Status: 13.01.2024, 16:25 PM
By: Andrea Stettner
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If towels smell smelly after washing instead of smelling wonderfully fresh of detergent, this can have different causes.
The main problem with smelly towels is usually the same: bacteria or fungi have settled on the textiles. These are now responsible for the foul smell. But where do the germs come from – and how do I get rid of the unpleasant smell?
Why do towels stink after washing?
If towels smell after washing, it's usually due to bacteria. (Symbolic image) © robeo/Imago
Many people put their towels in the laundry basket after drying them. If the towels are still damp, however, bacteria have an easy time multiplying. Washing once is often not enough to remove all bacteria. In the worst case, mold even forms and leaves black, gray or brown mildew stains on the towels, which are also accompanied by a musty smell.
The same applies to towels that remain wet in the drum for too long after washing. If the towels are taken out of the machine several hours or even days after the wash cycle, you don't have to be surprised about foul odors. Then the only thing left to do is to wash again.
Another reason for smelly towels can be the washing machine itself. Over time, a lot of bacteria and fungi accumulate in the device. If the washing machine is not cleaned often enough, they can accumulate on the towels and other items of laundry during washing – a musty smell is the result.
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How do I remove bad odors from towels?
In order to remove unpleasant odours from the towels, they must be washed again. Home remedies can support the washing performance and quickly restore a fresh scent:
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- Lemon juice: Wash only white or light laundry, just add the juice of one lemon to the washing drum before washing. Lemon leaves a pleasantly fresh smell and also has a slightly bleaching effect, which makes white laundry shine again.
- Sodium bicarbonate: The tried-and-tested home remedy neutralizes bad odors and is therefore also suitable for smelly towels. Simply add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the detergent and wash the laundry at 60 degrees – done!
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- Alcohol: A glass of liquor is said to work wonders if you add it to the smelly laundry. The alcohol in the liquor is supposed to reduce the number of bacteria, so that the detergent has an easy time. Don't worry, the smell of alcohol will disappear in no time during washing.
Tips to prevent musty smell in towels
To ensure that towels always smell fresh after washing, some tips will help to prevent bad odors:
- Always take the towels out of the machine immediately after washing, put them in the dryer or hang them up to dry – preferably outdoors.
- Place towels only dry – never damp – in the closet or dresser.
- Always leave the door of the washing drum and the detergent drawer open. This allows the residual moisture to escape from the washing machine, which is otherwise an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. If the washing machine already stinks, put it on a cleaning cycle and also clean the lint filter, the rubber seal on the porthole and the detergent drawer.
- If you only wash with cold water, you won't get rid of all the germs that accumulate in the washing machine. Therefore, every now and then put in a wash cycle at at least 60 degrees. Insensitive textiles such as towels, bed linen or cleaning cloths are best suited for this. According to experts, cleaning cloths and normal laundry can often be washed together.