Keep Stored Away Towels Smelling Fresh With A Laundry Room Staple

When clean and folded towels start to smell musty in your linen closet, it's like all of your hard work went down the drain. There's a few common reasons why these linens lose their once-fresh scent and start to smell like they were never washed in the first place. The noticeable mustiness could be due to moisture, mold, and even the buildup of laundry detergent, which can keep your towels from fully drying. One of the easiest ways to keep your clean towels smelling, well, clean, is to grab a laundry staple you most likely already have in your home: a dryer sheet. These handy items aren't just useful for softening your clothes and decreasing static cling; they can serve as a DIY storage addition for the towels in your home. 

If you haven't already discovered the power of a dryer sheet outside of the dryer, then consider this your sign to give it a try. The next time you dry, fold, and set away your towels, make sure to insert a dryer sheet into your closet or even between your towels to keep them smelling fresh. You can also use this dryer sheet trick inside your hamper to minimize any tough odors wafting from your dirty clothes. You should combine this dryer sheet method with proper washing, storing, and regular deep cleaning of your towels to keep the odors away. This includes making sure your towels are fully dry before tossing them in the hamper, which can also help re-soften even your most musty towels. You can also try laundry stripping, which is the process of removing built-up residue from your linens using household ingredients like borax, hot water, and washing soda. 

Even if you regularly wash your towels, you may still become a victim to the musty smell. It doesn't mean you're not clean; it just may indicate that you need to change up your laundry routine, where you store your towels, implement a regular deep cleaning or laundry stripping session, or add dryer sheets to the mix. Detergent can build up in your towels' fibers, making it more difficult for them to fully dry and making them more susceptible to bacterial buildup. Make sure to not overload your laundry with detergent, and only use the instructed amount. You may want to decrease or stop your usage of fabric softener, as this product can also cause buildup or eventually mold in your washing machine that could lead to more unpleasant odor. If you're wondering how often you should be cleaning your bathroom towels, it's recommended to do so about every three days.

Where you store your towels can make a big difference in how they dry, thus, how they smell. If you tend to keep your towels inside your bathroom, a notoriously moist environment, your towels can become vulnerable to bacteria and mold, risking poor odors. Ideally, your towels should be stored in a dry, cool area. If you have to keep them in your bathroom, make sure to turn on your exhaust fan to help keep the moisture levels down. Another simple tip for keeping your bathroom towels from smelling musty is to make sure you hang up your wet towels after you use them. Only put away clean towels that are fully dry. Don't forget to add a dryer sheet to keep them smelling extra fresh.