How to Remove Mildew Smell from Towels

To remove mildew smell from towels, rewash them promptly with your regular laundry detergent on the warmest water setting allowed by the care label, then dry them completely before folding. The key is thorough washing and drying—not masking the odor with fragrance. Avoid overloading the washer, and use bleach only if both the towel label and bleach label allow it.

That stale, damp smell usually means the towels stayed wet too long, were stored before fully drying, or have detergent and softener residue holding onto moisture. One careful rewash often helps, but heavily affected towels may need a second cycle or may no longer be worth keeping.

Check the towel label before choosing a stronger wash

Most cotton bath towels can handle a warm or hot wash, but the care label should make the final call. Towels with bright dyes, printed designs, decorative trim, or blended fibers may need cooler water or gentler treatment.

• Use the warmest water temperature permitted by the towel’s care label.
• Separate white towels from colored towels if you may use a laundry booster or bleach product.
• Wash towels separately from clothing when possible so the load can move freely and rinse well.
• Do not use chlorine bleach on a towel unless the towel label and the bleach product label both permit it.
• Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, alcohol, or any other cleaning product.

Wash towels thoroughly, then dry them all the way

The best way to remove mildew smell from towels without unnecessary damage is to give the fabric enough room to wash, rinse, and dry properly. A packed washer or an overloaded dryer can leave moisture and residue behind.

1. Shake out the towels and load the washer loosely. Add enough towels for a normal load, but do not compress them into the drum. Water and detergent need room to move through the fabric.
2. Add your usual laundry detergent. Follow the detergent label for your machine type and load size. Using more detergent than needed can leave residue that makes towels feel coated or hold odors.
3. Select the warmest label-safe wash setting. Use the towel’s care instructions as your limit. A warmer setting may be appropriate for sturdy cotton towels, while colored or delicate towels may require a cooler wash.
4. Use an optional laundry additive only as directed. If the odor remains after a standard wash, use a laundry booster or oxygen bleach product labeled for the towel’s fabric and color. Follow the current product label exactly. Do not combine products unless their labels specifically say they are compatible.
5. Run an extra rinse if the towels feel soapy or coated. This is especially useful if you have used too much detergent or fabric softener in past loads.
6. Dry the towels immediately after washing. Use the dryer setting allowed by the care label, or hang the towels where air can circulate around the full towel. Do not fold or stack them until they are completely dry, including the hems and thicker border areas.

If the smell remains after the first wash

A towel that still smells musty after washing usually needs a closer look at residue, drying conditions, or the washer itself. Start with a second proper wash rather than adding several cleaners to one load.

The towels smell better while warm but musty again after cooling

This often points to trapped moisture or residue that was not fully removed. Rewash the towels with the correct amount of detergent, use an extra rinse if available, and make sure the dryer is not overloaded. Check thick hems, folded edges, and stacked towels for hidden dampness before putting them away.

The towels feel stiff, waxy, or less absorbent

Fabric softener and excess detergent can leave a coating on towels. Skip fabric softener for the next few washes, use detergent according to its label, and add an extra rinse. Do not keep adding cleaning products in an attempt to solve the problem; leftover product can make the issue worse.

The whole load smells unpleasant, not just one towel

The washer may be contributing to the odor. Check the door seal, detergent drawer, filter area if your machine has one, and any manufacturer-recommended cleaning cycle. Follow the appliance manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the washer, then rewash the towels in a fresh load.

Only a few towels still smell

Set those towels aside and wash them again rather than putting them back with fresh laundry. If they remain strongly musty after another correct wash and complete dry, replacement may be the practical choice. Worn towels can retain odor more readily, especially if the fibers are thin, rough, or permanently coated.

Musty odors can develop in other stored fabric items as well. For non-washable travel gear, use a material-specific approach such as the one described in how to clean mold off luggage and address musty odor.

Mildew smell from towels: cleaning mistakes to avoid

A few common habits keep towels smelling damp even after they have been washed. Correcting the routine is usually more effective than using a stronger fragrance product.

• Leaving wet towels in a hamper: Hang towels to dry first if they cannot be washed right away. A closed hamper traps moisture and limits airflow.
• Overfilling the washer: Towels need enough water movement and rinsing space. A tightly packed load can leave detergent and odor behind.
• Using too much detergent: Extra detergent does not necessarily create a cleaner wash. If towels feel slick, stiff, or heavily scented, residue may be part of the problem.
• Relying on fabric softener: Softener can make towels feel temporarily smoother, but it may leave a coating that reduces absorbency and makes rinsing more difficult. Use it only if the towel and product instructions support it.
• Folding towels while they are even slightly damp: Thick towels can feel dry on the surface while hems and layered areas still hold moisture. Let them finish drying before stacking them in a cabinet.
• Using bleach casually on colored towels: Bleach can discolor fabric or weaken fibers if it is unsuitable for the material. Check both labels and do not mix bleach with any other cleaner.

Keep fresh towels from developing the smell again

Prevention is mostly about reducing the time towels spend wet and improving airflow after use. You do not need a complicated routine, but you do need to avoid leaving damp fabric bunched up.

• Hang each towel open on a rack, bar, or hook where air can reach as much surface area as possible.
• Wash bath towels regularly and wash them sooner if they smell damp, sour, or stale.
• Move washed towels to the dryer or drying rack promptly instead of leaving them in the washer.
• Keep linen closets dry and avoid tightly packing towels into a cabinet before they are fully dry.
• Clean the washer according to the appliance manufacturer’s care instructions if loads repeatedly pick up a musty odor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use vinegar to remove mildew smell from towels?

Some households use distilled white vinegar in laundry, but it is not necessary for the preferred method. If you choose to use it, follow your washing machine manufacturer’s guidance and never combine it with bleach or any bleach-containing product. A standard detergent wash, good rinsing, and full drying are the safer starting point.

Should you wash towels in hot water?

Use hot water only if the towel’s care label allows it. Sturdy white cotton towels may tolerate warmer settings, while colored towels, blends, trim, and decorative designs may require warm or cool water to reduce fading, shrinkage, or damage.

Why do freshly washed towels smell musty?

The problem may come from a packed washer, detergent residue, incomplete drying, or a washer that needs cleaning. Rewash the towels in a smaller load, rinse thoroughly, and dry them fully before storage.

Can you save towels with a very strong mildew smell?

It is reasonable to try one or two careful rewashes if the towels are otherwise in good shape. Replace them if the odor persists after proper washing and full drying, especially when the towels are worn, stiff, damaged, or difficult to dry completely.

For most towels, the reliable solution is simple: wash them in a properly sized load with detergent, rinse away residue, and dry every layer of fabric completely before storage. Check labels before using hotter water or bleach, and do not let damp towels sit in a hamper or folded stack.