Cleaning & Laundry
How to Get Musty Smells Out of Towels Without Replacing Them
Musty towels can often be refreshed instead of replaced. Learn how to clean the washer, use a targeted wash treatment, dry towels completely, and prevent dampness and product buildup from bringing odors back.
Musty towels are often salvageable. The odor usually comes from lingering moisture, detergent residue, body oils, or buildup in the fibers—not necessarily because a towel is worn out. A thorough wash reset, complete drying, and a few better laundry habits can often remove musty smell from towels without replacing them.
Why Towels Develop a Musty Smell
Towels are thick, absorbent, and frequently exposed to moisture. If they stay damp too long after use, in a laundry basket, or inside the washer, they can develop a stale or mildew-like odor. An odor alone does not prove mold or mildew is present, but it does signal that the towels need attention.
Residue can make the issue harder to solve. Body oils, excess detergent, fabric softener, and minerals in the water can collect in towel fibers over time. That buildup may trap odors and make towels feel less absorbent.
A towel may smell fine while dry but release an unpleasant odor when it gets wet again. This often means residue or moisture-related buildup remains in the fabric.
Start With the Laundry Setup
Before rewashing the towels, check the washer. Residue, stale odors, or moisture around the door seal, detergent drawer, or drum can transfer odors back to clean laundry.
For a more effective towel load:
- Wash towels in a load that is not overcrowded, so water and detergent can circulate through the fabric.
- Choose the warmest water temperature allowed by the towel's care label.
- Use the detergent amount recommended for the load size, soil level, and machine type.
- Avoid adding extra detergent to overpower the smell; too much detergent can leave additional residue.
- Check that the washer drains properly and has no standing water or visible buildup.
If the washer smells musty, clean it according to the manufacturer's instructions before treating the towels. This may involve a washer-cleaning cycle and wiping areas where moisture and residue collect.
Care labels take priority, especially for decorative, specialty, or non-cotton towels that may not tolerate hot washing or certain treatments.
Use an Odor-Removing Wash Method
For towels with lingering odor, try either a vinegar treatment or a baking soda wash. Use these as separate treatments rather than combining them in the same cycle.
Follow your towel care label, washer manual, and product labels for compatible placement and amounts. Not every washer dispenser or machine type is designed for every laundry additive.
Try a Vinegar Rinse Treatment
White vinegar is commonly used as a separate rinse-cycle treatment for towels with a stale or musty smell. Check your washer manual and the vinegar product label for the appropriate amount and where it can be added. Do not pour it into a dispenser unless your appliance instructions allow it.
Wash the towels using the warmest setting permitted by their care labels. Smell them after the cycle and before drying. If they smell fresher, dry them completely. If odor remains, try a separate baking soda treatment in a later wash rather than adding several products at once.
Never combine vinegar with chlorine bleach or use them in the same treatment. Incompatible cleaners can create hazardous fumes.
Try a Baking Soda Wash
Baking soda is commonly used as a separate wash-cycle treatment to help with lingering odors and residue. Add it only in a manner compatible with your washer, towel care instructions, and product label, then wash using an appropriate water temperature.
Avoid turning every load into a deep-cleaning wash. Check the towels after each treatment. Repeating a method may help in some cases, but repeated washing will not fix towels that are being left damp or a washer that needs cleaning.
Skip Products That Can Make the Problem Worse
When towels smell musty or feel less absorbent, extra scented products may mask the odor temporarily while residue remains. Keep the wash routine simple until the towels smell clean.
Avoid Fabric Softener on Problem Towels
Fabric softener can leave a coating on towel fibers. This coating may reduce absorbency and contribute to residue buildup over time. Skip liquid fabric softener and similar softening products while refreshing problem towels.
Use the Right Amount of Detergent
More detergent does not necessarily mean cleaner towels. Use the amount recommended for your machine and load size. If you have been using more than directed, reducing it may help prevent further buildup.
Do Not Rely on Fragrance to Cover Odor
Heavily fragranced detergents, scent boosters, and sprays may cover an odor briefly, but they do not address dampness or buildup. Wait until towels smell clean before using optional fragrance products.
Do not mix cleaning products unless their labels specifically say it is safe. This includes combining products that are commonly mentioned in laundry tips.
Dry Towels Completely After Washing
Complete drying matters as much as washing. Even clean towels can develop a stale smell if they sit wet in the washer or are folded while their thick fibers are still damp.
Move towels to the dryer or drying area promptly after the wash cycle ends. Use a dryer setting that matches the care label and allow enough time for thick bath towels to dry fully. Check hems, corners, and folded sections, which can hold moisture longer than the surface.
Outdoor air-drying can be useful when weather and space allow. Whether drying indoors or outside, make sure towels are fully dry before putting them in a hamper, folding them, or storing them in a linen closet.
What to Do If the Smell Persists
If towels still smell musty after proper treatment, revisit the washing conditions before deciding they must be replaced.
| What to check | What it may mean | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Washer has a stale odor or visible residue | The machine may be transferring odor or buildup | Clean the washer according to manufacturer instructions |
| Towels are packed tightly in the load | Water and detergent may not be reaching all fibers | Rewash a smaller load |
| Towels feel stiff or less absorbent | Product or mineral buildup may remain | Use a separate compatible odor-removal treatment and skip softener |
| Towels smell again after getting wet | Residue or incomplete drying may still be present | Rewash if needed, then dry promptly and completely |
| Persistent visible suspected mold or mildew growth, or fabric damage | The towel may not be suitable for continued use | Consider replacing the towel |
Inspect the towels for persistent visible suspected mold or mildew growth, damage, thinning fabric, or stubborn residue. Towels with visible growth that remains after laundering, noticeable damage, or odor that does not improve after repeated proper washing and complete drying may warrant replacement.
Also clean the washer if you have not already done so. When appropriate for your appliance and household, leave the washer door or lid open after loads so the interior can dry.
Prevent Musty Towel Smells From Returning
Once towels are fresh again, focus on reducing the time they spend damp and limiting residue buildup.
- Hang towels spread out after each use instead of leaving them bunched up on the floor or in a hamper.
- Keep the bathroom ventilated with an exhaust fan, open window, or other appropriate airflow so towels can dry faster.
- Wash bath towels regularly, and wash them sooner if they remain damp, smell off, or receive heavy use.
- Store towels only when they are completely dry, in a clean and dry linen closet.
- Use laundry products as directed, and avoid softener if it reduces your towels' absorbency or seems to contribute to buildup.
Musty towels do not always need to be discarded. Cleaning the washer, using a targeted wash treatment, avoiding excess laundry products, and drying towels promptly and completely can often restore freshness. Better drying habits and a simple wash routine can help keep odors from returning.