Simple ways to make your towels smell great and be more absorbent

Towels are one of those things that we use daily, but often don’t think about until they start to smell. If your towels are starting to smell musty or mildewy, there are a few simple things you can do to freshen them up.

Here are 15 tips for making your towels smell great and be more absorbent:

1. Wash your towels frequently:

This one may seem obvious, but washing your towels frequently is the best way to prevent them from smelling bad. Aim to wash them at least once a week.

2. Use hot water:

Hot water will kill any bacteria that might be causing your towels to smell.

3. Add vinegar or baking soda to the wash:

Vinegar and baking soda are both great natural odor eliminators. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar or 1 cup of baking soda to your washing machine when you wash your towels.

4. Hang your towels to dry:

Towels that are left in a humid environment (like a laundry basket) are more likely to develop mildew and bacteria. Hang them up to dry after each use, or invest in a drying rack.

5. Use less detergent:

If you’re using too much detergent, it can actually leave your towels smelling worse. Only use the amount of detergent that is recommended on the bottle.

6. Don’t use fabric softener:

Fabric softener can actually make your towels less absorbent. If you want to use something to make them smell good, add a few drops of essential oil to the wash instead.

7. Wash with vinegar and baking soda:

If your towels are really stinky, washing them with vinegar and baking soda will help to freshen them up. Add 1/2 cup of each to your washing machine along with your regular detergent.

8. Soak in vinegar and water:

If your towels are musty or mildewy, soaking them in a solution of vinegar and water can help to freshen them up. Just add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a sink full of warm water and let the towels soak for 30 minutes.

9. Line dries in the sun:

Hanging your towels out to dry in the sun is a great way to naturally disinfect them and make them smell fresh.

10. Store them in a dry place:

Make sure you’re storing your towels in a dry place (like a linen closet) when you’re not using them. A damp environment will only make them more likely to develop bacteria.

11. Don’t over-dry:

Towels that are over-dried can actually start to smell musty. Take them out of the dryer while they’re still slightly damp and hang them up to finish drying.

12. Add essential oils:

Adding a few drops of essential oil to your towels can help them smell great. Lavender and eucalyptus are both good options.

13. Dry in the sun:

Just like line drying, drying your towels in the sun is a great way to disinfect them and make them smell fresh.

14. Boil Them:

If you’re really concerned about bacteria, boiling your towels is a great way to kill anything that might be lurking on them. Just add them to a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes.

15. Bleach Them:

If you’re using white towels, bleaching them is a great way to disinfect and make them smell fresh. Just add 1/2 cup of bleach to your washing machine when you wash them.

Washing your towels frequently is the best way to prevent them from smelling bad. Aim to wash them at least once a week. Hot water will kill any bacteria that might be causing your towels to smell. Vinegar and baking soda are both great natural odor eliminators. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar or 1 cup of baking soda to your washing machine when you wash your towels.

Conclusion:

Following these tips should help to keep your towels smelling fresh and free of bacteria. Remember to wash them frequently, use hot water, and add vinegar or baking soda to the wash. You can also try soaking them in vinegar and water, line drying in the sun, or boiling them. If you’re using white towels, you can also bleach them to disinfect and make them smell fresh.