Stinky Towels

[dz1087]

Anyone else have towels that smell like they've soured? I've got a few bath towels and kitchen towels that when they get wet, they absolutely stink! I've washed them several times to no avail. I'm thinking Maybe my washing method is wrong. I wash most things in warm to cold water, to save on electricity, but haven'y noticed the stink on anything but a select few towels.

Anyone have any suggestions as to getting rid of this stink?

[texquill]

Check here:

Link to "How To" instructions for smelly towels (http://www.ehow.com/how_2252387_deodorize-smelly-towels.html)

[gaseousclay]

http://karthik3685.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/skunk.jpg

you didn't accidentally wash your towels with one of these critters did you :ohmy:

[Luc]

Good link.

I usually fill the washing machine with cold water and a bit of bleach (6% - maybe a cap's worth). When it's well mixed, I add the towels and let them soak for 30-60 minutes.

I then wash as usual and hang them outside to dry.

I often hang them outside when it's windy to let them dry properly.

Avoid leaving them on the floor when wet. Make sure they can dry easily.

[talibeard]

Wash them hot (at least 65 degrees celcius: pasteurisation) and take them out of your washing-machine right after it is finished.

100% fail-proof.

[The Nid Hog]

Check here:

Link to "How To" instructions for smelly towels (http://www.ehow.com/how_2252387_deodorize-smelly-towels.html)

Excellent suggestions. I'm an obsessive gasket cleaner. You would be surprised what you can find in a washer or drier gasket. Or on your refrigerator. If you've never cleaned them, go take a look now. You probably won't like what you see. Vinegar & water should clear it up unless it's especially foul.

[dpm802]

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, DO NOT add fabric softener to your towels. It interferes with their ability to absorb water. Although they will come out of the laundry cycle feeling a little stiff and scratchy, they will soften up and feel comfortable after one or two uses.

[Aevum]

have the same problem, it appears to be some kind of fungus, the problem is that we didnt detect it at first and thought it was just some dirty towel, i lost some t-shirts and i have a pair of Levis 514 which are unusable, they smell sour and i cant use bleach on them,

[KaiserKrebs]

Great tips...I add 1/2 -3/4 cup of powdered Borax to the load of towels...works great, yes the stuff that 20 mules pulled out of the desert, has a bunch of other hosehold uses as well.

[Nils]

With all the modern detergents telling you to wash at low temperatures only, many washing machines have become positively infested with all kinds of bacteria. If your towels can take it wash them at 95°C.
You should also from time to time let your machine do a "dry run", wash a full cycle with detergent but without laundry at 95°C. That takes care of virtually all the unwanted guests there.
There was a documentary on German TV about his some time ago, made my stomach turn.

[SRock]

+1 on the occasional hot wash (empty) of the washing machine. A little bleach and very hot water should keep your washing machine clean and may help eliminate the towel stank.

[dz1087]

Great suggestions fellers. I'll use a few of these and let you guys know if my smelly problem is fixed or not.

[Gravy]

I checked into this problem when my towels/laundry started to smell. Drying off w/ a towel or working out and perspiring into a shirt caused a distinct foreign odor. It started shortly after we got our frontloader washer and these do require more maintainance. But one thing I came across along w/ the other suggestions here was to use powdered detergent as it doesn't cause buildup in the gaskets of the washer like (as fast as?) the liquid detergents.
I would like to say it does help but shortly into trying it out our just over 3 yr old, just out of warranty washer has died for the second time.:cursing:

[WhosYerBob]

Bleach is your best answer to towel funk.

[Kouros]

Clean the lint filter after every wash.

[ginantonix]

+1 on the Borax. That took care of our problems. Plus, I have found that we can cut back on our detergent by about a half with each load.

Nothing worse than stepping out of the shower, and half way through towelling off getting a blast of mildew odour.

[Wendy]

If ammonia and a lot of detergent does not kill it kill the towels.

[FreezerBurns]

I've been using homemade laundry detergent for awhile now. In addition to all the money saved, it works wonders. No fragrances involved, and ALL laundry comes out clean (and smelling clean) including sour towels/dish towels.

So here's the recipe:

1 cup Borax
1 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda
1 bar Fels Naptha, grated (fine grate)

Mix it up in a bowl and use 1.5 to 2 tablespoons depending on size of load.

Less than $8.00 for all of these ingredients which will last (my family) 8 months to a year.

[RBE17]

I use the hot water and borax w/ the towels. In addition, I'll run an empty load w/ vinegar and hot water. I try not to use bleach because it's not good for the septic system.

[airplanedoc]

You try oxyclean?

[Obsessed]

Excellent suggestions. I'm an obsessive gasket cleaner. You would be surprised what you can find in a washer or drier gasket. Or on your refrigerator. If you've never cleaned them, go take a look now. You probably won't like what you see. Vinegar & water should clear it up unless it's especially foul.

That only applies to front-loading washing machines, right? Or am I missing something?

[The Nid Hog]

That's right. I haven't had a top-loader for a while, but the lid just closes without sealing, doesn't it?

[Obsessed]

That's right. I haven't had a top-loader for a while, but the lid just closes without sealing, doesn't it?

Yes, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something else. Thanks.

[sturgeon]

I use the hot water and borax w/ the towels. In addition, I'll run an empty load w/ vinegar and hot water. I try not to use bleach because it's not good for the septic system.

Full circle makes a peroxide based liquid bleach that breaks down to oxygen and water. I think it works well. Maybe you could try that instead of chlorine bleach. Personally, I use the vinegar trick mentioned in the second post's article.

Tim