Adding baking soda to your washing machine can remove musty smells from towels, according to cleaning expert Carrie Higgins, who shares a simple two-step method using vinegar too.
Towels often start to smell because most people put them inside a laundry hamper or beach bag while they are still damp, which can cause mildew to grow. Wet towels that have been sitting will need an extra rinse to clean them properly, but another mistake many people make is clogging their washing machine with too many products. Too much detergent and fabric softener will stop a washing machine from rinsing away bacteria and odours from the fabric.
Why use baking soda to wash towels?
Carrie Higgins, a stay-at-home mum and the founder of Making Lemonade, has revealed there is a natural way to deep clean towels to get rid of smells with just a little baking soda. Carrie said: “There’s an EASY way to get the smell out. Load up the washing machine with your towels and sprinkle them with baking soda.”
Bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda, is slightly alkaline, which means it can neutralise the acidic compounds that usually become embedded in towels and are responsible for musty or sour smells. It will not only get rid of these odours but will also help loosen sweat, body oils or detergent residue that have built up on the towel and give bacteria something to cling to.
Should you only use baking soda?
It should be noted that baking soda cannot remove mildew from the fabric so it is best to combine it with a thorough washing and some white vinegar. White vinegar is mildly antibacterial. It can help break down mould spores or any mildew that have settled on towels to help deep clean them properly. It can also act as a natural fabric softener.
However, vinegar and baking soda will start to foam and cancel each other out when mixed together, so it is best not to use them at the same time when washing towels. If you want to wash towels properly, then use the baking soda first, then rinse the towels with vinegar.
How to remove towel smells with baking soda and vinegar
All you need to do is place your towels in the washing machine, but make sure to only fill it halfway, as overloading the machine can stop the towels from rinsing properly. Next, add around 120ml of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment of the detergent drawer. Do not add any baking soda, detergent or fabric softener during this wash.
Place the washing machine on the hottest temperature allowed by the towel care label and wait for the cycle to finish. Do not worry if the towels smell slightly vinegary afterwards, as you will be doing a second wash with baking soda. Once the first wash is complete, add your normal laundry detergent to the detergent drawer. Then, add roughly 100g of baking soda directly into the washing machine drum with the towels. Wash them at the hottest temperature allowed by the towel care label. Do not add any fabric softener, as it can coat towel fibres and reduce their absorbency over time.
When the towels are done, hang them outside in the sun to dry if possible. You can also place them in a tumble dryer on a low-heat setting. Your towels should now smell lovely and fresh without any unpleasant odours at all.
