You wash your towels with detergent in the washing machine. You dry them, fold them and put them away until they’re needed next. But after one or two showers or baths, you’re surprised to find a musty, unclean smell emanating from the towel. What gives?
I’ve experienced this myself and needed to get to the bottom of it. My first thought was to increase the washing machine cycle time while adding more detergent and nice smelling softener. But is that really the answer? I decided to take a much closer look and here’s what I found.
Men tend to sweat more than women and also have more body hair so a bad smelling towel could be due to showering habits. Musty bath towels may also be due to inadequate washing and drying techniques as well as using a towel beyond its lifespan.
Below we’ll discuss how to get fresher smelling towels, ways to prevent odors, bath towel materials to consider to prevent smells and we’ll end with a TL;DR at the bottom in case you’d like to get the summary.
10 Easy Things You Can Do To Get Fresher Smelling And Cleaner Towels
- Wash bath towels as frequently as every 3 uses if required.
- Only wash towels with other towels, don’t mix colors and don’t overpack the washer. Towels are very heavy when wet.
- Use a quality detergent but don’t use too much. More isn’t better, so follow manufacturer instructions.
- Use the sanitize cycle on your washing machine if you have one. Otherwise, wash towels in hot water to help kill bacteria while removing odor and stains.
- Avoid using fabric softeners with towels as they can reduce absorbency. Use less than 1 cup of vinegar instead.
- Don’t leave damp towels in the washer as that can lead to a musty smell on its own.
- Don’t fold and put towels away until they are 100% completely dry.
- Don’t iron towels as it can also reduce absorbency.
- Replace heavily used bath towels as frequently as every 2 years if you can’t get them clean, if they fray, or appear to have lost absorbency.
- Ensure the inside of your washing machine is able to properly dry after use especially if it’s a front loader as mold can grow around the gasket.
8 Things That Cause Towels To Smell In The First Place
- Your towel has exceeded its lifespan and needs to be replaced. (This link discusses how bath towels don’t last as long as you think, as little as 1-3 years in fact.) If this is the case, everything mentioned below won’t really matter.
- You aren’t properly bathing or cleaning yourself, leading to bacteria transferring from your body to your towel.
- You’re using thick and fluffy towels that either aren’t being cleaned or dried properly. Thicker towels can trap more water and bacteria and need to be better washed and dried than thinner ones.
- The soap, shampoo or body wash you use is transferring to the towel and isn’t properly removed during washing. Perhaps you’re also using too much soap to begin with or aren’t rinsing properly.
- Your towel washing habits don’t suffice i.e. not washing them frequently enough, using too little or too much detergent, not drying them properly, etc.
- You have an old towel past its shelf life with a build up of detergents and fabric softeners that prevents it from every getting properly cleaned. It should be replaced (see the previous link above).
- You’re using a cheap towel that doesn’t seem to dry your body well. It likely needs to be replaced with a better quality and more absorbent one.
- Your washing machine might need to be cleaned. Take a whiff and if you smell or see mold or mildew in your washer, that’s likely the problem. Front loaders have a rubber gasket that from personal experience can get moldy especially at the bottom where water can pool.
- Local weather conditions can cause towels to get moldy particularly hot, humid summers. Hot weather causes you to sweat more which means more showers and dirtier towels.
Determine what towel smell you are experiencing to get to the root cause. If your towels smell like body odor, it’s likely you aren’t bathing or showering properly or need to adjust your deodorant usage. If the smell is musty or similar to mildew, your towel washing and drying might be the culprit.
It could also be several reasons that you need to address.
Why Do Towels Smell Bad When They Get Wet?
Even when drying yourself after a shower or bath, there is still a chance that bacteria from your body is transferred to the towel. Sweat, body oils, hair, and other bacteria-carrying contaminants end up on your damp towel so it becomes a breeding ground for things that cause the towel to smell bad quickly.
If you then toss your used, damp towel on a counter or on the floor, it can pick up more bacteria while also being prevented from drying properly, adding to the problem you’re facing.
Use a towel rack or other device so that your towel can air dry quickly rather than allowing it to sit on the floor or otherwise remain damp longer than it has to.
Should I Air Dry Or Machine Dry My Towels After Washing?
You can air dry or machine dry towels after use as it won’t impact how they smell afterwards. The important part is drying them thoroughly after washing before folding them and putting them away to avoid mildew build up.
Some people feel that air drying towels outside adds a freshness to them and helps to make them fluffier. Regardless, ensuring they are 100% dry before putting them away is the important part.
Also, don’t leave damp towels in the washing machine after the cycle has finished. Try to remove them when the washing has completed as soon as possible to start the drying process. Leaving anything damp in the washing machine is a recipe for mildew and mold to build up.
Secret Ingredients To Help Bath Towels Smell Better
Vinegar and baking soda are two products you probably have lying around your home that can aid your towel washing. Using them separately or together helps to freshen towels while removing odor without the use of new chemicals. In each case, you use the ingredient in addition to regular detergent.
Vinegar – Add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing machine during the rinse cycle to help freshen towels and remove odor. Use the hot water cycle. You may find you can cut back on your detergent usage.
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Baking soda – Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your washing machine at the beginning of the wash along with your detergent. Baking soda is known to remove odor while also having spot cleaning and stain removing capabilities.
You may also choose to add both vinegar and baking soda to wash your towels but it’s best to separate them if possible. In this instance, add the baking soda at the beginning of the washing cycle and then add the vinegar before the rinse cycle. By separating them, you’re ensuing that the two ingredients are used separately and don’t counteract one another.
Another option? Wash towels once with baking soda and detergent. Then wash the towels a second time while still wet, this time using baking soda.
If you notice an improvement in your towels but could still use some extra help, you could use 1 cup of vinegar or 1 cup of baking soda rather than 1/2 cup but do also pay attention to how many towels you place in the washing machine and don’t overpack.
Bath Towel Materials That Can Prevent Smells
To avoid smells and mustiness when using bath towels repeatedly, it’s essential to choose materials that are moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and resistant to bacteria and odors. Here’s a table discussing the materials commonly used in towels and their qualities related to preventing smells:
| Towel Material | Qualities for Odor Prevention |
|---|---|
| Cotton | – Absorbent, but slower to dry than some materials |
| – May retain moisture if not dried thoroughly | |
| Bamboo | – Naturally moisture-wicking |
| – Antibacterial and hypoallergenic | |
| – Resists odors due to bamboo’s natural properties | |
| Microfiber | – Quick-drying and moisture-wicking |
| – Resists bacteria growth and odors | |
| Linen | – Highly breathable and quick-drying |
| – Resists moisture retention and odors | |
| Hemp | – Naturally antimicrobial and odor-resistant |
| – Absorbs moisture while staying fresh | |
| Tencel | – Derived from wood pulp, moisture-wicking |
| – Resists bacteria and odors naturally | |
| Modal | – Made from beechwood pulp, moisture-wicking |
| – Inhibits odor-causing bacteria growth | |
| Silver-Infused | – Contains silver particles for antibacterial properties |
| – Reduces bacteria and odors effectively |
When choosing bath towels, consider materials like bamboo, microfiber, linen, hemp, Tencel, Modal, or those with silver-infused technology to help prevent odors. Additionally, proper care and regular washing of towels can contribute to their freshness and longevity.
Summary Of How To Keep Your Bath Towels Clean
Aside from the material used in bath towels, several other factors can influence whether a towel develops odors or not. Here are some additional factors to consider to help bath towels fresh smelling even as they are being used:
- Moisture Management: Towels that efficiently absorb and release moisture are less likely to develop odors. Quick-drying towels are preferable.
- Proper Drying: Ensure that towels are completely dried after each use. Hanging them to dry in a well-ventilated area helps prevent mold and mildew growth.
- Frequency of Washing: Regularly washing towels can prevent the buildup of bacteria and odors. Ideally, towels should be washed every few uses.
- Usage: Towels used for vigorous physical activities or in hot and humid environments may be more prone to odors. Consider separate towels for such activities.
- Storage: Properly storing towels in a dry and well-ventilated area is essential. Avoid leaving damp towels in a confined space.
- Cleaning Habits: Ensure that washing machines are clean, and use an appropriate detergent. Fabric softeners can sometimes contribute to odors, so use them sparingly or opt for fragrance-free options.
- Hygiene: Personal hygiene plays a role in towel odors. Ensure you are clean when using towels, as residual body oils and products can transfer to the fabric.
- Mold and Mildew Prevention: Regularly clean and disinfect towel hooks, bars, or racks to prevent mold and mildew growth.
- Bacteria Growth: Towels that are used by multiple people or shared among family members may be more susceptible to bacterial growth and odors.
- Quality of Material: The quality of the towel material can also influence odor resistance. Higher-quality towels may have better moisture-wicking and odor-resistant properties.
- Airing Out: Allow towels to air out after each use by hanging them rather than leaving them in a pile.
- Rotation: Consider having multiple sets of towels and rotate their use to give each set time to thoroughly dry and reduce the frequency of washing.
By considering these factors and adopting proper towel care habits, you can help ensure that your bath towels remain fresh and odor-free over time.