When your towels smell musty, even after doing a load of laundry, you may find drying off after a shower or bath less enjoyable.
Not only is that musty smell unpleasant, but it can also be a sign that there is bacteria on your towels, which can be detrimental to your health and hygiene.
Fortunately, there are some easy solutions to help remove musty odors from your towels.
Why Do My Towels Smell Musty?
Before you can address the musty smell, it helps to know where the smell comes from so you can address the root of the issue.
Mildew and mold are often the culprits of that musty smell. Fungi and bacteria thrive in warm, damp environments like bathrooms. If you don’t dry your towels completely after each use, store them improperly, or leave them in a high-humidity environment, they can start to accumulate unwanted microscopic growths and that unpleasant smell.
How To Get Rid of the Musty Smell
You may be tempted to light scented candles or spray some air freshener to cover up musty smells, but these methods are temporary and don’t actually solve the issue.
If your towels smell musty, you can wash them with vinegar and baking soda to kill bacteria, mold, and mildew and eliminate the smell.
To use this method properly, you should wash your towels first with detergent and a cup of vinegar, adding the vinegar into the fabric softener compartment if your washing machine has one (so it is added later in the wash cycle) or pouring it in once the washer has filled with water.
Then, you should rewash the towels with detergent and/or 1/2 cup of baking soda. This step freshens your towels, getting rid of any lingering must or vinegar smells.
Once you’ve finished washing your towels, you can hang them to dry outside or on a heated towel rack for best results. You can also put them in the dryer until completely dry. Your towels should feel and smell clean and fresh after this!
Learn More: How to Prevent Mold in Bathroom Spaces
Tips for Preventing That Musty Towel Smell
The best way to eliminate musty odors and prevent them from developing again is to properly care for your towels and keep them clean and dry. Here are some simple tips you can use:
Hang Your Towels to Dry After Use
Be sure to hang your towels evenly on a bar or rack in an open, well-ventilated area after you dry off. This will help them dry more thoroughly between uses.
If you hang your towels improperly or unevenly, you may trap moisture in the material, which can breed bacteria and fungi.
Keep Reading: How to Fold Towels to Hang
Wash Your Towels Regularly
Be sure to wash your towels every on a regular basis to keep the fibers clean and free of bacteria, mold, and mildew.
Some experts recommend washing towels after two to three uses, so depending on how often you shower, you may need to replace your towels once or twice a week for maximum freshness.
Use a Heated Towel Rack
A heated towel rack is an easy and effective way to keep your towels dry and free of musty odors. Hanging your towels on a heated towel rail helps them dry faster, greatly reducing mold and mildew growth.
When you use a heated towel rack, you can also prolong the life of your towels and limit the number of times you need to wash it, which is great for your health and your water bills.
Do you love your oversized towels? Make sure you take good care of them with these tips!
Keep Your Towels Fresh and Clean Longer With a Heated Towel Rack
Drying off with a musty towel is unpleasant. Luckily, it’s easy to get rid of that musty smell with a few wash cycles.
And with proper care and maintenance, you can keep your towels smelling and feeling fresh longer.
For a luxurious bathing experience every time you bathe, consider investing in a heated towel rack to keep your towels dry, warm, and fresh.
