Towels

Instead of "fabric softener" I just use white vinegar for the rinse.

ETA: I also have never used any kind of fabric softener in towels. It affects the absorption ability of the towels somehow. :/

Add vinegar to the rinse water.

i quit using scented chemicals. i wash my towels in hot water with plenty of detergent, add a blop of baking soda, and put white vinegar in the rinse.
clean, fluffy, fresh towels.
:) khairete
S.

Try baking soda. Put a cup in with the towels and see if that helps.

If it doesn't, try a 1/2 cup of vinegar.

If that doesn't work, I would worry that your washer needs a cleaning!

Dawn

Yes vinegar, but also hot water. I use cold on everything except towels and underwear. Sometimes they are just musty and they need a good hot bath!

Also I recently found this stuff for my husband's smelly gym clothes called Sport Wash, made by Caldera (sp?) and it's natural and smells super good. I don't use fabric softener or scented laundry soap but this stuff is amazing. Sometimes I put it in with my sheets and towels to help perk them up too.

Oh and Victoria is right about the fabric softener and towels. I read an article about it and there was a whole list of stuff you shouldn't use fabric softener on and towels was at the top. I also use only vinegar and it works pretty well.

Ditto on the vinegar :)

You can do vinegar, or you can do baking soda (just not at the same time, or you'll end up with a volcano experiment in your washer). Both options have worked for me.

White vinegar! Not kidding, this stuff is amazing! I discovered it when I was cloth-diapering and the detergent wasn't getting the urine smell out of the diapers. Since then, I've started using it on anything that smells, especially musty towels. It will also get rid of the musty smell that builds up in your washing machine - just run an empty wash with a ton of vinegar in it. For extra-strong smells, mix in some baking soda (it will fizz and bubble a bit, but I've never had it cause a volcano in my washer).

I have always had old washing machines and vinegar has never done anything for me to get the musty smell out.
The only thing that I find helps is either hinging them outside to dry, or if the weather doesn't cooperate: bleach. I tired everything else: vinegar, baking soda, borax... chlorox is the only thing that works for us.
I don't bleach every wash, just about once a month...is enough.
Good luck.

Vinegar! Works like a charm... I just had this issue and tried this on a recommendation. I am so incredibly pleased! In fact, I pulled ALL of our towels out of the closets and washed them all this way. That smell is gone - and they are fluffy again!!! I plan to do this on a regular basis.

Here is what I did... all of my towels had been washed and dried the "regular" way. Then I put them back in the washer and used about 3/4 cup or so (I have a large capacity front loader) in where I would put the detergent. I dried them as normal and POW! no more stinky towels.

Good luck!

I know what you are talking about! I put about a cup of white vinegar in the wash cycle. Does the trick and have never had an issue smelling vinegar afterwards! Hope this helps.

I have had this problem for two years with my then new front loader washing machine. Vinegar never worked for me, and neither did cleaning my washing machine with Afresh. I love the front loader except the water saving aspect isn't great for washing towels. I finally figured it out about a month ago! I switched to GAIN HE, put them in the long cycle in cold water with the extra rinse and then take them out immediately. Then I use a Bounce dryer sheet that smells really strong. You just can't leave them more than about 20 minutes in the washer. Our towels smell so good between washes now. I hope this helps!