Stinky Towels

[Delight]

My towels stink. Even after we wash them. They have kind of a mildewy, sitting too long on the towel rack kind of smell. DH thought it was the natural detergent...so I tried something not natural and it's still happening. I don't want to use softener sheets...

Will a vinegar rinse solve it?

[LISSA~K]

That sometimes happens with mine too. Maybe they need to be stripped like cloth diapers? Is that stupid? Mine will smell after the washer and then have no smell when dry, and then when we use them, yuck!! Anyone..?

[Aguazul]

I've had that happen. Now I use vinegar in just about every load I do. But before, when I used regular detergent and even fabric softener (never touch the stuff now), I would get this stinky towel problem once in a while. I would do vinegar in the rinse and it would always take care of it for me.

[weliveintheforest]

Could it be that they are not getting dry enough?
I would try stripping like with diapers

[2busy2clean]

Do they sit to long in the washer, before you dry them. I did that a couple of times -- ick!
If you aren't all ready, you could add baking soda to the wash and then use the vinegar rinse. If that doesn't work, burn them.

[RiverSky]

Does your washing machine stink? Sometimes the mildew gets right in the machine, then every load seems to stink after that.

[SaraMama]

I suggest trying vinegar. I've had this happen to my towels and my cotton shower curtain.

Actually - with the shower curtain the detergent didn't do anything at all. I got it out of the machine and it was still as dirty as when I put it in. Then I did a second wash with just vinegar (about 1 cup) and it came out sparkling clean!

[michelle524]

1

[celestialdreamer]

Originally Posted by michelle524

I have this problem too! How do I put vinegar and/or baking soda in the wash (I know this sounds stupid). I still use the evil detergent and dryer sheets, I'd love to get away from it but don't know how.

I don't want the stuff to smell vinegary, DH can smell something a mile away!!

Baking soda I usually dump right in with the detergent and vinegar you can add in place of liquid fabric softener (dispenser, Downy ball, etc)

I have this problem with my towels every once in awhile, especially if we use the same ones too long. My mom always used to wash towels twice, the second time without soap, which she claims works. I just use a little TTO in the wash and then a vinegar rinse and they are back to normal. HTH

[Aguazul]

Originally Posted by michelle524

I have this problem too! How do I put vinegar and/or baking soda in the wash (I know this sounds stupid). I still use the evil detergent and dryer sheets, I'd love to get away from it but don't know how.

I don't want the stuff to smell vinegary, DH can smell something a mile away!!

I just put baking soda in before I put the clothes in and I use the little downey ball for vinegar. I fill it to the line and add a few drops of tea tree oil.