in the kitchen for days.  It will gather germs.  Cleaning with a dirty, wet rag is pointless as you are now just spreading germs all over the kitchen.  

Get a six-pack of washcloths so you can use one a day and then throw it in the laundry.

Answer 3

bleach........ or add lemon juice to a pre-soak.

Answer 4

Wash them as usual, but before you start your machine pour 1 or 2 cups of white vinegar directly on the clothes then start it up. Not only will they smeel nice ans clean but they will be softer and fluffier and it's good for you washer too!

Answer 5

Get some oxy-clean..this product really works wonders!

Answer 6

Bleach, lemon juice works but to avoid getting it stinky in the first place just make sure to hang it up to dry.

The smell comes from bacteria, and bacteria loves moisture so it multiplies very quickly.

Usually I hang my wash cloth where it can get plenty of air and after using it more than a couple time I throw it in the wash.

Answer 7

SA8 Premium with Bioquest® Concentrated Detergent

Super-concentrated formula

One box of SA8 with Bioquest is so concentrated that to do the same number of washes, you'd need 1 2/3 2.06-lb. boxes of Tide†. It's the biodegradable detergent that works.

Fresh scent.

Cleans great in soft and hard water.

Contains biodegradable surfactants (cleaning agents) that remove grease and oily soils, then break down into carbon dioxide and water.

Contains biological enzymes to remove tough stains like blood, grass, chocolate, and eggs.

Contains clean-rinsing natural water softeners from corn molasses and sugar beets.

Super-concentrated formula results in more uses per package, so less packaging goes into landfills.

Inhibits the corrosion of metal found in zippers, buttons, and washing machines.

Dermatologically and allergy tested.

Contains no phosphates.

Safe and effective for use in high-efficiency washers.

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Answer 8

Yep..bleach.  I use a scented bleach and mix 50/50 with water.  Stuff the towels into a small clean bucket or bowl, cover the towels with the liquid and soak for a bit.  Rinse them in the sink and if they still have a smell, put them back into the mixture for some more quality time with the Mold Macerator.

50/50 may be a bit strong but I like to work fast.  Maybe a 75/25 water to bleach ratio would be better for you.