Why Do My Towels Smell? 5 Easy Ways to Remove Odours from Your Towels

When it comes to home linens, towels can be one of the trickiest pieces of laundry to keep clean and dry. However, despite your best efforts to regularly put them through the wash, you might still be asking yourself: why do my towels smell?  

With over 170 years of experience in the home textiles industry, the experts at Christy know how to keep your towels looking - and smelling - their best. Our team have shared below their top five tips for removing stubborn scents from your towels and keeping them odour-free after every use.

Browse Christy’s luxury bathroom collection for towels and linens that always smell as fresh as a daisy.

Why do my towels smell?

Try as you might to keep your towels clean, they can often end up smelling less than fresh. One of the main reasons for this is the build-up of detergent; soap residue can collect in the fibres of your towels over time and prevent them from effectively absorbing water. This can then make it hard for them to dry.

Damp towels like these are considerably more vulnerable to bacterial growth, largely because bacteria tend to grow in moisture-filled rooms like bathrooms. Cotton is the best material for towels due to its natural, quick-drying fibres, but even 100% cotton towels aren’t immune to bacterial growth. By using towels to dry your hands and bodies, you’re also transferring bacteria and viruses from your skin into the creases of the towel. It’s the build-up of bacteria that subsequently causes that musty smell.

5 easy tips for removing odours from your towels

If every cleaning cycle still has you questioning “why do my towels smell after washing?”, we recommend trying these simple tricks below. 

As well as following our expert tips, we advise setting aside older towels for odd jobs and keeping newer soft cotton towels for family members and guests. Using older towels this way will help reduce product build-up and the need for frequent heavy washing.

1. Hang your towel up after every use

Bacteria can quickly multiply if a wet towel doesn't dry properly after being used. Rather than leaving a damp towel on the floor or throwing it into the wash, neatly fold your towel and hang it out to dry on a towel rack. Using extractor fans in the bathroom also helps towels dry faster by reducing humidity in the air.

Ensure your towel rack has sufficient space for your towel to dry properly. If it remains damp after a day, look into getting a longer rack for better air circulation. Alternatively, consider investing in a heated towel rail to quicken the drying time.

2. Wash your towels in a hotter wash with detergent

Running a wash cycle with no more than three towels in a hotter wash with a scented laundry detergent is another way to remove stubborn odours. For this method, we recommend putting your machine on its longest wash setting.

If your towel continues to smell after a longer wash, it usually signifies that bacteria is still in your washing machine - or hiding somewhere on your towel. By running the cycle again with bleach or washing your towels for a second time, you can remove any stubborn bacteria left behind.

3. Ensure your towels are completely dry

To prevent bacteria from growing on your towels and producing any unpleasant smells, make sure your towels are completely dry before folding and putting them away. If you’re leaving your towels to dry outside, make sure they’re fully dry before taking them off the line.

For days when you need to dry your towels in the machine, be sure to take them out quickly after washing. Otherwise, bacteria will multiply within one to two hours. Setting a timer will ensure you don’t forget about your towels and will prompt you to check if they are still slightly damp after the dryer comes to an end.

4. Use white vinegar to strip away stubborn odours

Soaking your towels in a combination of warm water and white vinegar can also help with removing musty aromas. Due to its acidic qualities, white vinegar is great at killing the bacteria responsible for unpleasant scents; it also removes any residue caused by soap or excessive use of laundry detergent to leave you with clean, soft towels.

We recommend mixing warm water with one cup of white vinegar and leaving your towels to soak for between 30 and 60 minutes. After soaking, run your towels through a regular wash cycle using just half the recommended amount of detergent. This will prevent the build-up from starting again, as well as stop your towels from shedding.

5. Keep your washing machine clean

Trialling the above tricks to remove odours from your towels will only work if your washing machine is clean, too. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to get rid of the unwanted smells completely. 

An easy way to quickly clean your washing machine is to run a wash using white vinegar on a hot cycle. Completing these cycles before washing your towels will disinfect your machine interior without being too harsh on the fabric of your linens.

Time to replace your old towels? Christy has you covered

If you find your towels are still smelling even after our expert tips, it might be time to invest in some replacements. For premium towels made to stand the test of time, look no further than Christy.

Lovingly crafted with the finest materials, such as luxurious Egyptian cotton and lavish Turkish cotton, our towels are designed to wrap you up in a warm cloud after every shower - and stay fresh after every wash.

Ready to experience spa-like luxury in your own home? Discover Christy's indulgent bathroom collection today.