Icky Towels

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Does anyone have any tricks to keep the towels from getting stinky? I wash them every 2-3 days but they often get stinky in between. We always hang them up and we have the AC on so I don't get it. What am I doing wrong?

I'm usually pretty good with household stuff but I'm pretty sure our towels didn't stink growing up and I'm pretty sure I'm washing them MORE frequently than my mom did...

[Deebs]

Do you have a high efficiency washing machine???

[Michele]

I was also going to ask about an HE machine...we have an HE Front Loader and I have to leave the door open to the washer or it molds (?) in the washer and makes my clothes stink! It didn't say that in my manual. I notice the stink quicker on things I wash more often (diapers and kitchen rags - daily or every other day) and less on things that get washed once a week (clothes, sheets towels). I also sometimes run baking soda and vinegar through my machine (dumped into the drum not from the dispenser) in an empty cycle. I read somewhere online that bleach can make the smell worse - which it does for my machine and so I rarely use bleach.

ETA: I leave the door open until the washer dries out completely....usually I do diapers everyday so the door stays open all the time...frustrating because we don't have a dedicated laundry room. I will have that in my "someday" house!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

So you mean the washer itself could be causing the smell?

[Deebs]

There is a product for HE machines (or maybe for all machines) called Washer Magic (another one called Affresh that I haven't tried) that you run through an empty machine to get rid of the mold/mildew issue. Front loaders are designed to be air tight, so you have to leave the door open so that mold and mildew will not grow. Also, you can run vinegar through as a fabric softener, and that is supposed to help with the issue (you can literally put it into the fabric softener dispenser). You may have to play around a little to find the right amount to add. My friends who have had the same problem have first noticed it on towels. Also, part of the reason that regular washers leave a scent on clothing and towels is that they are actually leaving detergent behind when they rinse. HE washers don't do that. If you don't have a HE washer, I have no clue.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

How do I figure out if it's a HE washer? It isn't a front loader, I know that.

[Michele]

For my clothes, the washer is causing the smell....I don't know about yours though. I don't know if it's the HE part or the Front Loader part that matters the most.

[Deebs]

It should say HE somewhere on it (I think the only top loading HE's are Kenmore and Whirlpool). I would still give thoroughly cleaning out the washer a try. Maybe even just run a load through of a lot of vinegar. Also, have you tried using less detergent and no softener on your towels? If there is detergent lingering, maybe that's causing the problem?

[MrsK]

Where are you hanging them? If you are hanging them in the bathroom, the humidity could be getting to them. I only hang those that we are using and keep the rest in the linen closet.

[mommax3]

I think it is the HE part that causes the trouble. I would also try no softener, and maybe try some color-safe bleach, too.

Sally

[scarlett09]

I don't have a HE washer, but a top-loading washer. When we moved in here, the washer had a lingering odor. At first, I thought it was just me adjusting from our 70's era stacking washing machine to a regular washing machine from this decade. Then the said odor was in some of our loads of clothes and linens. Tide makes some sort of cleaning product for washers and it worked well in my washer. While my washer does not smell like a bouquet of flowers 24/7, there is no noticeable odor in our washer anymore - it just smells normal (if there is such a thing). I also found that the best practice was to leave the washer lid open all the time, which we can do with a dedicated laundry area and no animals or kids.

BTW, if you happen to buy the Tide stuff and use it, close the door to the laundry area or, if you can't do that, leave your place for a bit. It has a really, really strong Tide smell to it.

[DCJenn]

My HE washing machine has a washing machine cleaning cycle that is done using bleach, once a month. I also make sure to dry the door, etc.

The other thing that I've found is that in this heat and humidity I cannot let laundry linger in the machine or it gets stinky. If the laundry does get stinky, I rewash with JUST white vineger. and as much as the soap dispensers will hold- the soap part and the bleach sections get the vinegar. Then immediately off to the dryer.

Also, if you're washing dry-weave fabrics they do get permanently stinky, sad to say. Some of the newer fabrics have addressed this problem but the older exercise clothes are BAD.

Jenn

[GrayMatterWife]

That is SO funny that you posted this thread!! I meant to start one today on the identical topic! I am sorry you're suffering smelly towels, but I am kind of glad to know I'm not the only one!

I think fabric softener or dryer sheets lead to towels getting stinky sooner. I'm not sure why that is.

Sometimes I need to wipe out that rubber gasket deal on the front loader -- ewww. Not sure if there is a similar thing on a top loader?

[bokelley]

Best Buy has tablets for HE front loader washers. They are amazing. I love them, haven't noticed any smells in my towels but I use those things!!

These are new, I haven't tired these http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218099044100

These are the ones we used, when the Best Buy guy came out repair ours (using way to much soap and broke it) he recommend it. http://www.amazon.com/Whirlpool-W101...0641744&sr=8-1