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How to Have Fresh Smelling Towels

Member
By Alrady
User-Submitted Article
(15 Ratings)
Fresh smelling towels
Fresh smelling towels

Having clean, fresh smelling towels,makes life pleasant. A fresh smelling towel used to dry your hair will instill confidence when attending an important business meeting.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    First, identify the source of odors. Is the towel musty smelling before being washed? Or, is it musty after being run through the washing machine. Make sure to keep all towels up off the floor and hung over a towel rack until wash-time. If you use the towel as a rag, it will smell like a rag, unless you sanitize it.

  2. Step 2

    Clean your washing machine. Run an wash cycle with setting on hot and mini or small load. Run it empty with just one-two cups of vinegar thrown in to kill mold. In the middle of cycle stop machine and let it set 15 minutes. During this time you can wipe the inside down with the vinegar water. You can also take washcloth and wipe down dryer drum at the same time. Finish washing machine cycle and run it again to rinse machine thoroughly.

    Test your results by running 1-2 clean towels through cycle, if they still smell you may need professional product to clean the washing machine.

  3. Step 3

    When laundering your towels, do not overload machine. On white towels use HOT water and 1 cup of vinegar in the rinse. If towels are extra smelly, use Gain laundry detergent. Gain is recommended by most professional cleaners. You can add ONE of these products: Oxy-Clean, 1 cup baking soda, 10 drops of essential oils (lemon), natures miracle, or 1-2 cups vinegar

    Do not add more than one additive in a load.

  4. Step 4

    Remove towels from wash right away. Line dry for great smelling clothes or use dryer. After towels are dry, remove them and place them in linen closet.

    Wiping down shelves regularly in the closet will help with odors. Placing a sachet of lavender or a vanilla candle in the closet will help neutralize odors. Fabric softening sheets can be placed in closet to keep towels smelling fresh.

Tips & Warnings
  • grow your own lavender for sachets
  • bleach kills fabrics use only when necessary and alternative products such as borax
  • with white towels you can add bluing product for additional whiteness
  • Do not use Fabric Softener often it will reduce absorbency
  • Use fabric softener at half strength every few loads if you have to

Comments  

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makaksa said

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on 11/14/2009 Good suggestions for fresh smelling towels.

PurpleAnkh said

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on 11/13/2009 I definitely need to try the vinegar trick on our washing machine!

jseven said

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on 11/10/2009 Thanks for the tips~I love essential oils.

ajoy said

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on 10/27/2009 Great advice!!!

karileighk said

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on 10/26/2009 makes me wanna cuddle up with one and sleep

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