What to do for towels that stink after being washed and dried!

Question

After they are used after washing they stink!

Answer 1

I'd consider what you dried in the towels before washing them, or how long you let damp towels sit to mildew prior to washing.  

You can add a cup of white vinegar to the last rinse load to help get rid of mildew odors, or put 1/3 the amount of chlorine bleach you'd normally use (don't want to lose color) to kill the mildew.  

I'd avoid fabric softeners altogether because they cover up problem odors rather than eliminating them.  They also keep towels from being as absorbent as they could be.  Put towels through another rinse instead, or use dryer balls in the dryer to prevent static and naturally soften clothes.  Much cheaper and less problems for people with allergies!

I'd also run a rinse cycle without any clothes at all, but with a cup of chlorine bleach to kill anything in standing water at the bottom of the tub that didn't drain out in the spin cycle.

Answer 2

Use vinegar AND baking soda in the wash!

Answer 3

wash them in hot water. and use more soap and use a fabric softner. what kind of laundry soap do u use.?

Answer 4

throw them away or wash them again and again and again and again and again and again

Answer 5

Maybe you need to run your washing machine empty to give it a clean out.then rewash towels.

Answer 6

I had the same problem, but one day I just layed the dish rag on the counter top to air dry and I have never had a problem with a towel odor again.

Answer 7

Wash them again and use 1 cup of vinegar in the rinse water. That should take care of the problem even if it is your water.

Answer 8

Wash them again, hot water, add a 1 cup of bleach to the wash cycle. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle. Hang them outside in the sun to dry. Sun kills so many odors.

Answer 9

Febreze has a product that you use in the washer to remove odors.  Febreze spray works wonderfully, so I'd be game to give it a try.

Answer 10

Sorry, sometimes there may be a lot of humidity where you hang up  your towels. There are times they will "sour" after the first usage.  Check and see if you are hanging or displaying them in a humid area.  You will probably have to rewash them and find a dry less humid place.

Answer 11

Perhaps they are harbouring bacteria - try soaking them in a nappy (diaper) solution or boiling them. Then wash thoroughly and use fabric conditioner to make them smell nice.

Finally before using them again make sure whoever is using them has washed themselves thoroughly and rinsed off the sweaty soap.