Bath towel
Wiping ourselves after a shower, bath, we dream of a towel to feel the pleasant smell of freshness and cleanliness. Unpleasant smell from towels is a familiar problem for those who have a damp apartment, dirty washing machine, non-compliance with washing rules or improper drying of washed laundry. Why do towels stink after washing and while in use? It is definitely worth determining the exact cause of the annoying smell to properly eliminate it and avoid repeating mistakes.
More often than not, towels are washed in the washing machine. But laundry detergent does not always cope with odors. Have you ever wondered if you can give your towels a clean water smell? Sometimes we criticize our laundry detergent or laundry soap as not being strong enough.
The true cause of towel odor is usually much easier to fix.
Causes of towel odor
- Moisture in towels, and they don’t have to be wet. If you throw a wet towel in the laundry drawer or put it on the floor, it will stay wet. When it’s wet, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to grow.
A warm and humid environment is the best environment for bacteria. They multiply, and their presence manifests itself in the form of an odor that suddenly takes over our previously clean towels. Sometimes the cause of towel odor is a big mess, but more often than not, we soak our towels in warm water, which is what causes the odor.
- Long-term use of the towel. It is necessary to renew the towels depending on the amount and time of use.
- Oleic acid. Another cause of bad odor. This is the name of one of the components of our skin fat. By the way, it sometimes gives a musty smell and pillowcases, bed linen.
Acid penetrates deep into the fabric fibers. There it oxidizes and decomposes. This is the cause of the musty smell. By the way, skin fat is great for bacteria to multiply, acting as food for them.
- Improper drying. Another reason why a clean and freshly washed item can stink is improper drying. There could be two situations here:
—- The towel was dried in a closed room with almost no fresh air supply;
—- The room was very humid, which caused the item to sit on the dryer damp for several days. In this case, there will be a characteristic musty smell;
How to avoid wet and smelly towels
Now you know what causes smelly towels. You’ve probably found a way to prevent them.
Hanging your towel out to allow air to circulate and dry it after use is by far the best way to prevent odor. If you have a family, not all towels will hang properly. One trick is to give every person in the house a different color towel. Now the culprit can be identified by the color of the towels left on the bathroom or bedroom floor.
If you had to put money in a bottle for every violation, it wouldn’t take you long to develop the habit of putting down a towel after every use. Creative towel hanging ideas for small bathrooms can also help.
It’s also important to remember to quickly transfer towels from the washer to the dryer. Clean the lint filter regularly to keep the dryer running as efficiently as possible. If your towels take a long time to dry, there may be too much water in the washer or a faulty dryer.
How to deal with an unpleasant odor
Sometimes towels smell a little bit, even if you try to mask the smell. In this case, don’t despair. With a few faithful tricks, you can bring them back to a fresh, clean condition. You can try just one of these tips, or you can really use all the remedies.
- Vinegar: As a natural fabric conditioner when rinsing, try rubbing towels regularly with a glass of very warm or hot water, regular laundry detergent and vinegar.
- Baking Soda: Simple baking soda can help. Simply wash your towels in a regular washing machine without detergent or fabric conditioner with half a cup of baking soda added.
- Rope drying (before stuffing with a tennis ball or wool drying ball): many people claim that clothes dried on a rope are more resilient.
One way to make the most of the three options is to use all of these methods. Dry your towels. When they are dry, toss them in the dryer along with 1-2 new or very clean tennis balls. The sound of a tennis ball in the dryer will drive you crazy, but it will also make the towels soft and pliable. If a dryer line isn’t suitable, you can dry your towels in the dryer with a tennis ball.
Knowing the causes of bad towel odor, preventing problems and using these solutions should make this laundry nightmare a thing of the past.
