Get rid of ‘smelly’ towel odours ‘completely’ with ‘cheap’ household items

As a result of sometimes being hung up or stuffed in a laundry basket while still wet or damp, households may find that a funky smell pops up when the towels aren’t able to dry properly. In order to remedy the situation, towels need to be stripped of the smell. To do this, cleaning fans have taken to social media to share their recommendations after one woman was in need of advice. Posting on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, Alix Peckett wrote: ‘Hey! Any tips on how to get mildew smell out of towels? All of a sudden most of our towels smell really bad of damp as soon as they are used. Even after washing, when they are in the dryer you can smell it. Thanks.’ Out of the 50 comments the post received, the majority of group members suggested that Alix use a combination of baking soda and white vinegar on towels. Janice Wilkins said: ‘White vinegar in with baking soda will sort it.’ Debbie Lawrence wrote: ‘White vinegar and baking soda will do the trick. No softener though.’ Towels can start to smell after being hung up or stuffed in a laundry basket while still wet or damp (Image: Getty) Kim Huis wrote: ‘Wash hotter. I wash my towels at 90 degrees. No fabric softener, but vinegar and baking soda. Fabric softener is a sort of grease. ‘Use powder instead of liquid detergent. Dry your laundry outside. The smell of dried-wash-outside is lovely.’ Mary Lodge said: ‘Bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar works wonders with smelly towels. It strips them of the odours completely.’ Rachel Swift commented: ‘A cup of white vinegar in the conditioner compartment of the washing machine and baking soda in the drawer. It works amazingly and both products are cheap and essential around the home.’ How to use white vinegar for cleaning (Image: EXPRESS) Katie Elson wrote: ‘I never use fabric conditioner. I prefer to keep it as natural as possible so I stick to baking soda and white vinegar.’ Yolanda Vingoe suggested first cleaning the washing machine drawer and then using baking soda and white vinegar to wash the towels. She said: ‘Bicarbonate of soda, dissolve in a bowl of hot water, remove the detergent drawer and leave it to soak for one to two hours. ‘Use 125g of baking soda and add it straight into the drum with 25ml of white vinegar into the fabric conditioner compartment.  Some cleaning fans suggested cleaning the washing machine to prevent these smells (Image: Getty) Looking for a new home, or just fancy a look? Add your postcode below or visit InYourArea ‘Then start the machine on a 40-degree wash cycle. I found that it worked brilliantly.’ Sandra Cirino also recommended that household first clean their washing machine before doing their laundry. However, she suggested focusing on the filter. Sandra said: ‘Clean your filter in the machines as some machines don’t fully drain, and that bit of water stagnates. ‘This is why I always put a tablespoon of bleach in half a cup of water after the wash, of course, make to flush it through before the next wash.’