[jkomoros]

Help! How do I get rid of musty smelling towels? I have been in The Villages for five years with no problem in my cottage. Now that I am in a designer home with a Roman shower, I am having increasing problems with musty towels. I am washing them the same, drying them separately and extra long. Some days I only get a day's use out of them before they start smelling musty. Someone suggested bleach, but they are colored towels. The guy from Munn's was in for their 6 month check, and I was hoping there was something set incorrectly that would help, but everything is fine there. Help!!

[gomoho]

I remember reading the musty smell comes from a build up of either detergent or fabric softener in the towels. I think the remedy had something to do with baking soda and vinegar. Might want to google it - sure you'll find a remedy.

[bespoke]

Try washing with one cup of white vinegar on hot cycle in your washing machine. Then repeat with 1/2 cup baking soda.

Good luck!

[applesoffh]

Never use fabric softener on towels. They leave a deposit which cannot be removed and the towels become less absorbent. As for the musty smell, keep the shower fan on for at least 20 minutes after turning the shower off. In addition, if you have the room in the bathroom, have a ceiling fan installed (that runs via remote control) and run it on low, which is what I had to do to alleviate the same problem. The air flow in the bathroom is awful, even though I have a window.

[kittygilchrist]

4 Ways to Remove Mildew Smell from Towels - wikiHow

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by jkomoros

Help! How do I get rid of musty smelling towels? I have been in The Villages for five years with no problem in my cottage. Now that I am in a designer home with a Roman shower, I am having increasing problems with musty towels. I am washing them the same, drying them separately and extra long. Some days I only get a day's use out of them before they start smelling musty. Someone suggested bleach, but they are colored towels. The guy from Munn's was in for their 6 month check, and I was hoping there was something set incorrectly that would help, but everything is fine there. Help!!

4 Ways to Remove Mildew Smell from Towels - wikiHow

4 WAYS TO REMOVE MILDEW SMELL FROM TOWELS

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PICTORIAL TOUR OF VARIOUS METHODS OF DEALING WITH YOUR PROBLEM.

PLEASE KEEP SCROLLING DOWN AS IT IS VERY LONG........SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM, PAST ADVERTS.
PAST THE GUY BY THE WASHING MACHINE. AT THE BOTTOM IS A SHORT ARTICLE ON EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO. ALSO, WE ALL KNOW ALREADY NOT TO MIX THE VARIOUS CLEANING PRODUCTS.
GOOD LUCK !

[D&Lsunfun]

it may be the washing machine, about every 2 months our washers has a sour smell, i use the machine cleaner cycle with bleach and hot water and good to go.

[BobandMarilyn]

We used Borax for a while, but the funk came back. Are having good success with oxygen bleach (safe for colors).

[gomoho]

I am curious if those experiencing the musty towel smells are using front loaders or traditional machines?

[jkomoros]

Originally Posted by gomoho

I am curious if those experiencing the musty towel smells are using front loaders or traditional machines?

Top loader for me. And this is a new machine for us, with new agitator. Never thought about that. Will be interested what others say. In the meantime, thanks to all for your links and ideas!

[DJJohnson]

I have found that the new HE washers leave my clothes and towels smelling a little funny. Usually have to use the second rinse cycle. Doesn't matter if it is front or top load. These are the new washers without the normal center agitator.

[raynan]

I have a front-load and clean around the inside of the door gasket frequently with Lysol or Clorox wipes. On laundry day I also run an empty load after everything is done with just bleach and extra rinse on sanitize cycle. I do the anti-bacterial cycle in the empty dishwasher with vinegar also periodically. I used to work for GE.

[mac]

Check out a product called "washer fan" on-line. Designed to dry the tub of front loaders. I have one and it works. Drys out left over water in tub and door surround and thus prevents mold.

[Bonanza]

We have a new front load washer. After every wash, I wipe the inside of the door off completely. I've always used Tide powder and won't any more because I find some powder residue on the door and rubber gasket; it doesn't seem to disolve completely even though I wash with warm water.

Unless I'm using bleach for a white load once every few white washings, I fill the bleach dispenser with vinegar for every wash. After every wash, I never close the door completely until the washer is dry. Otherwise, I have found, the damp washer can hold a musty smell.

Another biggie . . . After each load, pull the large rubber gasket (on the bottom) out so you can see if there is any debris, pet hair, etc, clogging the tiny openings. I believe all washers are the same in this respect. We have pets, so there is always hair there and it does prevent the flow of the water into the washer (that you can't see). I use a damp sponge to wipe the hair and other stuff out; it removes more easily that by using my hand.

There are some good suggestions here. I'm sure if you try some of the recommended posts you will get rid of the smell.

[CFrance]

Do you normally use fabric softener on your towels? We have a designer with a Roman shower too, but we've never had the musty-towel problem. We don't use fabric softener on towels or sheets.

We also have a new agitator-less top loader, water efficient, and I always use the second rinse because I don't think the washing machine uses enough water to get the clothes rinsed properly, even with HE detergent.