This Is How to Get Mildew Smell Out of Towels, According to Experts

It’s so defeating to pull towels out of your dryer expecting to breathe in the scent of meadow flowers only to smell mildew and must. Didn’t I just wash these things?

The good news is that there are ways to keep towels smelling fresh without first resorting to heavily scented softeners and dryer sheets that may only mask mildew smells. Also, some people are allergic or have an aversion to the strong, artificial perfumes, so it’s better to get to the root of the problem.

Why Do My Towels Have a Mildew Smell?

According to experts at Martha Stewart, odor-causing bacteria is the culprit. Perhaps you took too long to transfer the towels from the washer to the dryer, or maybe you were in a hurry and took the towels out of the dryer before they were completely dry.

Any residual moisture or dampness is a breeding ground for bacteria that creates a lingering, musty odor.

Seven Stellar Tips for Fresh-Smelling Towels

In addition to drying towels thoroughly and properly before folding and storing them in a linen closet or on a shelf, there are other preventative measures you can take to make that mildewy scent a distant memory.

1. Clean your washing machine with bleach once a month: If your washing machine is old or has a lot of buildup, run a cycle once a month with hot water and a generous amount of bleach. This will help remove the buildup and kill any germs.
2. Use hot water to wash your white towels: Hot water and bleach will improve the appearance and smell of white towels. Even light-colored towels benefit from a hot-water cycle.
3. Wash towels after three or four uses: Every time you dry off after a shower, the towel absorbs body oils and skin cells. Don’t try to cut down on the amount of laundry you’ll have to do by making that same bath towel last an entire week.
4. Use the correct amount of detergent: Using too much detergent can leave residue on your towels that will eventually start to smell, while not using enough won’t get the towels clean. Pay close attention to the instructions on your detergent bottle, especially if the detergent is concentrated.
5. Opt for an extra rinse cycle: We know time is precious, but an extra rinse cycle will do wonders for rinsing away and excess detergent and other odor-causing residue.
6. Clean the washing machine lint trap: Not all washing machines have lint traps, but some top-loading washers have a lint filter and some front-loading machines have a drain filter to capture larger debris.
7. Use a fabric conditioner and/or dryer sheet: If you’re not allergic or sensitive to artificial scents, adding a fabric conditioner during the rinse cycle or a dryer sheet in the dryer will boost your towels’ smell — just make sure that you followed the other tips and are not just masking another problem. I recommend a little Downy Infusions Calm (Lavender & Vanilla Bean) fabric conditioner during the rinse cycle for soft, fresh-smelling towels.

If you follow all of the tips above, you can bid a not-so-fond farewell to towels that smell like a high school locker room.