Bringing back freshness: what to do if towels smell unpleasant after washing?

Many housewives often wonder why only washed towels do not smell fresh at all.

In fact, this phenomenon is not uncommon, since towels are a real breeding ground for bacteria. This is due to the fact that kitchen towels strongly absorb food odors, and bath towels absorb moisture.

To avoid this problem, you should approach the washing and drying process correctly, and also listen to a number of useful recommendations. This will be discussed in the article.

Why do they smell damp and musty?

Why do towels smell after washing? Among the main reasons for the unpleasant odor emanating from towels after washing are the following:

• selection of low temperature mode;
• malfunctions of the washing machine;
• low quality washing powder or lack thereof;
• drying textiles in a room with high humidity;
• poor quality material from which the towels are made.

In warm and damp conditions, textiles take longer to dry, which contributes to the intensive proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in them.. This is what causes the unpleasant odor.

It would be ideal to dry washed towels in the fresh air, where exposure to the sun will simultaneously serve as disinfection.

What to do and how to get rid of the smell at home?

Nobody wants to use towels that have a not particularly pleasant aroma. But this is not a reason to throw them away.

Some time-tested folk recipes will help you cope with the problem.. As a result, textiles acquire pristine purity and freshness.

Re-wash

Sometimes it is enough to re-wash the towels in hot water with double the dosage of washing powder. This will eliminate the bacterial microflora. It is not recommended to add conditioner.

Vinegar

Vinegar is considered a universal means for disinfecting linen.

Before washing towels soak for half an hour in this solution: 200 ml of table vinegar diluted in 8-9 liters of water. You can replace vinegar with citric acid, in the amount of 2-3 tbsp. spoons for the same volume of water.

Another option is not to soak the textiles, but after completing the main cycle when washing in a machine, add vinegar or citric acid to the special compartment and run another rinse.

The source of the unpleasant odor from washed clothes may be a dirty washing machine filter.. Therefore, you should clean it at least once a month. To do this, pour vinegar into the drum, set any mode and turn on the machine (without adding laundry).

Soda

Instead of the usual detergent, use baking soda, or in combination with vinegar. It is poured into the compartment of the automatic machine (30 g is enough). Vinegar, diluted with water in equal proportions, is poured into the rinsing cell.

Boiling

Boiling helps solve the problem of unpleasant odors from washed towels, but not all fabrics are suitable for this procedure. So, terry products become stiff. But you can correct the situation with the help of a good air conditioner.

If you resort to the old method of boiling, then proceed as follows:

1. Rub laundry soap on a fine grater or prepare a special product for boiling laundry.
2. Pour water into a large saucepan and, placing it on the stove, wait for it to boil.
3. Add soap or powder.
4. Immerse the towels in water and boil over low heat for about 2 hours.

In the case of machine washing, select the highest temperature mode with a long time interval.

Only towels made from natural fabrics are allowed to boil. Even colored textiles will not fade if they are of high quality.

Bleaching powder

Bleach has always been used as a powerful antiseptic. But it should be used wisely.

How to proceedto give your towels a fresh scent:

• dilute the required amount of bleach in water;
• soak towels in the resulting solution for several hours;
• After the specified period, rinse the laundry in cool water.

If you want to use bleach in the washing machine, you cannot add the product undiluted. The exception is tablets that can be placed directly into the laundry drum.

Liquor

This option is more suitable for village residents, due to the technology for preparing lye:

1. A small container is filled one third with wood ash and water is added to the brim.Anything that pops up is immediately removed.
2. Then the mixture is left to infuse for 2-3 days or immediately boiled until the ash becomes translucent (this takes about an hour).
3. Wait until the composition settles and drain the water. The sediment remaining at the bottom is called liquor.

Since lye does not have cleansing properties, towels boiled with it must then be washed.

This ancient remedy is completely washed out when rinsed, unlike modern powders and gels.. As a result, the textile becomes soft and fragrant.

Microwave

A microwave will help in the fight against unpleasant aroma. Towels are placed in it for 30 seconds, then washed. As a result of such a maneuver, not a trace will remain of the stench.

He will tell you about washing towels in the microwave this article.

Special fragrance removers

Nowadays, all kinds of household chemicals are available for sale, including odor eliminators. Here are the most effective:

1. Top Hygia – liquid detergent concentrate of Japanese origin with an antibacterial effect. Suitable for hand and machine washing of any type of laundry.

   The manufacturer assures that the product is completely rinsed the first time. Has a convenient dispenser lid. The price of one 450 ml bottle varies between 290-350 rubles.

2. Nanox Lion – liquid environmentally friendly laundry detergent with a plant component (ethoxylate).

   It is this that promotes the dissolution of sebum that remains on textiles and is a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.The product also contains tea tree extract, which has an antibacterial effect. The cost of one package is from 400 rubles.

3. Oxiclean – a universal detergent for washing white laundry. Available in the form of gel, granular powder and capsules. Ideally removes old stains and gives laundry freshness. Designed for washing in automatic machines. Packaging price – from 600 rubles.

How to properly wash, dry and store products so that they do not smell bad?

Proper care of towels, especially bath towels, guarantees their freshness and long service life. This means washing, drying and storing textiles.

How to wash and dry correctly:

1. In the case of pre-soaking, do this exclusively in hot water. It is not recommended to soak laundry for more than 30 minutes, otherwise it will inevitably smell musty.
2. When washing, do not overdo it with the powder, since in large quantities it has a destructive effect on the fibers of the fabric.

   It is preferable to use gel-like products and set the temperature to high.

3. In case of hard water, add a softener, which will give terry towels a fluffy feel. Regular baking soda is suitable for this purpose, as it simultaneously copes with dirt and bacteria.
4. Dry textiles indoors with good ventilation or outdoors. Before hanging, shake the towels to straighten the fibers. You can use an automatic dryer.

• do not fold bed linen and towels together;
• for aromatization, put bags of fragrant herbs, toilet soap, dried citrus peels, cinnamon sticks or other incense (commercially available) in the wardrobe;
• the cabinet is systematically ventilated;
• Do not stack laundry tightly so that there is free space for air circulation.

Adviсe

In addition to the information received, it would be useful to take into account a number of useful tips:

• personal hygiene products are washed as often as possible, without waiting for them to become heavily soiled;
• wash towels after each use or immediately hang them out to dry, otherwise the appearance of an unpleasant odor cannot be avoided;
• When washing, it is unacceptable to add two chemicals at the same time (for example, bleach and stain remover), which contributes to the release of harmful chlorine gas;
• do not overdo it with bleach, otherwise the machine may fail;
• undesirable wash terry towels with conditioner, which makes them difficult to rinse;
• try to keep the washing machine clean, as regards the filter and sealing rubber;
• After unloading the washing machine, leave the door ajar to allow the unit to dry from the inside.

Useful video

What to do to prevent towels from stinking, video tips:

Conclusion

If you adhere to basic preventive measures and rules for caring for personal hygiene textiles, then unpleasant odors will disappear into oblivion. Towels will always delight you with their fresh look.