Smelly towels

[Leslie]

Okay, need big time help here. You know all those towels we use to dry off our constantly wet dogs? Well, I put them to soak in the washer and......forgot about them for 3 days. They were soaking in detergent but gosh do they stink. I washed them in hot water and threw in a little bleach but they still have that smell (not mildew but something pretty close). Any suggestions?

 

[Blacknewfs]

Try washing them again with detergent and add a 1/2 cup of baking soda...that will get rid of the smell!

 

[sarnewfie]

use more bleach
i did that, and had to use about a half cup of bleach to them, than i let them sit for about a half hour before turning on the washer.
i waited till the tub was full, turned off washer, than turned it back on.

 

[shelly]

I get that same smell alot with the pool towels. Its awful. I can't bleach, but I will definately try the baking soda. Great tip!

 

[Blacknewfs]

Good to know that baking soda also makes your whites extra white without polluting the environment! You can use more than 1/2 cup if you have a large load of laundry or a particularly smelly batch, but I have always found 1/2 cup to be plenty.

 

[NewfMom]

Laurel on here once recommended 20 Mule Team Borax. I've used it ever since for smelly stuff. I've had good luck with Clorox II also.

When Art got back from Katrina relief last year I used both on his laundry because the mold smell hit you as soon as he brought the bag in the door. Everything but the work gloves came clean fine.

 

[Leslie]

Well, the baking soda worked! Thank you Sandra. I use baking soda to clean everything and never thought of it in the laundry. I do use vinegar as fabric softener though. But my fresh smelling towels thank you too!

 

[FuzzyDustBunnies]

Vinegar as fabirc softener? Do tell more.

 

[jeva]

i am with kelly....vinegar????

 

[angie j]

The chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar mixed together, will take out ANY smell....even the dreaded cat urine...realy!!!!!!
Angie

 

[Ohana Mom]

what do you do if you have one of the newer "high efficiency" wash machines? I can only use HE liquid in mine but I love the idea of baking soda...

 

[lam72257]

vinegar and baking soda, wash with double rinse.

 

[FuzzyDustBunnies]

I have the HE front loaders and still use regular detergent. I just don't use nearly as much of the regular stuff.

 

[Leslie]

Yep, as fabric softener. I'm pretty much allergic to anything that has perfume and they've yet to make a fabric softener that doesn't have a scent. I use about 1/4 cup of plain old cheap white vinegar in the rinse. It's great for towels too. They're soft but they stay absorbent. It also helps the dark clothes stay dark.

 

[FuzzyDustBunnies]

Who woulda thunk? I think I'll give it a whirl sometime and hope I don't come out smelling like a giant pickle...cause you know what'll happen...Hope will be chasing after me all day long! LOL

 

[shelly]

I used the baking soda on a "stinky" load of laundry from a while back. Could never get the stink out until now - it worked great!!! Thanks for the great thread! Saved me from tossing out the whole load!