How to Get Bad Smells Out of Towels – Here Are 17 Solutions

Smelly towels are a common problem and can have a big impact on how you feel after a shower and the way your bathroom or home smells. The odors can even transfer to other items in the home, causing the scent to spread.

Fortunately, there are several preventative and remedial solutions for you to experiment with. But before we give you a load of expert advice on how to get the smell out of towels, it will help if you understand a little bit of the science behind smelly towels and how those odors arise.

What causes bad odors on towels?

Like many other textiles, towels get smelly for various reasons. If you’re going to solve the problem, you need to eliminate the causes one by one until the smell goes away. So here are the six main causes of bad odors in towels.

Moisture retention – Towels are designed to soak up water and transfer moisture from your body to the fabric. So it should come as no surprise that they get wet. While this is not an issue on its own, it quickly becomes one if you fail to dry them properly. When left, the combination of moisture and fabric creates the environment for bacterial growth that, as we will see, can lead to some pretty unpleasant odors.

Bacterial growth – Bacteria are the number one source of unpleasant odors. Along with mold and mildew, they can quickly turn a fresh towel dank, damp, and musty, leaving you with a lot of foul smells to sort out. Microorganisms release bad odors as part of their metabolic processes. But we’ll touch on that in more detail below.

Too much detergent – If you go too heavy on detergent or fail to rinse it off the towel properly, it can actually contribute to unpleasant odors. This is because the detergent residue traps moisture and prevents the towel from drying, resulting in greater bacterial growth and more smells.

Accumulation of fabric softener – The same goes for fabric softener, although it has a slightly different effect. If you use too much softener or fail to rinse the towel well, it can leave a coating on the fabric that reduces the towel’s absorbency and traps odors, making the towel more smelly.

Dirty washing machine – If you’re using a washing machine to clean your towels, it pays to regularly clean the machine, too. Dirty washing machines can transfer bacteria to the towels. Even though they smell fresh when they’re straight out of the washer, they will quickly start to smell.

Poor storage – Storing your towels in a humid, damp, or poorly ventilated area is a recipe for disaster and will cause them to start smelling. Always opt for a dry, airy, and well-ventilated spot if there is one available.

The science behind towel odors

As we’ve established, bacteria and other microorganisms are the primary culprits when it comes to bad odors in towels. Microorganisms thrive in warm, moist conditions, so you need to dry your towels properly and be careful where to store them. Bacteria produce organic compounds when they break down nutrients and convert them into energy. These byproducts are responsible for unpleasant odors. The more bacteria and other microorganisms thrive, the worse the issue becomes, and the more organic compounds are produced.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common bacteria in towels. But mold spores and even fungi can be a serious issue if you do not look after your towels well or take preventative and remedial anti-odor action. In most cases, preventative measures focus on making the environmental conditions less favorable to bacteria and other microorganisms.

Negative aspects of a smelly towel

No one likes those damp, musty odors. But a smelly towel does more than just make you wrinkle your nose in disgust. It can significantly impact other areas of your life. For instance, unpleasant towel odors can:

• Leave your rooms smelling bad – The bad smells contained within towels can linger in your bathroom or bedroom long after you remove the towel from that space. This can be uncomfortable and create an uninviting and unpleasant environment for you and other users.
• Transfer to your skin – It’s not just your home you have to worry about. If you regularly dry yourself with a smelly towel, the odors will transfer to your skin, ensuring you feel less clean and that damp, musty odor follows you everywhere. 
• Be unpleasant for guests – If you have guests to stay, you don’t want to have to offer them a damp and smelly towel. You want it to be fresh and inviting. 
• Spread to your clothes and other items – If you struggle with smelly towels, you will already know how easily the odors spread to other fabrics, such as clothes, bags, and bedsheets. Stopping the smells before they spread is the easiest and most effective course of action.

How to get the smell out of towels

If you are already suffering from smelly towels, there are several steps you can take to eliminate the odors and start afresh. In some cases, you may need to combine methods to eradicate bad odors on towels completely.

1. Baking soda – Baking soda is an excellent odor-neutralizer, is widely available and easy to use. It works on multiple levels, ensuring it’s great for towels. For instance, baking soda directly affects unpleasant odors but also helps break down any fabric softener or detergent that has built up over time. 
2. White vinegar – Another readily available household item that does a good job removing bad odors from towels. Add a single cup of white vinegar when putting your towels on a rinse cycle, and let the liquid work its magic. It will kill bacteria and eliminate any mildew smells on your towel. It also works pretty well if you mix in some baking soda at the same time.
3. A hot wash – It may sound ridiculously simple, but a very hot wash is also an effective method for killing off any odor-producing bacteria. The heat will also break down any detergent or softener residue, reducing the likelihood of odors returning.
4. Air and sun-dry – Direct sunlight is an effective antibacterial, while fresh air works to dry out the towel and remove moisture from the fibers. While this method may not eliminate particularly bad smells on its own, combining it with other steps in the list is a good way to go to get a bad odors out of your towels.
5. Odor-eliminating detergent – You can purchase specialist detergents designed to remove stubborn smells and return your towel to its fresh-smelling original state. They typically contain enzymes that break down the organic matter responsible for the odors. 
6. Hydrogen peroxide – Often found in bleaches, hydrogen peroxide has strong antibacterial properties and will help you eliminate certain odors. Be careful about how much you add to your wash cycle.
7. Borax – A popular washing agent that people use to boost the strength of their normal detergent, Borax is a natural mineral that works on both odors and stains. Add half a cup to your wash cycle and let it get to work. 
8. Activated charcoal – If you’re having problems with excess moisture and it’s causing bad odors in your towels, try placing activated charcoal wherever you store them. It absorbs excess moisture and bad odors, helping towels stay fresh.

Best ways to prevent bad odors in towels

While remedies are important, prevention is a much more effective method. Ideally, you want to stop unpleasant odors on towels before they become a problem. It saves you a lot of trouble and is much more effective. With this in mind, here are our top nine tips for keeping your towels fresh and preventing nasty smells.

1. Use towels with antibacterial protection – Invest in towels that feature integrated antibacterial protection. Polygiene StayFresh™ is a highly effective additive technology that prevents bacterial growth, eliminating odors at the source. This means they stay fresher for longer and don’t require washing as frequently, resulting in a more environmentally friendly product.
2. Rotate towels frequently – Don’t wait until the bad smells are really obvious before washing your towels. Get into the habit of changing and washing them often before you begin to notice any odors. It is easier to prevent odors than to remove them. 
3. Dry towels well – Drying them thoroughly is almost as important as washing them when it comes to avoiding mildew smell on towels. As we’ve learned, moisture creates the perfect conditions for bacteria, and you want to avoid this at all costs. Dry your towels in a well-ventilated space. If possible, get them out in the sun and fresh air.
4. Omit the fabric softener – While it may make your towels feel all soft and lovely, you may want to skip the fabric softener if you keep having issues with smelly towels. It’s one of the root causes of unpleasant odors in towels, and it may be best to go without. 
5. Specify uses for your towels – Keeping towels for specific purposes helps prevent bacteria transfer and can stop smells in their tracks. For instance, keep one towel for your hair and one for your body. And don’t share towels with partners or family. 
6. Be sensible about storage – Your towel storage space needs to be dry. Otherwise, all the other things you are doing to eliminate and prevent smells are a waste of time. Avoid humid areas and go for dry, cool, and well-ventilated areas whenever possible.
7. Wash towels separately – Keep your towels separate from your other laundry items when washing to prevent bacterial transfer. This works both ways. You don’t want the bacteria from your towels on your clothes or vice versa.
8. Try a dehumidifier – If you really can’t avoid environmental humidity (e.g. you live in a humid climate or struggle with a damp house), consider investing in a dehumidifier. They can be extremely effective and will help you manage humidity levels wherever you store your towels.
9. Clean your washing machine – Surprisingly, washing machines can harbor many bacteria. It then transfers this bacteria to any items you place in the washing machine, including towels. With this in mind, clean your washing machine regularly using either vinegar or a hot water cycle to kill any bacteria inside.
   

Polygiene StayFresh™ antibacterial towel technology

Polygiene StayFresh is an industry-leading textile technology that stops odor-causing bacteria in their tracks, keeping your towels clean and fresh in between washes. As an additive technology, it is integrated into textile products at the point of manufacture. It provides 24/7 protection and does not leech, ensuring users benefit from long-lasting odor control.

Silver chloride is the active ingredient in Polygiene StayFresh. It is a naturally occurring salt that has been used for centuries for its antimicrobial properties. Refining and honing its application, Polygiene has created an enormously effective odor-eliminating solution that tackles bacteria, fungi, and mold. The technology is non-toxic, entirely skin-safe, environmentally friendly, and does not interfere with the towels’ texture or absorbency. 

You can find Polygiene StayFresh in several toweling products, including Nordifakt towels, Kingly promotional towels, and Nutrlhome towels, among others.

Fresher towels and no bad odors with Polygiene

Polygiene has operated at the forefront of the additive technology and odor-control sector for a significant amount of time, and our solutions are used by towel manufacturers around the world. Polygiene StayFresh is the most effective way to keep your towels odor-free, ensuring hassle-free performance and a fresher-for-longer feel.

Polygiene technology can be integrated into all textiles and is utilized by manufacturers in a wide variety of products, ranging from Home & Pets items to Outdoor gear. To learn more about our technology, head to the Polygiene StayFresh solution page or reach out to our experienced team