Despite our best efforts to keep them clean, towels often develop a less-than-fresh smell. What you may be surprised to learn is that one of the most simple solutions is cleaning towels with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
This hack works because it breaks down detergent build-ups that often cause the smell (even after you’ve cleaned your towels). Put simply, soap residue accumulates in the fibres of the towels over time, which stops them from absorbing as much water as possible, and from drying as well as they could. Bacteria then starts to build up in the fabric, and, hey presto, you’ve got yourself mildewy, smelly towels in a pile of just-washed laundry.
As well as helping remove this residue, cleaning towels with white vinegar and bicarb soda can make them feel fluffy and almost new again!
If they’re left out to dry properly, bath towels shouldn’t need to be washed more than once a week.
(Credit: Photography: Anson Smart)How do you clean towels with vinegar to keep them smelling fresh?
- Put your towels in the washing machine with a cup of white vinegar instead of washing detergent, then wash on a hot cycle.
- When you hit the rinse cycle, add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda, and run as normal.
- Remove your towels, and dry them thoroughly on the line or in the dryer.
Where to put vinegar in a washing machine for towels?
You can put the vinegar in the laundry detergent compartment or directly into the washing machine drum with your towels. The important thing is that the vinegar is included in the washing cycle, and the bicarb soda is in the rinse cycle.
Preventative measures to stop smelly towels after washing
- Always allow towels to dry thoroughly. Never leave them on the floor, and make sure your towel racks allow space for air to circulate. Using exhaust fans will stop the bathroom from becoming too humid for towels to dry properly.
- Better yet, invest in a heated towel rail if you can, to help speed up the drying process.
- Keep older towels for odd jobs – this includes drying your pets. The less you need to give them a heavy-duty wash, the less product build-up they’ll suffer.
- Stick to the recommended amount of laundry product, if not less.
- Make a habit of cleaning towels with white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda every third or fourth wash.
- Don’t use commercial fabric softeners on towels; they coat them with a thin layer of chemicals, making them less absorbent. White vinegar is a better (and cheaper) choice to soften and freshen them.
How often should you replace towels?
Like anything used daily, there will eventually come a time when you need to replace your towels, because let’s face it, no amount of white vinegar or detergent can cover up faded colour, pulled threads, and stiff, scratchy material. Depending on the quality, you can usually expect towels to last between two and five years before they should be replaced with a new set.
Here’s our guide to the best bath towels to shop.
What to shop to stop your towels from smelling
01
Cornell’s white vinegar 2L
$5, Woolworths
Costing less than a coffee for a whole two litres, stocking your pantry with white vinegar is a no-brainer. Often used in cooking, you can also use it to clean plenty of other things around the house, including your dishwasher, oven door, and more.
Key features:
- Naturally fermented
- Heaps of uses around the home
- Made in Australia
02
Mckenzie’s bi-carb soda 1kg
$3.95, Woolworths
Another cheap and useful ingredient you can pick up from your local supermarket. It’s yet another one that can also be used for cleaning several things around the house. For example, you can sprinkle some down the sink every now and then, and follow with hot water to blast away lingering smells.
Key features:
- Free of aluminium-based additives
- Used for cooking, cleaning and deodorising
- Non-toxic
03
Hydrotherm 10-bar swivel heated towel rail
from $1390, Temple & Webster
But by far the best solution is preventing the problem in the first place. Not letting your towels stay damp for too long is a great way, and for those who can warrant it, a heated towel rail is one of life’s greatest luxuries. This brushed nickel option has plenty of space for hanging, so the whole family’s towels will fit.
Key features:
- Comes in three finishes
- Swivel for convenient access
- Afterpay available
04
Lemon scented eucalyptus & rosemary essential oil laundry wash
from $17.95, Koala Eco
For those in between non-vinegar washes, nothing quite compares to this all-natural laundry detergent by Koala Eco. Made from two of nature’s most powerful antibacterial ingredients, this non-toxic solution is suitable for sensitive skin and achieves the same result, without the chemicals.
Key features:
- Natural and non-toxic
- Biodegradable & septic safe
- No synthetic fragrance
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