Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Washing towels with vinegar and baking soda
• Method 2 of 3: Soak towels in hot water and detergent
• Method 3 of 3: Cleaning your washing machine from mold
• Tips
• Warnings

The smell of wet beach or bath towels is quite unpleasant. Often this smell is caused by mold growing in the used towels, which is not easy to get rid of. Washing your towels twice on a normal cycle can help get rid of unpleasant odors, but if that's not enough, there are several other easy ways to clean towels with handy tools.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Washing towels with vinegar and baking soda

1. 1 Wash towels. Load dirty towels into the washing machine and run the wash cycle at the highest temperature. Add about one cup of white vinegar and one cup of baking soda.
   • Do not add detergent or fabric softener.
   • If you don't have one of the two ingredients you need, you can wash your towels using only vinegar or only baking soda.
2. 2 Soak the towels in the washing machine. After waiting for the towels to absorb the water and mix with the vinegar and baking soda, stop the washing machine. Wait about an hour for the towels to absorb the vinegar and baking soda. After an hour, start the washing machine again and complete the wash.
3. 3 Add vinegar and detergent. After the previous step, you should start the washing machine again, this time adding a glass of vinegar and the detergent you are using. Add a standard amount of detergent and set the normal wash cycle, but with an additional spin.
   • You can select the “extra spin” option, if your washing machine has one, or start spinning again after the end of the first wash cycle.
4. 4 Place the towels in the tumble dryer immediately after washing. Once the second spin cycle is complete, remove the towels from the washing machine and transfer them to the tumble dryer. Turn the tumble dryer on to maximum and wait for the towels to dry completely. Then start another drying cycle.

Method 2 of 3: Soak towels in hot water and detergent

1. 1 Take a large basin and pour 2/3 cup of Oxiclean detergent into it. If washing with vinegar and baking soda doesn't work, try soaking towels in hot water with Oxiclean detergent. First, pour 2/3 cup of this product into the bottom of your pelvis.
   • Wear gloves to protect your hands.
2. 2 Pour hot water into the basin. Pour very hot water into the basin. If the tap water is not hot enough, you can warm up some water and pour it into the basin. When pouring water, dissolve the Oxiclean detergent in it, swinging the basin from side to side. Be careful not to tip the container over or spill water out of it.
3. 3 Place towels in the basin. After filling the basin about halfway with hot water, place the towels in it. Make sure all towels are completely submerged in the water.
   • Soak the towels by leaving them in the water for about 48 hours.
4. 4 Machine wash towels. After soaking the towels, remove them from the water and twist them out. Then load the towels into the washing machine and wash at the highest water temperature, adding powder and fabric softener.
   • You can also add Oxiclean detergent to your washing machine.
5. 5 Dry the towels. After completing the wash, immediately remove the towels and place them in the tumble dryer. Dry them completely at high temperature. Your towels will then look like new.
   • If the towels still smell like mildew, you may need to throw them away.

Method 3 of 3: Cleaning your washing machine from mold

1. 1 Check your washing machine for defects. If the water is not completely drained from the machine after washing, this can lead to the formation of mold in the machine. Examine the washing machine to see if water has accumulated anywhere. If you find such defects, the washing machine may need to be repaired or you may have to replace it with a new one.
2. 2 Wash the rubber gasket. If the towels smell like mildew, it might be the washing machine. A gasket made of sealing rubber prevents water leakage during washing. To prevent mold from forming in the washing machine, keep this gasket clean. Wipe the gasket rubber with a cloth dampened with soapy water or a mild mold cleaner. You can also use a 50/50 bleach solution in water.
   • You can use an old toothbrush to completely clean the sealing gum, including hard-to-reach areas.
   • All areas of the sealing rubber must be cleaned. It may be necessary to open the rear sections of the machine in order to get to the small folds in the rubber.
3. 3 Clean the powder detergent drawers. Take out the compartments for loading the detergent and wipe them with a mixture of water and a little dishwashing liquid. Residual soap and dirty water in this part of the washing machine can also cause an unpleasant odor.
   • If you cannot reach the powder compartments, try to clean the inside out with a rag or brush.
4. 4 Start the car in cleaning mode. Make sure the washing machine is empty and run it for the longest time with the hottest water. If you still smell mildew after doing this, start another wash cycle. It may take several of these cycles to remove mold odor. In doing so, you can add one of the following to the tank of the machine:
   • 1 cup bleach
   • 1 cup baking soda
   • 1/2 cup powdered enzyme detergent
   • 1/2 cup industrial washing machine cleaner
   • 1 cup vinegar
5. 5 See a specialist. If none of the above methods have helped get rid of the moldy smell, call a professional to inspect your washing machine. Mold may have formed on the back of the machine, behind the drum, in the drain pipe or filter.
   • A qualified repair technician will help diagnose a breakdown in your washing machine, or even disassemble it to determine the cause of the smell.
6. 6 Take preventive measures. Once you find the cause of the moldy smell, take preventive measures to prevent it from reappearing. You can do the following:
   • Ventilate the washing machine... Leave the washing machine door open after washing. When doing this, be careful not to accidentally get your pets or children stuck inside the car.
   • Use laundry detergent wisely... Do not use too soapy detergents, especially if your machine washes the laundry very thoroughly. Powdered detergents are generally less soapy than liquid laundry detergents. Also, you should not exceed the recommended amount of powder: sometimes it is better to even underfill the powder a little.
   • Do not use fabric softener... Liquid fabric softeners create plaque that can promote mold growth. Instead, use an antistatic agent or beads soaked in fabric softener.
   • Dry the rubber pad... Wipe the sealing rubber outside and inside. It is best to do this after every wash, or at least once a week to remove stubborn mold.
   • Clean the car with bleach... Clean the washing machine with bleach in the hot mode about once a month. This is a good opportunity not only to disinfect the washing machine, but also to wash heavily soiled items such as work clothes and dirty towels.

Tips

• Prevent mildew on towels by drying them immediately after use. Add extra hangers if you don't have enough room for the towels of all family members.
• If you live in a sunny area, dry your towels by hanging them on a clothesline in the sun.
• Use a detergent powder with antimicrobial or bleach additives. This will help remove mold odor and prevent mold from forming.

Warnings

• Do not use bleach and ammonia at the same time when washing, as the combination of these two results in the formation of deadly chlorine gas.
• Too much bleach, vinegar and other strong cleaning agents will cause the gaskets and rubber gaskets to leak in the washing machine. In addition, the use of chemicals may void your washing machine's warranty.