Out of all the laundry items, towels seem to have the most frequent use. After all, towels absorb a lot of water, making them perfect to use after a shower. People also use towels to dry their hair or hands after washing. But almost everyone assumes that because they’re clean, your towel stays clean as well. The thing is, towels like bath towels host a variety of microorganisms.
After absorbing a lot of water, towels can remain damp for hours. This makes them the perfect breeding ground for unwanted germs. Moreover, they can get smelly too. The main reason why your towels smell musty is due to mildew growing on them. The good thing is that it is easy to fix this issue. This article will tell you how to get mildew smell out of towels. It will also provide you with ways how you can prevent your towels from getting mildew.
How Can You Get Mildew Smell Out of Your Towels? Can You Prevent it from Happening Again?
When bad bacteria evolve, mildew happens. No need to fret since it is easy to get rid of it. One way is to keep your towels away from dark, moist spaces. By doing this, you can save your towels from mildew. You should also make sure that your towels are dry before you store them. This can keep them from smelling musty. After all, mildew is a harmless annoyance. It settles on surfaces that are damp or wet and without ventilation. A good wash or wipe with disinfectant can kill it all.
Keep in mind that several washes can leave traces of detergent or fabric softener on your towels. This can attract mildew and bacteria. As such, it is important that you know how to clean towels so you can remove mildew and bacteria. This way, your towels are able to do their job like keeping you dry after a bath. Regular cleaning will also help prevent them from attracting any other unsavory things.
Towels are usually thick, which makes them ideal for moisture to collect. But too much moisture can be a deterrent. That’s why it is vital that you allow your towels to dry after you use or wash them. Knowing how to clean your towels will let you have towels that are free of musty smell. Here are the various ways how to get mildew smell out of towels:
● Doing Double Detergent Deep Clean
It usually depends on how much mildew and bacteria are present on your towels. You can do loads with your regular detergent using towels only. All you have to do is to run two cycles one after the other using a moderate amount of your detergent. But remember not to add any fabric softener. That’s because they can leave residue and buildup on your towels. This will encourage more bacteria to grow on your towels.
Since towels absorb water, they will have coats of fabric softener. The washing machine is unable to rinse it off. Keep in mind that the layer of fabric softener not only keeps your towels from having a proper wash. It also keeps your towels from getting completely dry. So, make sure you don’t use too much detergent when washing your towels.
● Doing Vinegar Deep Clean
Household white vinegar has several uses. One of which is to ensure your towels come out fresh and free of mildew. The acidity of vinegar kills the bad bacteria in your towels before they can grow any more.
When using vinegar, you can start by putting in a load of three to four towels in your washer. Then, add a cup of vinegar. After that, run the washing machine on the hottest setting possible.
Make sure to wash the load again on a normal cycle. Use a moderate amount of detergent. You can then immediately move the washed towels to the dryer. Make sure to dry them on the hottest cycle. Remember not to leave your towels in the washing machine after it finishes the wash cycle. If you do, all your hard work will be for nothing. By leaving your towels in the washing machine, they will begin to grow bacteria fast.
● Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
If you want to deep clean your towels, you will need to run two loads using towels only. You will be using the baking soda and vinegar deep clean method. First, you load the towels with a quarter cup of baking soda. Then, run your washing machine on the hottest cycle possible. Keep in mind that heat can kill bad bacteria. The hot water wash with the baking soda is a deep clean on its own.
After using the baking soda, you can run the washing machine again. This time, you’re using the hottest cycle along with a full cup of white vinegar. After they’re finished washing, move your towels right away to the dryer.
This deep clean method is perfect to ensure that you remove bacteria from your towels. The type of acid in the vinegar will break down any mineral deposits lingering on your towels. This acid will break down any grime and wash away with your washing machine.
Take note that baking soda is often known for neutralizing odors. That’s because baking soda is an alkaline substance. It means it absorbs foul smells and breaks down and dissolves dirt and grease.
Are you looking for expert cleaners to keep your house clean and mildew-free? Clean My Space CT can help you with your residential cleaning needs. Our professional cleaners can get the job done the first time. Our offer includes commercial cleaning and office cleaning services. We do move in/move out cleaning and disinfection services as well. For your inquiries, you can call us at (860) 539-8725. You can send us an email as well at info@cleanmyspacect.com and request a quote.