You pull a fresh towel out of the linen closet. It looks fluffy. It looks white. You hop in the shower, scrub off the day, and then you grab it to dry your face.
Suddenly, it hits you. That damp, sour, "wet dog" funk.
It's frustrating because you just washed it. You used the expensive detergent. You might have even used extra fabric softener. But the smell is stuck. It’s basically haunting the fibers of your Turkish cotton. Honestly, most people think their towels are just "old" and ready for the rag bin, but that’s rarely the case. The truth is that your washing machine and your laundry habits are likely conspiring to keep those odors trapped.
If you want to know how to get odor out of towels, you have to stop thinking about "cleaning" them and start thinking about "stripping" them.
The Sticky Science of Why Towels Stink
Towels are unique. Unlike a t-shirt, a towel is designed to be a thirsty sponge. It has thousands of tiny loops—the pile—meant to trap water. Unfortunately, those loops are also world-class at trapping body oils, skin cells, and, ironically, soap.
Wait, soap is the problem? Sorta.
Modern high-efficiency (HE) washers use very little water. If you’re using the "recommended" amount of detergent, there’s a high chance it isn't being fully rinsed out. Over time, this detergent builds up. It creates a slimy microscopic film called biofilm. This film acts like a magnet for bacteria. When that bacteria gets wet again (like when you dry off), it activates. That’s why a towel can smell fine when it’s dry but absolutely rank the second it touches your damp skin.
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Then there’s the fabric softener. Stop using it. Seriously. Softeners are essentially thin layers of wax or oil that coat the fibers to make them feel lubricated. While they make things feel soft initially, they also seal the "funk" inside the fiber and make the towel less absorbent. You’re basically laminating your dirt.
The Two-Step Reset: Vinegar and Baking Soda
You don't need fancy chemicals. You need chemistry.
Specifically, you need to break the pH balance of the buildup. To how to get odor out of towels effectively, you should run what many professional cleaners call a "strip wash." This isn't your average laundry cycle. You aren't going to use detergent at all for this process.
Round One: The Acid Phase
Put your smelly towels in the wash. Don't overstuff the machine; they need room to tumble and soak. Set the water to the hottest setting possible. Add one cup of plain white distilled vinegar to the drum or the detergent dispenser. No detergent. No pods. Just vinegar.
The acetic acid in the vinegar is a mild miracle. It cuts through the alkaline detergent buildup and begins to dissolve the mineral deposits from hard water. If you live in a city with particularly hard water—like Phoenix or San Antonio—this step is non-negotiable. The vinegar also kills a significant portion of the mold spores living in the fabric loops.
Round Two: The Base Phase
Once the vinegar cycle finishes, leave the towels in the machine. Don't dry them yet. Now, add half a cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) directly onto the wet towels. Run the hottest cycle again.
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Baking soda is a base. It neutralizes any remaining odors and further breaks down the gunk that the vinegar loosened. You’ll notice the water might look a bit murky or sudsy during this cycle, even though you didn't add soap. That’s the old detergent finally being evicted from your towels.
Why Your Washing Machine Might Be the Villain
Sometimes the call is coming from inside the house. Or rather, inside the gasket.
Front-loading washing machines are notorious for mold growth. That rubber ring at the front? Pull it back. You’ll probably find a gray, slimy sludge. If your machine smells, your towels will smell. According to a study by the Journal of Applied Microbiology, domestic washing machines can be a reservoir for various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, which survives quite well in damp environments.
How to get odor out of towels starts with a clean machine.
- Clean the filter. Most people don't even know their washer has a filter. It's usually behind a small door at the bottom. Prepare for it to be gross.
- Wipe the gasket with a bleach solution.
- Run a "Clean Washer" cycle with an actual washing machine cleaner (like Affresh) or a cup of bleach.
- Leave the door open. This is the most important rule of laundry. If you close that door after a wash, you are creating a literal petri dish.
The Drying Mistake You're Making
Heat is a double-edged sword. While a hot dryer can kill some bacteria, it can also "bake" odors into the fabric if the towels aren't truly clean.
The biggest mistake? Leaving damp towels in the washer for too long. If you've ever forgotten a load overnight, you’ve already lost. Mildew starts growing in as little as two hours in a warm, damp environment. If you forget them, don't just move them to the dryer. You have to re-wash them. Use the vinegar trick again.
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If you have the space, line-drying in the sun is the "gold standard." Ultraviolet (UV) light is a natural disinfectant. It bleaches stains and kills bacteria more effectively than a commercial dryer ever could. Plus, they’ll smell like actual fresh air, not "Spring Meadow" chemicals.
Beyond the Basics: Deep Stripping
If the vinegar and baking soda didn't quite do the trick, you might have a more "hardcore" buildup of body oils and minerals. This is common for people who use heavy body lotions or live in areas with extreme hard water.
You can try "laundry stripping" in a bathtub.
- Fill the tub with hot water.
- Add a mixture of Borax, washing soda (sodium carbonate—not baking soda), and a heavy-duty detergent like Tide Powder.
- Throw in the clean towels and let them soak for four hours.
- Stir them occasionally with a broom handle.
When you see the water turn a muddy brown, you’ll realize just how much "stuff" was hiding in those "clean" towels. It’s disgusting but deeply satisfying. Rinse them thoroughly in the machine afterward.
Maintenance: Keeping the Funk Away
Once you've figured out how to get odor out of towels, you don't want to do it every week. It’s a lot of work. To keep them fresh:
- Cut detergent in half. Use way less than the bottle suggests. You really only need about two tablespoons for a standard load.
- Ditch the softener. Swap it for a splash of vinegar in the softener compartment if you really need them soft.
- Dry them immediately. If you can’t move them to the dryer right away, don't start the wash.
- Spread them out. When you use a towel, don't hang it on a hook. Hooks create folds where moisture gets trapped. Use a towel bar so the air can hit the entire surface area.
- Wash often. Don't wait until they smell. Wash towels every 3-4 uses.
Actionable Steps for Odor-Free Towels
Stop reaching for the bleach every time something smells. Bleach can actually weaken the fibers and, while it kills bacteria, it doesn't always remove the biofilm holding the odors.
- Perform a "Sanity Check" on your washer. Clean the rubber seal and the detergent drawer. Leave the door open for 24 hours to let it fully dry out.
- The Vinegar/Baking Soda Double-Wash. Run the back-to-back hot cycles mentioned above. Do this once a month as preventative maintenance.
- Audit your soap usage. Check your detergent bottle. If it's a 3X concentrated formula, you are likely using too much. Dial it back.
- Upgrade your drying rack. Ensure your towels have enough airflow between uses. If your bathroom stays humid, consider a small dehumidifier or keeping the exhaust fan on for 20 minutes after your shower.
- Know when to fold 'em. If a towel is five years old and has been "stripped" twice with no improvement, the fibers may simply be breaking down. At that point, it’s a rag.
By managing the buildup and keeping your machine clean, you can extend the life of your linens and finally stop holding your breath when you dry your face. It's not about working harder; it's about better chemistry.