You've Got Mold Growing On Your Towels. Is It Too Late To Save Them? Here's Our Tip

Bathrooms are a notoriously common place for homeowners to find their dreaded enemy: mold. Mold is a naturally occurring fungi with a very defined niche of breaking down organic matter in nature, but long-term indoor exposure can be detrimental to your health. This is especially true if you have asthma or any other respiratory problems. This fungi develops best in warm, humid environments where there is both excessive moisture and poor ventilation. This is why you tend to find that your shower is full of hidden (or not-so hidden) mold. However, you might also find mold spots elsewhere in your bathroom, such as on your bathroom towels.

Mold growing on your towels is probably going to be mildew, a powdery white, gray, or yellow fungus that often develops on fabrics, as opposed to the more popularly thought of idea of mold as a fuzzy black or green spot in the corner of the bathtub. Bathroom towels made from natural fibers are especially vulnerable, as these are hygroscopic meaning they absorb water and moisture quickly, but dry out slowly. Cottons or linens will tend towards molding above 80% humidity, whereas wool and silk will are more common above 92%. If you do find mold growing on your towels, especially if they've been sitting in storage, or on a bathroom shelf for a long time, worry not — there are ways to clean and save them. However, it's best to increase your preventative measures first and foremost.

Since mold commonly grows in places that are warm and humid, you should take steps to reduce as much humidity in your bathroom as possible. For starters, use an exhaust fan while showering to reduce lingering steam and moisture. You should also keep the room a steady temperature, and avoid blocking airflow for any cooling or heating vents. This same idea holds true for laundry rooms, where wet articles of clothing are common, as well as kitchens, where you might boil water without an exhaust fan. One should also be careful about mold growing on or around upholstered furniture. Keep your furniture at least one inch away from the nearest wall to promote better airflow. Next, once your towel has been used, make sure you hang it up to dry — moist fabrics that are bunched up in dark, damp places like a closet or laundry basket are more likely to develop mold.

Also, there's a good chance you aren't washing your towels as often as you should. Dry, soiled textiles can be kept for a few days before washing, but it is recommended that you wash bath towels after every third or fourth use. Similarly, wash hand and dish towels every two days, and bath mats once a week. With that said, mold is persistent so there's a good chance you'll still deal with it at some point. If you find mold growing on your bath towels, there are additional steps necessary to save them.

Remove any towel from its current spot as soon as you find mold or mildew, and make sure to check for any structural damage in its wake — you don't want mold spreading through your furniture or walls. Some items can be washed (alone) in a machine with detergent and chlorine bleach if the mold isn't too developed. Otherwise, spread the moldy towel out on a dry, clean surface until it completely dries out. You can use fans to increase air circulation in the room and even dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture. Or, a low-temp hair dryer can also be effective at drying out mildew directly. Similarly, you can also leave your towels to dry in the sun.

Once the fungi is dried out, it can be shaken or brushed off of your fabric. Gentle use of a HEPA-filtered vacuum can also effective. Warm, dry airing should also kill off the mildew smell, but if it persists you can use ethanol-based products to clean your towels — just know this can cause certain dyes or finishes to bleed. Unfortunately, porous materials are harder to clean which means you may have to throw some moldy bathroom towels away. Next time consider storing your towels outside of your bathroom, as they are more likely to pick up a musty smell, and potential mold spots, while being stored in a room that experiences a lot of moisture.