Why Do Towels Smell After Washing?

Is there anything worse than going through the trouble of washing your towels, but they stink like a sweaty locker room? (Okay, there are probably lots worse things, but after you spend time doing laundry, nothing else comes to mind at that moment.) You should have fresh, clean linens, so why do your towels smell after washing?

Wet towels left sitting in the washing machine smell musty. Always dry towels immediately and thoroughly. If you’ve used your towels for a while, soap build-up encourages bacteria growth, creating stinky towels. Avoid fabric softener or dryer sheets, use proper detergent amounts, and change towels weekly. Wash towels with baking soda and vinegar every third or fourth wash.

The whole point of taking a bath or shower is to get clean, right? But if your towel smells like feet, you don’t quite get that fresh feeling you’re after (not to mention the ick factor of bacteria). If your towels still smell after washing, keep reading to learn how to get rid of the stench.

If you hang your towel up to dry after your bath or shower, great. There’s nothing wrong with letting it dry to use again for the next day. But, do this too much, and you’re asking for trouble.

Using the same towel too often between washes ends up leading to smelly towels. Why? Once again, the answer is bacteria. Even if you’re a thorough bather or showerer, your body still has microorganisms on it that transfer to your towel.

Add up too many showers before you wash, and unpleasant things quickly accumulate in the towel fibers. When you finally wash your towels, it’s likely not enough to eliminate all of the built-up bacteria.

Now you know bacteria is the primary reason your towels smell after washing them. But why is that bacteria still there after a run through your machine? You washed your towels, shouldn’t they be clean?

This is where the above reasons come in — you need to know the likely source of the bacteria so you can nip it in the bud.

Let’s consider the above five reasons for your musty towels and look at the best solutions. It’s also good practice to use all of these tips to maximize the freshness and cleanliness of your towels.

Never leave wet towels anywhere. You’re just asking for mildew and bacteria, not to mention a smelly situation.

As soon as you dry off following your bath or shower, hang your towel on a rack to dry thoroughly. If you have a heated towel rack, even better, but it’s not necessary. Avoid tossing the towel on the floor or in a laundry hamper where it stays balled up and wet.

Another critically important thing is proper airflow in your bathroom. Turn on your bathroom’s exhaust fan, or open a window, etc., to help move moisture out of the space. This step is best for your bathroom, and it helps your towels dry more completely.

If you wash a load of towels, make sure to put them in the dryer as soon as they’re finished washing. But what if you got into the latest episode of Love Is Blind and forgot about your poor wet towels for hours?

Don’t simply toss them in the dryer whenever you come to your senses. You’ll need to wash them again first (perhaps using the vinegar and baking soda method if it’s been a while).

Although there’s no definite timeline for how often you should replace towels, it’s typically between two and five years. Of course, your specific timeline depends on the initial quality of the towels, how often you use them, etc.

As your towels start to get a bit ragged or lose absorbency, replace them. If they still have some life in them, use older towels for odd jobs and keep newer ones for the bathroom.

It’s also important to change out your bathroom towels regularly so that you’re washing them enough. Don’t go longer than one week before you wash your towels or swap them out for a different set.

Your dryer and washing machine also harbor bacteria and musty smells. Regularly clean your washing machine.

You can do so by running two cups of vinegar through it on the longest cycle (when it’s empty). Or you can use a commercial washing machine cleaner like Affresh🄬.

To clean your dryer, wipe it down with a vinegar-soaked cloth and water. Rinse and clean the lint trap, and make sure it’s completely dry before replacing it.

To conquer musty-smelling towels, make sure they dry completely and don’t leave them sitting in your washing machine. Wash your towels at least once a week with the correct amount of detergent and avoid using fabric softeners. If you end up with stinky towels, use vinegar and baking soda every few loads to help banish bacteria and restore freshness.

Nobody likes stinky towels, especially right after washing them. But lucky for you, with these easy tips in mind, smelly towels will be a thing of the past.