If you’ve been washing your towels over and over again but can’t seem to get rid of the musty, mildewy smell, there’s no need to worry. You can try some simple tricks to learn how to get mildew smell out of towels and make your linens smell fresh and as good as new again. Best of all, it only takes a couple of staple pantry items and a little bit of time.
Prepping to Get Mildew Smell out of Towels
If you’re wondering how to get the musty smell out of your towels, you might rush to start washing your towels. But first, ask yourself: When was the last time you deep-cleaned your washer?
If it’s been longer than one to three months, it’s a good idea to do this first. After many cycles, your machine can suffer from mildew, mold, and bacteria buildup and transfer that smell to your towels.
To do a deep clean, first run your washer on the hottest, longest cycle with 4 cups of white vinegar in the drum. Then, add 1 cup of baking soda to the drum and run another cycle. After, wipe the inside down well with a clean cloth.
You should follow up by wiping down any removable parts with a cloth and cleaning the filter. Soak the filter in a 1:1 mixture of hot water and vinegar, then rinse it clean. Finally, wipe down the gasket on front-loading washers with a 1:1 water and vinegar mixture.
This process will add a few hours to your total project time, but will be well worth it. Once your washer is nice and clean, you can get started on cleaning your towels.
