alisoncooks Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 (edited) . Edited July 27, 2022 by alisoncooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Someone will come along and give advice about stripping the wash, but you shouldn't use fabric softener on towels, washcloths, etc. It just builds up a wax coating on your fabric that locks in nasty smells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I am at that place where everything needs to be thrown out. I think it is an issue that I need to be proactive with new ones - washing more frequently and immediately - rather than something that can be remedied. At least for me. :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Wash them again, but instead of detergent or fabric softener use distilled white vinegar. Then either immediately put them in the dryer or, preferably, hang them out in the sun to dry. Also, if you have a front-load washer, stop closing the door when it's empty so mildew won't grow around the rubber gasket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy in Indy Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Try a long wash in HOT water and use a small amount of detergent and some vinegar. Run an extra rinse cycle. If you have a machine with a sanitize cycle, that usually does the trick. (I always use vinegar in my towel loads. It helps keep them soft and neutralizes odors.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Drying them thoroughly, then rewashing with a cup or so of vinegar has helped whole loads like that. The "boil" cycle (or just boiling them in bleach and detergents for for awhile) works too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawana Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 The only thing I've found that works is Lysol deodorizing cleaner. Wash in the washing machine with some Lysol─a little goes a long way. The Lysol has its own odor which I don't like so I put the towels through another cycle with at least a cup of vinegar in the wash cycle (no detergent). If odor is still present, repeat using more Lysol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 What's "stripping the wash?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Mom Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Try washing them on the hottest cycle possible with vinegar. Do a couple of cycles if necessary. I do this when we get a batch of sour towels and it really does the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I think it is this time of year. Every year, just as I'm about ready to throw everything away, the weather changes and my towels stop smelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Our washer is in the garage, so if we forget about laundry for an hour in the summer, towels start smelling. I wash on hot with bleach and fabric softened and then dry thoroughly. It takes a cup of bleach for a full load. Sometimes, I have to run it twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Tea tree, lavender, or citrus oil...a few drops, added to detergent, and vinegar added to the rinse cycle. I've never had this fail. It's the gasoline, oil, rocket fuel, etc. that dh gets on his clothes that is a real bugger to get out. Those scents seem to last forever no matter what I do. Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Amway laundry products. That is all. :) Ok, it isn't all. :D I have a front loader, and I never, ever leave the door open so the gasket will dry or not become moldy or mildewy. I always use fabric softener on all towels and washcloths. Amway laundry products clean wherever they go, including washing machine parts, and the fabric softener does not build up the way store brands do. No smell in the washer, clean, fresh-smelling, soft towels. Ok, that is all. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Hi Alison, Try putting baking soda into the wash. Baking soda is great for removing odors. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 you shouldn't use fabric softener on towels, washcloths, etc. It just builds up a wax coating on your fabric that locks in nasty smells. :iagree:also reduces absorption of water, try oxy clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Amway laundry products. That is all. :) Ok, it isn't all. :D I have a front loader, and I never, ever leave the door open so the gasket will dry or not become moldy or mildewy. I always use fabric softener on all towels and washcloths. Amway laundry products clean wherever they go, including washing machine parts, and the fabric softener does not build up the way store brands do. No smell in the washer, clean, fresh-smelling, soft towels. Ok, that is all. :lol: OMG I remember my dad and his talks of Amway....though there was this one product that was I think for carpet stains and it was better than anything. How do you buy Amway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I have a front loader and bleach it every 2 weeks. I have to. It's like the one cleaning thing that is on my calendar. I started using a vinegar in the rinse for towels and surprisingly it really does help. Of course this is after I put a little bleach in the load. I went to all white towels. No matter what color I get they get stained with whatever so I prefer to be able to bleach. If you don't want to do bleach, you can do a baking soda soak in cold water, then drain, then go on with your washing. It helps to do the soda soak first, rather than just wash with a scoop added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsanniep Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I had a friend who complained about her husband's towels getting this way. She did some research and came up with the idea of adding some Pine-Sol to the laundry. I have no idea about how much or anything, but perhaps it's something to look up. It apparently worked, although I can't imagine adding Pine-Sol to my laundry myself ... I add white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment on my front loader. I also add a scoop of Borax to the detergent. I don't have the smell issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 OMG I remember my dad and his talks of Amway....though there was this one product that was I think for carpet stains and it was better than anything. How do you buy Amway? There is probably an Independent Business Owner (IBO) in your community; if so, you can probably find one (or more) in the white pages of your telephone book (if you still have one, lol). Or you can contact Amway directly and get the names of IBOs in your area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Wash them again, but instead of detergent or fabric softener use distilled white vinegar. Then either immediately put them in the dryer or, preferably, hang them out in the sun to dry. Also, if you have a front-load washer, stop closing the door when it's empty so mildew won't grow around the rubber gasket. I just put a good bit vinegar on the washcloths and stick them in the regular wash load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 :iagree:also reduces absorption of water, try oxy clean. Oxyclean is what I use for towels. Ours got to where they were smelling and after I started adding oxyclean to the wash (with regular detergent), the smell is gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 Wow, thanks for all the ideas! I'll have to work my way through them and see what works best! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZMom Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I've had good luck using baking soda in the wash, then vinegar as a fabric softener. That works most of the time for me, but recently, I had a load that was really bad. I put everything out in the sun for a full day, and like magic, the smell totally disappeared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I've had good luck using baking soda in the wash, then vinegar as a fabric softener. That works most of the time for me, but recently, I had a load that was really bad. I put everything out in the sun for a full day, and like magic, the smell totally disappeared. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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