How to get mildew smell out of towels?

[Anonymous]

My kids often forget to wring out their washcloths after bathing--ugh. I already wash with hot water, but it doesn't help. Will vinegar do the trick? Or something else?

[Anonymous]

Sun light - let it dry under the sun.

[Anonymous]

white vinegar should do the trick

[Anonymous]

white vinegar in the wash works for with all kinds of smells (like when dd has an accident). also, you can add baking soda to the wash too.

[Anonymous]

You have to kill the mold--bleach, detergent, and hot water wash.

[Anonymous]

Do you have to use clorox or can you use color-fast bleach?

[Anonymous]

Anyone know about how much white vinegar? I'm thinking half a cup or something, and do you just throw it in the washing machine with the towels or use other detergent as well?

Thanks - this is a great tip.

[Anonymous]

I used about a cup of white vinegar per load of towels. You can just add it with the detergent. I ran a load with detergent first and then a second wash with just vinegar. Probably washed out all the detergent, but the smell went away!

[Anonymous]

Check the water temp. on your washer. Is the hot wash actually hot enough? I think if it were hot enough, then this would lead this issue.

Many people turn down the temperature on their water heater to save energy and to reduce risk of kids scalding themselves, but unless your washer has a heating element and a thermostat, the water will simply not be hot enough.

Most washers sold in the U.S. do not include a heating element: temperature setting are controlled as follows: a hot wash uses only hot water, that is, turns on only the hot water. If hot water takes time to get to the washer and at first is cold, this will reduce temperature of the water in your washer. A warm wash is both the hot and cold water turned on; and the cold wash is just cold water. The washer does not actually heat the water. Some models do, typically high end front loading washer. But you have to read the specifications carefully. The makers of washer know that those in the know will look for this feature, but for the rest of us, they don't want to advertise too much or educate consumers, that that washers they have been selling us don't work very well at all. Most washer sold in Europe include a heating element and the clothes actually get clean. I was really amazing at how well my clothes lasted when I in Europe for 6 months. On my return, I was really grossed out by how clothes came out of the washer... when I finally owned my own house, I bought a "real" washer and I actually enjoy laundry. I put the clothes in, add detergent to the tray and walk away. No bleach, no stain removers, no vinegar, no second rinses, just clean fresh clothes that stay looking new. (OMG!!! I sound like a commerical). I am so in love with my washer that I actually bought one for my sister for her wedding... she thanks me on a regular basis. My friend comes to my house once a month with all her whites, she cooks us a great meal while her clothes wash. We get fed, she gets white whites!

Here is another possible explanation: Are the wash cloths a dark color? Sometimes these dyes start to 'rot' and there might be nothing you can do.

[Anonymous]

I don't think we've ever used the hot water in our washer. Too harsh on clothes. It is a myth that hot/warm water kills germs/mildew etc. The reason people wash hands with warm water is because it is more comfortable and when you learn to wash your hands properly, you are taught to rub vigorously for 20 seconds. All that time under water would be very uncomforbable if the water was cold so that is where the warm water comes in.

It is the friction that kills the germs.

[Anonymous]

Bleach is the only thing that really works. For that reason I only buy white towels. Color-safe bleach will not work.

On the bright side, though my colored towels are now discolored, they smell great. I tried everything before going for the bleach, but it was bleach or throw the towels away, so I went for it.

[Anonymous]

I tried vinegar. Didn't do the trick. Had to finally bleach.

[Anonymous]

I had success with Borax on colored towels

[Anonymous]

One cup of white vinegar did the trick--thanks! (To 14:58: I did a small load with just washcloths. Maybe you need more vinegar for a larger load?)

[Anonymous]

I took and washed the towels in vinagar first.then ran them again with detergent and baking soda.......talk about some soft good smelling towels........just try it