How Do I Get the Stink Out of Dark Towels?

Use 1 cup of vinegar everytime you wash towels. Wash them in HOT water. Put them in the dryer immediately after they're done in the wash. It will get the smell out. I had the same issue and it's never been an issue again since using vinegar.

I had that problem until I realized that I was using too much detergent. Try rinsing them a few times really well, then use a lot less detergent for a while. We also use a towel heater, but I don't think that's why they don't smell. I think it was detergent buildup.

L.,
I use baking soda (I add about 1 cup per load.) Very helpful. Makes the stink go away, keeps whites whiter and safe for colored clothing.
Try it - I think it will help you as it did me.
P.

Heya... Late response, but I thought I'd toss along a bit I've learned, to keep them from getting that way in the first place:

- Wash hot, rinse cold, dry hot
- Wash at *least* once a week
- Don't use "natural" detergent, you need something that breaks up the body oils that trap dirt and bacteria under them. Most natural detergents are essentially just fragrance. They rarely have antimicrobial properties.
- Go straight from the wash to the dryer...don't wait longer then about 15 minutes
- Use extra detergent, to help break up the oils/skin cells, I usually use about one and a half full scoops/cups
- Do NOT use softening stuff... it traps the oils in the cotton
- On a daily basis, after you use them, dry flat either on the towel bar, or shower rod, & keep the fan in the bathroom on
- Make sure the washer isn't overloaded. We use bathsheets and bath towels. Our washer can only handle 2 sheets and 1 towel at a time. The towels need to be able to move freely in the agitation cycle. My hubby CAN fit in 4 sheets and 4 towels at the same time without having to cram them in...but they soak up most of the water, and can't move freely, and then they stink & I have to wash them again.
- Leave the lid up from time to time. Sitting and soaking in the soapy water is all to the good. Gives them a longer time to break down all the oils.
- For darks, toss in a capfull of bleach from time to time. It's little enough that it won't lighten the towels. AND/OR use colorsafe bleach with them.

go to a sports store and get sport detergent like "Win" it gets the stink out

Hi L.,

I have a Shaklee business and let me tell you...our laundry products are the best. They're natural (made from corn and coconut), non-toxic, safe, efficient, super concentrated, and earth-friendly. If you wash the towels in the laundry detergent and laundry booster, the smell will come out. It might be mildew on your towels so adding a little Basic-G germicide will help get rid of that. You can view the products at www.shaklee.net/greennutrition and register to win $200 of free products at www.freegreenproducts.info. I'm always here for questions too!

C.

You might try tea tree oil. Just a few drops in the wash works wonders. I used to use it for my cloth diapers, and I have used it to get the lingering musty smell out of the blankets my son puts in his mouth when he sleeps. It has worked really well.

The smell may be from mildew - I used to have that problem when we lived in Northern CA and it was much more humid than here. I tried to hang them up as "open" as possible so they could dry faster and I would have to wash them every few days. And be sure they were really dry when coming out of the dryer. This was before I had learned the secret of tea tree oil. I would have used that if I had known. It is expensive stuff, but it will last a very long time since you only need a few drops. You can usually find it at any health food store, I think even Trader Joes has it (near the soaps, lotions, etc).

Thank you for asking this question! I needed to know too! I had never thought to put pinesol or ammonia in the washing machine. fantastic!

Unfortunately, there is no way to get the stink out of those towels. You will have to buy new ones. If you leave towels in the washer too long after the cycle has stopped this will cause a permanent bacterial smell everytime they get wet. Toss them and let your husband use them for the cars. I had to go to Walmart and buy 60 bucks in new towels because my honey always leaves them in the washer too long after the cycle has stopped. the towels were 4 dollars a piece and very large, soft and nice. Sorry.

I want to echo the baking soda idea. I use it for everything A. it is non toxic so safe for your family and the environment B. It cleans and deodorizes everything C. it is cheaper than dirt!
A cup a load should do it for stinky clothes about 1/2 cup for regular.
Good Luck

Our beach towels get pretty gross, so along with the laundry soap I throw in a full cup of Oxyclean. It seems to help. But then again my sense of smell is not so great :)
I don't use fabric softener, because we all have allergies and I know it's an allergy irritant, but I'm sure that would help too.

I use PineSol with my laundry to disinfect and get smells out and it works great.

Try washing them in Lysol or Pinesol, also add some oxyclean.

You need two sets of towels - Hand/bath towels (any color)for display/decoration and drying hands. And all white washcloths and bath towels for real towel purposes of course you bleach them every time you wash them. I have a third set of towels - beach towels I wash these seperatly because they tend to bleed. Lastly, if all your bed sheets are white it's easier to wash them together and bleach.

First of all, turn your water heater up. So your "HOT" water is even hotter. Then try baking soda. Buy it at Costco since you use quite a bit of it. I tend to use about a cup full, per load. This is in addition to laundry soap. You can also let them sit in the water/baking soda mix in the washer.

I see you have already received a lot of good advice. The one thing that worked for us is after drying off with the towel we hang it up flat, like over the door or over the shower. Not sure why this worked but, it has made all the difference. I do also wash all of our towels in hot water with a little bleach. I don't use the bleach for colors, just whites and I have not noticed any bleach spots and our towles no longer smell.

Hi L.!
Bleach, vinegar, ammonia - all things that can work, but all can be just as smelly or noxious to you and your household. I would recommend all natural cleaning products by Melaleuca. They are surprisingly effective, all natural, and a great value for the price! Contact me if you would like to learn more about getting them! I would also recommend making sure that you take them out of the washer as soon as they are finished being washed and be sure that they don't sit damp in the dryer once the cycle has stopped, to prevent smelly germs from growing in your appliances from the dampness!
Jenny
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Pine-Sol. My husband is a group exercise instructor (great body...stinky, stinky clothes). He puts in about a cup. They smell a bit like Pine-Sol, but it's much better than b.o. I would also second the suggestion about very hot water, as well as the idea of leaving them flat out in the sun. Good luck!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!! Please try ammonia. I use it in almost every load of laundry that I do, and I have no "stink" on anything anymore. It's a miracle worker, and it's cheap! Best of luck to you. (Use about a cup for a full load. )

Ammonia. I wash all my towels in ammonia every time. Helps keep the mildew smell out, too. Good luck!

So many great suggestions - we use hot water, Lysol and OxyClean in our house.

One suggestion I didn't see here - dry your towels out in the sun during the hottest part of the day - preferably laid down on grass, but if they're hung on a line that will help as well (this is also great for white t-shirts - it helps get the yellow out).

Dear L.:

I use ammonia, the lemon-scented one, and it works great. I put about a cup per load in.

Cheap and easy!

Best wishes,

M.

Have you tried adding Downy Fabric softener? It always makes a huge difference to my laundry....my towels smell great and are super soft.

-L.

Hello L.,

I use amway products for all my cleaning needs. I am a SAHM of a one and three year old. Go to www.lwoods.qhealthbeauty.com click on other and go to the second page and check out SA8® Fabric Softener - Sunburst all the products are great and safe for sensitive skin they use only the best natural ingredients. If you decide to try it let me know what you think.

Take care
D.
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although it is not especially environmdentally friendly Lysol concentrate in the brown bottel works - not easy to find i get it at the Ace Hardware store and sometimes Long's has it. You only need 2 -3 ounzes for the wqasher load. I havne't used Tea tree oil but that may also work

put out into the sun for a few days