How to remove mildew smell from towels
There’s nothing worse than folding a stack of squeaky-clean towels only to catch a whiff of something less-than-sweet. Damp, musty towels not only smell awful but are also a breeding ground for mould, bacteria and other nasties. Here’s how to eradicate the smell for good.
1. Make sure you’re clean before you use your towel
Sounds strange, but the bacteria that builds up on our body ends up being transferred to your towel. If you’re a “in and out of the shower” kind of person, spend an extra few minutes thoroughly washing “sweaty spots” with a body wash or bar of soap to prevent bacteria transfer.
2. Always hang your towels
A balled up towel, even one heading for the wash, is almost guaranteed to get mouldy. Residual bacteria builds up on damp towels so ensuring that your towel is hung up either on a hook or towel rack ensures even drying.
3. Keep your machine clean
Ever wondered why your washing machine sometimes gets clogged up or slimy? Apart from washing powder residue it can also be due to a build-up of skin cells. People shed about one billion dead skin cells every day. Most of these end up in your washing machine. Try and disinfect your washer at least once a week to remove build up and keep it clean.
4. Choose a heavy duty wash
For the best result, wash towels in groups of no more than three. Choose the hottest setting and add in-wash booster/stain remover and hygiene rinse (like Dettol) along with your detergent. Make sure you remove your towels as soon as the wash cycle finishes and hang them to dry, ideally somewhere sunny as sun kills bacteria and mould.
Have you got any nifty tricks for super clean smelling laundry? Share them with us in the comment section below.
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