The Secret to Removing Musty Odors From Towels

Towels smelling anything but fresh? We've got the answer.

Stepping out of the shower and into a just-washed towel only to find it smells is, at the very least, disappointing. Gone is the feeling of being fresh and clean, you now feel a bit gross and confused as to why, after washing your towels every week, they still smell.

Sometimes, no matter how many times your bath towels are washed, they develop a musty odour. There are a few solutions to combating the dreaded bath towel smell, and one of the easiest options involves a household ingredient you almost certainly have already!

Below, we're sharing how to prevent and remove bad smells from bath towels so you can feel fresh and stay clean after you shower.

Why do towels develop a smell?

The primary cause of smelly towels is microbes in your towel. This can happen for several reasons:

Bathrooms are moist environments and moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Because bathrooms are wet environments, our towels can stay wet for long periods of time.
Every time we use a towel we can wipe bacteria, viruses, and dead skin cells onto the material. When we re-use the towel we then transfer that back onto our skin.

How can you prevent bad-smelling towels?

There are a few things you can do to help prevent a bad smell from developing on your bath towels.

Opt for 100% linen towels as they are naturally moisture-wicking, which means they will dry much faster than your traditional bath towel – they’re also less likely to breed bacteria between uses!
Wash after every third use, or sooner if you notice an unpleasant smell or persistent dampness. Keep this in mind for hand towels as well, which tend to get used more frequently than bath towels.
Replace your towels every few years.
Do not share towels.
Between each use, hang your towel somewhere ventilated and allow it to dry completely before using it again. Ideally, somewhere other than your bathroom.
Hang bath mats after use.
If someone in your house has been sick, wash all of the towels.
Wash your towels separately from other fabrics.

How to get rid of the smell from towels

One of the easiest and most affordable tricks for removing the musty odour from towels is by adding vinegar to your wash! Simply add 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to your normal cycle to combat any smells. Your best option is to use distilled white vinegar as it is the least expensive and contains no tannins to discolour fabrics. If the smell remains you can soak them for 30 minutes with a tablespoon of detergent.