Terry products smell unpleasant: what can be done?
Some towels smell unpleasant when first purchased, but this can usually be resolved with a thorough wash. But what can be done if well-used towels that have been around for some time suddenly start to smell unpleasant, almost even stink? Do the towels need to be replaced, or can the musty smell be removed?
How the unpleasant smell develops
Towels come into contact with our faces, hands and bodies. Even if everything has usually been washed before the towel is used, people still transfer germs onto the towel. If towels are washed at temperatures that are too low, germs and even mould can multiply and lead to unpleasant odours.
If the washing machine is overloaded, it can also no longer deliver its full cleaning performance. The result: a slight musty smell remains in the towel.
Towels can also smell unpleasant if they are not made of cotton, but contain polyester. Odour-causing substances such as sweat can penetrate polyester more easily and remain there – even after washing. Additives such as silver ions help only for a limited time.
Wash regularly and correctly
To prevent the smell from developing in the first place, towels should be washed regularly. This means they should go into the wash no later than after the third use or third day, and should then be washed promptly rather than being left damp in the laundry basket.
The care instructions should also be followed: many towels can easily be washed at 60 degrees or even at 95 degrees, and this should be taken advantage of. A quick wash at 30 or 40 degrees may be convenient, but bacteria can remain in the towel and cause bad smells. The higher water temperature improves the washing machine’s cleaning performance.
Maintain the washing machine
However, the bad smell in the laundry may also be caused by the washing machine itself. In some cases, it can make sense to run it empty on a high-temperature cycle. If the washing temperature is too low or the load too large, soap residue or fluff can build up inside the machine and lead to mould and bad odours.
The rubber seal on the door should also be wiped regularly, as water can collect there during washing and fluff can become trapped. In addition, the lint filter should be emptied regularly and the detergent drawer cleaned thoroughly.
Always let towels dry properly
Wet towels should not be left lying in the laundry basket for long, and the same applies to sweaty sports towels or a damp bath towel from a visit to the swimming pool. Towels should not only be washed promptly, but also dried thoroughly afterwards. Anyone without a tumble dryer should let them dry completely on the washing line before putting them back in the cupboard.
The spin cycle also helps with drying: terry towelling can withstand high spin speeds, which removes more moisture from the towel and allows it to dry better and faster on the line afterwards.
Getting rid of the smell
If the towels are actually clean, meaning they do not have mildew stains or mould, the musty smell can be removed with vinegar or bicarbonate of soda. One tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda added to the detergent neutralises odours. If the towels are then washed at 60 degrees, they should smell pleasantly neutral again.
Before the final rinse, 1 teaspoon of vinegar can also be added, which likewise helps to reduce odours.
Wash rather than throw away
Unpleasant smells in towels can often be removed quite quickly. With good care, terry towels can easily last ten years or longer, so a bad smell does not have to be a reason to throw them away.