There is something especially disappointing about pulling a clean towel from the cupboard, using it once, and noticing that damp, musty smell almost immediately.
The towel went through the wash.
It looks clean.
So why does it still smell?
When towels smell musty after washing, the problem often starts before the wash cycle or continues after it ends.
Start With What Happens to the Towel After a Shower
A wet towel needs room to dry.
When it is folded over itself, dropped in a laundry basket, or hung where air cannot move around it, moisture stays trapped in the thick fibers.
If that damp towel then waits a day or two before washing, the washing machine has a much harder job.
Whenever possible, hang used towels open rather than leaving them crumpled in a pile.
A Very Full Washer Can Leave Thick Towels Half-Cleaned
Towels are bulky once they become wet.
A washing machine that looks only moderately full at the beginning of a cycle can become tightly packed once those towels absorb water.
They need enough room for water and detergent to move through the fabric.
If everything is pressed tightly together, rinsing may also be less effective.
Instead of trying to fit every towel in one load, leaving a little room can sometimes produce a better result.
More Detergent Is Not Always Better for Towels
Thick towel fibers can hold onto detergent.
Using too much may leave a coating behind rather than making the towels cleaner.
That residue can affect how the fabric feels and may contribute to odors when the towel becomes damp again.
Use an amount suited to the load and your washing machine rather than adding an extra splash โjust to be safe.โ
If the towels feel unusually stiff or slippery after washing, it may be worth looking at how much laundry product is being used.
The Drying Stage Matters Just as Much as Washing
A towel that sits damp in the washing machine after the cycle ends can begin developing an unpleasant smell surprisingly quickly.
Move towels to the dryer or drying area as soon as reasonably possible.
Then let them dry completely before folding and storing them.
A towel that feels only slightly damp in the thickest section can bring moisture into an otherwise dry linen cupboard.
That one detail is easy to miss when several towels are being folded at once.
Do Not Pack the Linen Cupboard Too Tightly
Freshly washed towels also need a dry place to live.
When a shelf is packed from wall to wall, it becomes harder for air to move between the stacks.
You do not need large empty shelves, but towels should be easy to remove without pulling the entire stack forward.
A little breathing room also makes it much easier to notice when too many towels have accumulated.
And Sometimes the Washer Is Part of the Problem
If several loads of laundry come out with the same stale smell, take a moment to check the machine itself.
A washer can hold moisture or residue around the seal, detergent drawer, or other areas even when the drum looks clean.
Our guide to
why a washing machine can still smell after cleaning
walks through those areas one by one.
Fresh towels are usually less about adding stronger fragrance and more about keeping the whole cycle simple:
dry before washing, leave enough room in the load, rinse well, and dry completely afterward.
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