Why Do My Towels Still Smell After Washing? What to Check Before Washing Them Again
Have you ever picked up a freshly washed towel, used it after a shower, and suddenly noticed a musty smell? That happened to me recently with the towels we dry indoors at home in Japan. The towels had been washed, dried, and folded as usual, so I was confused when one of them started smelling again as soon as it became slightly damp. My first thought was simple: Should I just wash it again? After looking into it, I realized that repeatedly putting the same towel through a normal wash may not solve the problem. If your towels still smell after washing, start by checking four things: 1. Check the towel’s care label. 2. If the fabric allows it, consider an appropriate laundry treatment such as oxygen bleach. 3. Check whether you are using too much detergent or fabric softener. 4. If several items smell, not just one towel, check the washing machine too. Once the smell has been dealt with, drying laundry without leaving it damp for too long can also help keep the problem from coming back. ...