Used, wet towels that are scattered around the bathroom can emit a nauseating smell. The stench is often caused by mold settling into the fibers after use and not easy to get rid of. Washing clothes twice as normal will help eliminate odors, but if this isn't enough to fight mold, you can try other simple remedies using household cleaners.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Wash Towels with Vinegar and Sodium Bicarbonate
Step 1. Wash the towels
Put the smelly ones in the washing machine and set a program to the highest temperature available. Add 250ml of white vinegar and 200g of baking soda.
- For now, do not use any detergent or fabric softener.
- You can also try washing your laundry with vinegar only or with baking soda only if you don't have both.
Step 2. Leave the towels to soak in the washing machine
When all the components are mixed, stop the appliance and let the clothes soak in the baking soda and vinegar solution for about an hour. After this time, start the washing machine again and complete the wash cycle.
Step 3. Add some vinegar and detergent
You need to do a second wash, but this time add 250ml vinegar to your usual laundry detergent. Use the usual amount of soap you pour for one load and let the program finish normally, except for one more spin cycle.
If your washing machine allows it, you can program an additional spin or restart the appliance at the end of the wash
Step 4. Put the towels in the dryer immediately
As soon as the second spin cycle is finished, put the clothes in the dryer and start it at maximum temperature until the laundry is completely dry. When finished, repeat a second drying cycle.
Method 2 of 3: Soak the Towels in Boiling Water and Detergent
Step 1. Pour 160g of powdered laundry detergent into a large bucket
If washing with baking soda and vinegar didn't work, you can try soaking towels in very hot water and a detergent with active oxygen. To start, pour 160 g of cleaning product into a large bowl or bucket.
Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands
Step 2. Add the boiling water
Start by putting very hot water in the bucket; if the tap water does not reach high temperatures, boil it and then pour it into the container. As you pour it, gently move the detergent by tilting the bucket slightly. Just be careful not to overturn the container or let the liquid out.
Step 3. Put the towels in the tray
Once half filled with hot water, add the laundry making sure each cloth is completely submerged in the solution.
Leave the towels to soak for about 48 hours
Step 4. Wash them in the washing machine
After the soaking period, remove the towels from the bucket and wring them out. Immediately transfer them to the washing machine and start the program on the highest temperature using detergent and fabric softener.
During this procedure, you can add more cleanser with active oxygen
Step 5. Dry the laundry
At the end of the wash cycle, immediately put the towels in the dryer and operate the appliance at maximum temperature. After this treatment, the cloths should be as good as new.
If they still smell like mold, it's probably time to replace them
Method 3 of 3: Clean the Mold from the Washing Machine
Step 1. Check your washing machine for any defects
The cause of the musty smell could be attributed to the appliance which does not expel all the water at the end of each wash. Check it to make sure it is working well and that there is no water residue somewhere. If you notice any anomalies, call a technician for repairs or consider buying a new washing machine.
Step 2. Wash the gasket
If the clothes smell of mold, sometimes the washing machine could be partly to blame. Since the gasket is the rubber part that seals the opening and prevents water leaks during washing, it is very important to clean it to eliminate the musty odor it gives off. Rub it with a rag dipped in soapy water or sprayed with anti-mold cleaner. You can also use an equal parts bleach and water solution.
- Consider using an old toothbrush to get to the hardest spots.
- Be sure to clean all gasket surfaces. You will need to peel off some sections to be able to clean even the small folds of the gum.
Step 3. Clean the detergent dispenser
Take it out and scrub it with a solution of dish soap and water. Detergent residues or stagnant water that remain in this compartment can also cause unpleasant odors.
If the dispenser is not removable, do your best to clean it with a rag or pipe cleaners
Step 4. Start a wash cycle
Make sure the washing machine is empty and set the longest program to the highest temperature. If the musty smell persists, do another identical wash. It may take a few idle cycles to get rid of the stench. Consider adding one of these substances directly to the washing machine drum:
- 250 ml of bleach;
- 200 g of baking soda;
- 100 g of powdered enzymatic detergent for dishwashers;
- 120 ml of commercial detergent for washing machines;
- 250 ml of vinegar.
Step 5. Talk to a professional
If none of the methods described in this article have brought you the desired results, you should contact a technician who checks the washing machine. Mold may have formed behind the drum or the filter or drain may be clogged.
A qualified technician can help you diagnose your washing machine malfunction and may even take it apart to find the source of the bad smell
Step 6. Take preventative measures
Once you understand where the smell is coming from, make sure the mold doesn't build up again. Here's how you can intervene:
- Air the washing machine. Leave the door open when you're not using it. However, remember that pets and small children can get trapped in it.
- Use detergent wisely. The cleaning products create a small amount of foam and are designed for high efficiency washing machines. Those in powder form less foam than liquid products. Never exceed the recommended doses; sometimes a small amount of soap washes clothes better.
- Do not use fabric softener. This liquid product leaves residues that favor the development of molds. To make the laundry fragrant and soft, choose the dryer sheets or softening balls, instead of the liquid version.
- Dry the garnish. Use a rag to dry all of the gasket, including the inside creases. Theoretically, you should do this after every wash cycle, but if you don't want to, try to clean it regularly at least once a week to get rid of mold.
- Do a bleach wash. Once a month, do a vacuum wash with very hot water and bleach. It is an excellent opportunity to disinfect the appliance, but also to wash very dirty clothes such as work clothes or dirty towels.
Advice
- Use a laundry detergent with bleaching or antifungal additives. This way, you fight the musty smell and prevent spores from developing.
- To prevent the towels from getting moldy, hang them out to dry immediately after using them. Consider adding more towel racks if there isn't enough room for everyone in the family.
- If you live in a sunny location, dry your clothes outside on a clothesline.
Warnings
- Do not use bleach and ammonia during the same washing machine load, as the combination of these substances generates the formation of chlorine gas which is poisonous and potentially deadly.
- Excessive use of bleach, vinegar, and other harsh cleaners can damage the washer seals and cause leaks; it could also void the appliance warranty.
