There’s nothing worse than stepping out of a nice, hot shower, wrapping yourself in a towel—and being hit with a musty, sour smell. Ugh! And the worst part? You just washed it. So why does this happen? And more importantly, how can you fix it?
Good news: there’s an easy way to banish that stubborn towel stink for good. In this post, I’ll walk you through a simple, three-step method to freshen up your towels—no need to toss them and buy new ones!
But first, if you’re tackling some major cleaning projects at home, check out my Step-by-Step Home Cleaning Checklist. It’s packed with practical tips to get your whole house sparkling. Now, let’s dive into the towel situation!
How to Get the Smell Out of Towels in 3 Easy Steps
Towels are like little sponges. They absorb water, body oils, and soap residue over time. If they’re not completely dry before being tossed into the laundry basket—or worse, if they sit damp in a pile—they can develop mildew and bacteria. That’s what creates that unpleasant odor, even after washing.
Thankfully, you don’t need any fancy cleaners or harsh chemicals to freshen them up. All you need are a few pantry staples: white vinegar and baking soda. Here’s how to do it!
Step 1: Wash with Vinegar
Place your towels in the washing machine. Add 1 cup of white vinegar (no detergent!) and run a regular wash cycle.
Why This Step?
The vinegar breaks down buildup and kills bacteria that cause odors.
Step 2: Wash with Baking Soda
Keep the towels in the machine. This time, add 1 cup of baking soda (again, no detergent). Run another regular wash cycle.
Why This Step?
Baking soda helps neutralize lingering odors and softens the fabric.
Step 3: Dry Thoroughly
Transfer the towels to the dryer and dry them completely. If possible, use the hottest setting to ensure all moisture is removed.
Why This Step?
Damp towels are more likely to smell bad again.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t combine vinegar and baking soda in the same wash cycle, thinking you can speed this process up—it creates a fizzy reaction that won’t clean your towels effectively and could overflow your machine!
FAQs
Yes! This method is safe for both white and colored towels. Just make sure to follow your towels’ care instructions.
If your towels are extra smelly, you can do this every few weeks. For maintenance, washing towels regularly and drying them thoroughly should prevent odors.
For regular washes, yes, you’ll want to use detergent. However, for this deep-clean method, skip it—it can leave residue that contributes to the smell.
You can, but make sure your towels dry completely in a sunny, well-ventilated area to avoid any lingering dampness.
Yes, this method works on most washable items, like gym clothes or kitchen linens, that have developed stubborn odors. However, it’s not ideal for delicate fabrics or items that require special care, such as wool or silk. Always check the care label first!
More Cleaning Tips
- Step-by-Step Home Cleaning Checklist
- Make Your Own Homemade Laundry Soap
- How to Make Your Own Thieves Essential Oil
- How to clean fingerprints off walls and trim!
- 3 Cleaning Hacks with ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda
- How to Get the Smell Out of Towels in 3 Easy Steps!
- How to Clean White Walls and Keep Them Looking Fresh
There you have it—an easy, budget-friendly solution to banish that funky towel smell for good. No need to toss your towels or live with the stank. With just vinegar, baking soda, and a little know-how, your towels will be fresh, soft, and ready for use again.
Have you tried this method yet? Let me know how it worked for you in the comments below.
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Thanks for the tip Shannon!
You’re welcome! It was too good not to share! I mean, who wants to buy new towels all the time!?!
Thank you for this! I just noticed this week after taking my towels out of the dryer that they still had kind of a funky smell. I’ll give this a try.
Yes! I now need to go through and wash the ones that didn’t go in the last load. 🙂
Smaller loads. Hot water. Too too long dryer time. I am going to try your method with my next load. Have a good day.
Right?! We tried so many ideas too. This was the only one we found that worked!
Does the vinegar go into the detergent compartment or directly into the load with the towels? Hot or warm or cold water?
Hi Jill,
I’ve done the vinegar both ways – in the detergent compartment and directly in the load. That part doesn’t really matter so much. As for the water temperature, I’d follow the same rules as I would for all laundry – hot for white towels, cold for colored. 🙂 I hope that helps!
xo, Shannon
Will the towels get clean enough without using laundry soap?
Hello Sharon,
This isn’t to clean the towels per se, but rather to get the stale, damp, musty, sour scent out of them. Baking soda and vinegar are excellent cleaners though, so I’d say yes. Unless your towels are visibly dirty after these two washings – which I highly doubt. In that case, wash ’em again with some laundry soap.