How to get the musty smell out of towels
Short answer: A musty smell is caused by damp and fabric softener residue in the terry loops. Wash the towels on their own without softener, and make sure they dry completely afterwards.
Why the smell appears
Moisture that stays in the fabric gives bacteria good conditions, and they cause the musty smell. Softener residue makes the fabric less absorbent and extends drying time, so the towel stays damp longer after each use.
Wash without additives
Run a wash with only towels and half the usual dose of detergent, without softener. The half dose helps rinse out old residue instead of adding new. Repeat the wash if the smell lingers after the first time.
Give the drum space
Do not fill the machine completely when the towels need a thorough wash. Towels become heavy when wet, and water must be able to rinse through all the loops. A half full drum rinses better than a packed one.
Dry completely
Hang the towels spread out, outside if the weather allows. A half dry towel smells again within a day, so drying matters as much as washing. Check the thickest parts before you fold it.
Drop the softener for good
Fabric softener is often the whole cause, because it leaves a film on the fibres that holds moisture and odour. Once you stop using it, the towels become more absorbent again after a few washes. See fabric softener and bamboo.
Check the machine
A machine with residue in the rubber seal or detergent drawer makes all the laundry smell. Wipe the seal after washing, clean the drawer and run an empty wash at the highest temperature now and then. Leave the door ajar when not in use.
Empty the machine straight away
Wet laundry left in the machine for hours starts to smell before it is even hung up. Take the towels out as soon as the programme ends. If you cannot, use the delay timer so the wash finishes when you are home.
Hang them freely every day
Hang towels freely after each use, so air reaches both sides. A towel crumpled on the floor or folded on a hook will not dry. See bamboo towels, which dry quickly.
When the smell will not go
If the smell persists after several washes, residue from months of softener is often deep in the fibres. Give it time and a few more washes. More about odour in textiles in smell in clothes that will not go away.
Going forward
The best way to avoid a musty smell is to let the towels dry completely every time and wash them without softener. If each person has two towels in rotation, it is easy to give one time to dry.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the towels smell even after washing?
Because softener residue and moisture remain in the loops. Wash them without softener and with half the detergent, then let them dry completely.
Does vinegar help?
Some people add a little vinegar to the softener compartment to loosen residue. Check the instructions for your machine and towels first, and do not combine it with other products.
How long before the smell disappears?
Often one or two washes, but if softener has been used for a long time, it can take more. Dry the towels fully every time so the smell does not return.
See our range of bamboo towels.
