The Overlooked Washing Machine Tip That'll Keep Towels Smelling Fresh

Washing and drying your bathroom towels may seem like self-explanatory processes, but there are a few things to consider if you want to keep them like smelling fresh. Do your freshly washed towels stink, or not seem to fully dry? There are tons of ways to keep your towels smelling fresh and clean. But while you may think the answer is a different type of detergent or adding some dryer balls, achieving fluffy, extra soft, sweet-smelling linens sometimes just takes an extra spin cycle.

When laundry like bath towels sits in a hamper damp for extended periods of time, it can become vulnerable to bacteria. Add the water from your washing machine, and the time your towels may spend sitting in the appliance, the risk of bacteria can grow. An extra single spin cycle in your washer won't fully dry your towels of course, but it can help remove excess water and alleviate bacteria risk before you place them into the dryer for a high-heat, extended session. Then they can be folded and set aside in your closet, bathroom, or laundry room. 

While laundry can be an irritating chore we all want to get through as quickly as possible, running an extra spin cycle in the washer takes a few extra minutes, and leads to softer, odor-free bath towels. This trick is obviously not a replacement for a dryer cycle, but it can help speed the drying process. Towels that are dried as fast as possible have less of a chance of bacterial growth, which is typically the cause of these unwanted odors.

And after your towels have gone through a high-heat drying cycle, it's important to check them for any remaining moisture. If they're still damp, you can run another cycle. Note also that even if you wash and dry your towels correctly and speedily, storing them in a moist environment can undo your hard work, adding that moisture back into the textiles. Make sure to store your freshly-washed and fully dry towels in a dry area. In short, you should avoid letting your damp items sit in your hamper, washer, or dryer for extended periods of time, and add on an extra spin cycle for good measure to keep them from smelly bacteria. If they continue to smell and deteriorate, then that's a sign it may be time to replace your old and worn-out bath towels.