Towels are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mould and germs to grow on, especially when they are drying. If towels have a musty odour even after they’ve been washed, it’s time to take some additional laundry steps. Smelly towels harbour, mould, mildew and other pathogens that could have adverse effects on one’s health. Cleaning expert Jenna Shaughnessy of lifestyle blog Jenna Kate at Home, has shared that using white vinegar is “one of the best methods” to strip towels of musty odours, so I decided to try it for myself on some towels that were smelling of damp even after going through the wash.
Jenna said: “Nothing compares to the sensation of wrapping yourself in a new towel after a revitalising shower. But what happens when that freshly laundered towel smells musty or damp? It can sabotage your entire morning routine and leave you feeling less than refreshed.
“To keep towels smelling fresh and clean, it is possible to eliminate musty smells. Here is a proven way to get those musty, damp smells out of your beloved towels.
“Soaking towels in a vinegar and water mixture is one of the best methods to eliminate lingering musty aromas.” The expert recommended combining one cup of white vinegar with water, and soaking the towels for 30 to 60 minutes.
Jenna said: “The vinegar will help remove any buildup and eliminate any smells. After soaking, put your towels through a regular detergent laundry cycle.”
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Laundry expert Lily Cameron at Fantastic Services also recommended using white vinegar to remove damp and musty smells from towels.
She said: “Musty and damp odours are a common problem with towels, especially if they aren’t dried properly or are stored in a humid environment. The most effective method, in my experience, is to wash the towels with hot water and a cup of white vinegar.
“The acidic properties of this common kitchen pantry item help to kill the bacteria and fungus that are causing the musty bad odours, and hot water sanitises and removes anything that’s remaining.”
White vinegar is an acid that kills mildew, mould and other bacteria. It also strips away any build-up left on towels from soaps and from using too much detergent.
I then added one cup of white vinegar to the water and towels. I used white distilled vinegar from Tesco which costs 29p, but any white vinegar is great to use.
I left the towels to soak in the white vinegar solution for one hour, but it can be left overnight if households find that the odour is more stubborn.
Once the hour was up, I emptied the container and transferred the towels to the washing machine where I had already added half a cup of baking soda and one laundry detergent pod. While any type of laundry detergent can be used, for those using laundry powder, it is best to add that to the drawer rather than the washing machine drum.
I set the washing machine to a full load cycle on 40 degrees. After the cycle was done, I made sure to put it on a rinse and spin cycle so that as much of the moisture was extracted.
Then it was time to immediately take the towels out of the washing machine and hang them to dry. As it was raining, I used my airer to dry the towels and placed it in the spare room with the windows open to keep it well ventilated.
For households that are able to, drying towels and other laundry outside is the best method. Lily said: “After washing your towels, hang them outside in the sun to dry if possible. Sunlight can also contribute to killing odour-causing bacteria. If you can’t hang them outside, dry them completely in the dryer or hang them indoors in a well-ventilated area.”
Jenna agreed, she said: “Sun drying your towels is an excellent way to remove unpleasant smells if you have access to an outdoor area and sunshine. Simply leave your towels in full sunshine for a few hours outside. The sun’s UV rays will aid in eradicating any odours and destroying germs.”
Once the towels had dried, I gave them a sniff and could no longer smell any traces of damp or vinegar, instead they just smelt of my eucalyptus laundry detergent.
