The Towel Mistake That's Making Your Load Of Laundry Smell Foul

When you wash a load of clothes, you expect them to come out smelling fresh and clean, especially if you've gone the extra mile by spending more on odor-fighting detergent, dryer sheets, or even scent boosters. So when they don't, and instead come out musty or carrying that same sweaty smell you notice after a workout, it's both disappointing and surprising. Like, how?

Well, chances are you're making one simple mistake with your towels, and it's ruining your entire batch of laundry. Think back to what you tossed into the hamper before starting the wash (or maybe you treat your washer as the hamper and throw clothes in as you go). Were there any wet or damp towels mixed in? If so, there's your culprit. 

Damp towels that sit around, whether in a laundry basket or directly in the washer, are the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. That means the foul odor transfers onto everything else in the load. Maybe you showered and tossed a damp towel straight into the basket, or used one to clean up a spill and threw it in with the rest of the laundry. Either way, that wet towel is sabotaging your wash, leaving you searching for ways to remove musty odors from your laundry.

When damp towels sit for more than 24 to 48 hours, mold and mildew can grow. You might not see the spores, but you'll definitely smell the musty odor they leave behind. Mold thrives in dark, moist, and humid environments. When you bury a wet towel or clothes in a laundry basket, you are literally giving mold spores the ideal place to germinate. The trapped moisture in the towel fibers cannot escape, and that leads to the musty scent that spreads to everything else in the hamper. That's why throwing wet clothes in your laundry hamper is a bad idea. The good news is that it can be prevented by following a few simple steps.

After using a towel, whether it's after a shower or to clean up a spill, lay it out to dry completely before tossing it in with your dirty clothes. By removing the moisture, you stop mold and mildew from forming in the first place. Now, it's worth nothing that even if you avoid this mistake people make when washing their towels, that stubborn smell can still show up if your laundry routine is off. So along with keeping damp items out of the hamper, make sure you're not overloading the washer and that you're using the right amount of detergent. That way, every load comes out fresh and clean.