Why Do Towels Smell Musty?

When you reach for a towel after taking a shower, the last thing you want to smell is a musty, earthy smell coming from your towel. That odor is a warning that you could have a mold problem.

Cause

Mold and mildew cause towels to smell musty. Wet towels left in a heap on the floor can sprout mold. Damp towels put away in a linen closet are at risk for mildew. If your bathroom remains humid long after a shower, the moist environment could allow mold to grow on a towel.

Solution

If your towel smells musty, look it over for visible mold. If you find some, take the towel outside and remove the mold, then let the towel dry in the sun. Next, launder the towels in hot water. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the wash load. This will help kill any mold spores and remove the musty odor.

Prevention

You can prevent the musty smell on your towels by hanging them up to dry after every use and laundering them every week. If your bathroom tends to be humid, install an exhaust fan to pull excess moisture from the air and run it during and after every shower.

References

• "Stain Rescue"; Anne Marie Soto; 2007