Thursday, January 21, 2016

Maybe you can help?

My bathroom towels are a couple of years old.  Still in fine shape but they smell, even after I have washed them.  So a week or two ago I washed them twice in hot water, once with white vinegar only and once with baking soda only.  They seemed fine, nice and soft and no smell.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and they are back to smelling.  Any suggestions?  By the way those are not my towels, just loved the colour combination.

I had half a bottle of club soda left over.  So I let it go flat and have been watering my indoor plants with it.  Said it was good for them on the internet?  Thought it was better than throwing it away?  Did make a Jello/jelly with a cup of it too, but didn't like the bubbly taste of it.

Bit of a short post today, eh!



23 comments:

Lindsay said...

How about cleaning the washing machine as well. We clean ours every month by running it through a hot cycle with no clothes inside. The temp has to be 90 degrees./

Dee said...

Maybe try vinegar in the rinse cycle for every wash ? I often put about a tablespoon in the rinse water when washing my towels

Betsy said...

I have no great answers for you on the towels. I have heard other people say the same things about their towels but luckily I haven't seemed to have it happen...yet. I can tell you that I use Gain detergent, softener and dryer sheets for our laundry, good luck!
Blessings,
Betsy

Maggie said...

Gill this happened to my towels too and i could never figure out why!
I thought it was drying inside and finishing off in the tumble dryer but
it still happened if i hung them on the line.
In the end I just got rid, (used for dust sheets while decorating) when we did
the bathroom, so far these are ok, i'm using the same washing powder and softener
so it wasn't that.

If you find out, do let us know :-)

Evelyn said...

I have never had that happen to my towels, some are over ten years old. I don't have a dryer so line dry them when I can or inside on a shower rod when I can't

Buttons Thoughts said...

Yes towels do tend to smell this time of year. I hang them out in the cold for a few hours then dry them in the dryer that seems to work for me. Club soda I have no idea and have a case of it here and do not drink it:) Hug B

slugmama said...

Clean your washer first.....they make products for that.
I wash with a combo of detergent and straight hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide helps with stain removal but I don't know about smell removal. I can say using this combo I don't have smelly towels tho.
Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Are you using a front loader washer? There are numerous complaints particularly about towels smelling, it has to do with the seal in the washer or something of that nature. They say first never to close the washer when not in use, and I believe it should have a cleaning cycle on the washer (mine is an older model and does not have it). If you Google your brand, it should give you the different options.

Rose said...

I will be curious to know if anything works. I hope you post if you ever find the solution. Do they smell before you put them away? That was one thing I wanted to ask. I was wondering if they could be picking up a smell where they are stored.

I don't have trouble with things smelling, but my dark clothes sometimes gets 'stuff' on them...some of it is lint but sometimes it seems more than lint. I used to think it was from using powdered detergents...thinking it did not all desolve, but now get it when I use liquid all the time.

It goes away if I dry in the dryer, but sticks if I dry hanging up.

Cat Lover said...

Hi Gill, I would give the same advice as Angie. Leave your washing machine open and clean it with the special washing machine cleaner (or homemade one). I would take the towels and hang them where they are open not folded over and let them dry.

Boyett-Brinkley said...

yes, your machine might be to blame. We use a cleaner made especially for front loaders because those machines are bad for odors. I think if I ever buy a new set I will opt for a top loader again. Granted, not as easy on the back but I don't think you have the odor issues with them.

William Kendall said...

I've never had a problem with the towels after washing them. I do go to a laundromat, though, so I don't know their cleaning procedures.

Elaine said...

I have had the same problem with my front loader and someone told me to change from liquid detergent to a powder. That worked and the towels don't smell now.

Anne in the kitchen said...

I clean my machine monthly, but I also add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle about every 3rd time I wash my towels. No issues with smells even in the hot humid Alabama summers

Jackie said...

I use vinegar as a rinse every time I wash my towels. I clean my washer with vinegar or bleach or a bought special cleaner and my towels still get smelly every so often.

I have a front loader and can hardly wait for it to fall apart so I can go back to a top loader.

God bless.

Linda aka Crafty Gardener said...

Hope you find a solution. I agree with others in cleaning the washing machine, could be that but then other laundry would smell too. I use Oxyclean in various loads, it might work, it's good for brightening but now sure about smell. How about hanging them outside, I always love the smell when they come in from the garden.

Evelyn said...

Rose i have the exact same problem with my darks, without a dryer I have no choice but to hang them, it is hard to get rid of

Belinda said...

I'm not sure what I would do about the towels. Have you tried bleaching them? I'm not sure if that would work or not. I don't think it would hurt.

Good for you for finding another way to use up that club soda.

sandi s said...

I have had that happen so now I wash every time with hot water and vinegar. Hugs,

Country Gal said...

http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Clean-Your-Front-Loading-Washing-Machine-30510521 If you have a front loading washing machine It maybe your washing machine that needs to be cleaned as the rubber gaskets tend to get moldy and smell as towels tend to pick up and trap the smell of it is it needs to be cleaned ! When you open the door does the same smell come from it that is on the towels if so it is the machine and it needs to be cleaned I clean mine once a month this way and I wipe any excess water from the gaskets around the door frame on the inside and the door to help . Hope this helps !

Country Gal said...

P.S I also stopped using liquid fabric softener as it tends to gum up all washing machines eventually !

Winifred said...

I had that problem a couple of years ago & it was a build up of liquid detergent in the washer. I ran it on a couple of really hot washes & went back to using soap powder. Soap powder isn't as convenient but it does smell better. Hasn't happened again.

Anonymous said...

When I visit my brother, I find his towels always smell also. Almost a "wet, crumpled up clothing left in a plastic bag" type of smell. His washing machine is older, possibly 15 years? I've ran a cycle with a bottle of vinegar through it before and didn't have any luck. Would definitely be interested in finding a solution!

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