Towels Smell Musty, Even After Washing? Here’s How to Freshen Them Up
A towel can come out of the washing machine clean, yet smell musty again after just one shower. The towel itself is not usually the problem. Moisture, detergent residue, fabric conditioner and a washing machine in need of a clean can combine to create that stale smell. Fortunately, most towels can be rescued.
Why do towels smell musty?
A musty smell develops when towels stay damp for too long or are not rinsed completely clean. Body oils, detergent and fabric conditioner can collect between the thick loops of towelling. As soon as the towel becomes damp again, the smell returns.
Common causes include:
Wet towels left in a heap, in the laundry basket or on the bathroom floor.
Using too much detergent, leaving residue in the fibres.
Fabric conditioner coating the fibres and reducing absorbency.
Overfilling the drum, so water and detergent cannot move through the fabric properly.
Washing at a low temperature when the towels need a deeper clean.
A dirty washing machine, detergent drawer, filter or rubber door seal.
Towels drying too slowly in a humid bathroom.
Do they smell musty before or after washing?
The moment you notice the smell often gives you a useful clue. If used towels smell musty before they go into the machine, they have probably stayed damp for too long. Hang a used towel out fully before putting it in the laundry basket.
If towels smell stale as soon as the wash has finished, the problem may be your washing routine or the machine itself. If all your laundry smells musty rather than just your towels, check the drum, filter, detergent drawer and rubber seal.
How to make musty towels smell fresh again
Start with a thorough normal wash. Always check the care label first. Many cotton towels can be washed at 60°C, but coloured, bamboo and delicate towels may require a different temperature.
1. Do not overfill the drum. The towels need enough room to move freely.
2. Use the recommended amount of detergent. Extra detergent will not make the towels cleaner and may leave more residue behind. Washing powder is often a practical choice for a warm cotton wash.
3. Skip the fabric conditioner. Over time, it can make towels less absorbent and trap residue within the fibres.
4. Remove the towels as soon as the cycle ends. Shake them out and allow them to dry completely, preferably somewhere well ventilated or outdoors.
Washing towels with white vinegar
If the smell remains after a normal wash, a small amount of clear distilled white vinegar may help loosen detergent and limescale residue and neutralise odours. Add approximately 100 to 150 ml to the fabric conditioner compartment and choose a programme suitable for the care label. Do not use fabric conditioner during this treatment.
Check your washing machine instructions first. Some manufacturers advise against regular use of acidic products because they may affect certain rubber components over time. It is therefore better to treat vinegar as an occasional refresh rather than add it to every wash.
Important: never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach or any cleaning product containing chlorine. The combination can release dangerous fumes.
Why you do not need baking soda and vinegar together
Many online tips suggest putting baking soda and vinegar into the machine at the same time. The mixture fizzes, but the two ingredients react with and largely neutralise one another. If you want to try baking soda, use it in a separate wash and follow your machine manufacturer’s guidance. In most cases, correct detergent dosing, thorough rinsing and complete drying matter more.
Check your washing machine too
If clean towels repeatedly develop a musty smell, residue may be building up inside your machine. Clean the detergent drawer and rubber seal, remove fluff and standing water, and clean the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Leave the door and detergent drawer open after washing so the interior can dry.
Run a maintenance cycle occasionally at the temperature recommended by the manufacturer. If you mainly wash at 20 or 30°C, detergent residue and body oils can gradually accumulate inside the machine.
Help towels dry more quickly
Even perfectly washed towels can start to smell if they remain damp for hours. Hang them out fully after use rather than folding them over a small hook. Ventilate the bathroom and never put soaking-wet towels straight into a closed laundry basket.
Can you fragrance towels naturally?
A fresh scent is pleasant, but fragrance will not remove the cause of a musty towel. Clean the fabric properly first and let it dry completely. Afterwards, you can give clean, dry towels a gentle scent by placing a botanical sachet in the linen cupboard. This is easier to control than adding essential oil directly to the washing machine.
Be careful with homemade laundry perfume. Essential oil does not dissolve in water or vinegar, may stain fabric if it reaches it undiluted and is not suitable for every skin type. Fragrance-free washing is usually the safest option for baby items, face towels and sensitive skin.
How to prevent the musty smell returning
Hang used towels out fully straight away.
Do not leave damp towels in a closed laundry basket.
Measure detergent according to the packaging and local water hardness.
Avoid fabric conditioner on towels.
Do not overfill the washing machine.
Remove the laundry as soon as the cycle finishes.
Let towels dry completely before folding them.
Clean your washing machine regularly.
Frequently asked questions
1. Why do my towels smell musty again after one use?
Residue from body oils, detergent or fabric conditioner may still be trapped in the fibres, or the towel may be drying too slowly after use. The smell becomes noticeable again as soon as the fabric gets damp.
2. What temperature should I use for musty towels?
Always follow the care label. Many cotton towels can be washed at 60°C. Coloured, bamboo or delicate towels may need a lower temperature.
3. How much white vinegar should I use for towels?
For an occasional refresh, around 100 to 150 ml of clear distilled white vinegar in the fabric conditioner compartment is generally sufficient. First check that your washing machine manufacturer allows it.
4. Can I use fabric conditioner on towels?
It is better not to. Fabric conditioner can coat the fibres, making towels less absorbent and allowing residue to build up more easily.
5. How can I make towels smell good without laundry perfume?
Wash them properly, remove them from the machine promptly and allow them to dry completely. For a subtle fragrance, place a botanical scent sachet among the clean, dry towels in your linen cupboard.
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