How to Get the Mildew Smell Out of Towels (and Keep It Out)
Towels that smell sour as soon as they get wet usually hold residue and mildew. A hot reset wash, separate rinses and proper drying get them back.
To get a musty or mildew smell out of towels, wash them on the hottest setting the care label allows with a normal dose of detergent, then run a second cycle with about half a cup of baking soda, and if the smell persists, a third rinse with about a cup of distilled white vinegar in the softener compartment. Keep each product in its own cycle, never add vinegar to a load with bleach, and dry the towels completely right away. Then fix the cause, which is usually damp storage, too much detergent or a dirty washer.
That sour, “wet dog” smell that appears as soon as a towel gets wet comes from odor-causing growth and residue that stay in the fibers after a normal wash. Perfumed detergent or softener only covers it for a day or two.
Why towels start to smell
| Cause | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Towels left damp | Mildew grows in the folds | Hang spread out; never leave wet towels in a pile or hamper |
| Wet laundry left in the washer | A few hours is enough to start a smell | Unload as soon as the cycle ends |
| Too much detergent or softener | Residue traps oils and odors and stops towels drying fast | Measure; skip softener on towels |
| Cold-only washing | Body oils build up | Use warm or hot water when the label allows |
| Overloaded machine | Towels do not rinse properly | Smaller loads |
| Smelly washer | Odor transfers to every load | Clean the drum, seal and filter |
| Putting towels away slightly damp | Musty linen closet | Dry fully before folding |
What you need
- Your usual detergent
- Baking soda (about half a cup)
- Distilled white vinegar (about one cup), if your washer’s manual allows it
- Oxygen bleach, optional, for white or colorfast towels
- A dryer or a sunny, breezy place to dry
Step-by-step: the towel reset
- Check care labels. Most cotton towels handle hot water; some colored or decorative ones do not.
- Cycle 1, hot wash: wash the towels on hot (or the warmest allowed) with a normal, measured dose of detergent. No softener. For white or colorfast towels, you can add oxygen bleach as directed on its package.
- Cycle 2, baking soda: run the towels again on hot or warm with about half a cup of baking soda added to the drum and no other products.
- Cycle 3, vinegar rinse (optional): if any smell remains, run a rinse cycle with about one cup of distilled white vinegar in the softener compartment. Skip this step if your washer manual advises against vinegar.
- Dry immediately and completely in the dryer, or outside in the sun and breeze. Do not fold or stack them until there is no dampness left in the thick hems.
Badly affected towels may need the reset twice. If they still smell after that, replacing them may be the better use of your time and water.
Why baking soda and vinegar go in separate cycles
Baking soda is a mild alkali and vinegar is a mild acid. Mixed together they fizz and largely neutralize each other, so you lose most of what each one does. Running them in separate cycles gives each a chance to work.
Never combine vinegar with chlorine bleach, in the same load or one right after the other without a full rinse in between; the combination releases toxic chlorine gas. The same goes for bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner. Do not mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one container either. If you used chlorine bleach on white towels, run a full plain-water rinse before any vinegar step.
Keep the laundry area ventilated, wear gloves if a product label says to, and store cleaning products in their original containers away from children and pets. If someone swallows, inhales or gets a cleaning product in the eyes, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (US) or emergency services.
Check the washer, too
If towels smell even straight out of the machine, the washer is likely the source. Whirlpool’s guidance on removing washer odors points to the same habits that keep towels fresh: HE detergent at the recommended dose, occasional warm or hot washes, a monthly cleaning cycle and leaving the door open between loads. See our full guide to cleaning a washing machine, and if the smell keeps coming back, getting rid of smell in a washing machine.
How to keep towels smelling fresh
- Hang towels spread out on a bar or rack, not bunched on a hook.
- Run the bathroom fan or open a window after showers.
- Wash bath towels after a few uses. See how often to wash towels.
- Measure detergent and use little or no fabric softener or dryer sheets on towels.
- Do not leave wet towels in the hamper; let them dry first or wash them that day.
- Unload the washer promptly and dry towels the same day.
Bottom line
A hot wash, then baking soda and vinegar in separate cycles, then thorough drying will clear the mildew smell from most towels. Keep products apart, never pair vinegar with bleach, and solve the cause: damp towels, too much detergent, or a washer that needs cleaning.
FAQ
Can I put baking soda and vinegar in the same wash?
It is not harmful, but they cancel each other out. Use them in separate cycles for better results.
Why do my towels smell after drying?
Usually they were not fully dry, especially in the thick hems, or residue in the fibers holds onto odor. Dry longer and do the reset wash.
Does vinegar damage washing machines?
Some manufacturers advise against regular vinegar use because it may wear rubber seals over time. Check your manual and use it only occasionally if at all.
Can I use bleach on smelly towels?
On white, bleach-safe towels you can use chlorine bleach as the label directs, but never in the same load as vinegar or other cleaners. Oxygen bleach is a gentler option for colors that allow it.
