Smelly towels?

rising_from_the_ashes

So ... my favorite set of towels seem to be really smelly recently :(

They are old - but they're fab as they dry you really well (unlike some I have) AND dry themselves really quickly too (brilliant especially in winter time)

BUT recently, I've noticed they're smelling horrid after only a couple of uses

I generally use my towels for a week (only me using them) and they are hung out properly to dry after each use - I shower/bath every day BUT only wash my hair 3 x / week .... but the hair towel is smelling just as bad as the bath towel, even though it's used much less

Any suggestions - or is it just time they were relegated to dog towels?

ziggy2004

I know it says nappies but I have found that stripping smelly towels works just as well

http://www.clothnappytree.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=39305

(I use vinegar and add a couple of drops of lavender oil and then wash as normal)

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhh that's interesting!

I've washed / dried them today (and smell lovely before use!) so will def give that a try next week!

Think the vinegar one sounds best - I would go for the dish-washer tablet but I don't have one so don't have any!

thriftwizard

What temperature are you washing them at? I know it's supposed to be green (and cheaper) to wash at 30℃, but our washing, although visually clean, was gradually getting smellier & smellier until I went back to 40℃ for the cottons.

rising_from_the_ashes

Although I do the vast majority of things at 40 deg - I do the towels and bedding at 60 deg

Bedding mainly as the cats will lie on the bed ..... towels, really felt they weren't getting clean at a lower temp

BUT my washes are relatively short time wise - I have a "daily wash" that washes any temp between 30 deg and 90 deg

A 40 deg wash takes 50 mins & a 60 deg wash an hour so not a huge difference BUT if I was to wash them on the "proper" wash - they'd take over 2 hours :eek:

Valli

strange then - I wash mine at 60 degrees; they don't get whiffy, and, like me you use them for a week, air in between times...odd...

Try the 90 degree wash.. To be honest I wouldn't think the length of wash is too critical, as long as the machine is NOT overloaded, thus ensuring they can be thoroughly agitated.

Is the machine clean and whiff-free?

rising_from_the_ashes

Valli wrote: »

strange then - I wash mine at 60 degrees; they don't get whiffy, and, like me you use them for a week, air in between times...odd...

Try the 90 degree wash.. To be honest I wouldn't think the length of wash is too critical, as long as the machine is NOT overloaded, thus ensuring they can be thoroughly agitated.

Is the machine clean and whiff-free?

mmmm might try a 90 deg wash next time just to see

Is the machine clean ..... yes but .....

It gets around 1 load of dog towels / bedding per week (and sometimes more in winter or on a fine day if I've loads of bedding to do) - these are all washed at 60 deg AND once I've done the last load, I run a cycle with just detergent in to try to give it a good clean (before I put anything human in it;))

Not sure if that will be getting it clean enough?

Valli

Rather than running a cycle with detergent try a cycle on the hottest possible wash (drop the spin right down) with a handful of washing soda and white vinegar in the softener part of the dispenser drawer.

Are you in a hard water area?

having said that the whiffiest/dirtiest machines are those run on 30 deg

rising_from_the_ashes

Valli wrote: »

Rather than running a cycle with detergent try a cycle on the hottest possible wash (drop the spin right down) with a handful of washing soda and white vinegar in the softener part of the dispenser drawer.

Are you in a hard water area?

having said that the whiffiest/dirtiest machines are those run on 30 deg

Thanks will def try that after the next lot of doggy stuff

Not in a hard water area but my water is awful - smells of chlorine when you run the taps AND none of the pets will drink it straight from the tap :eek: (I have to use bottled for them & for me for drinking - but I use the tap water if I'm boiling it)

mandco

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Although I do the vast majority of things at 40 deg - I do the towels and bedding at 60 deg

Bedding mainly as the cats will lie on the bed ..... towels, really felt they weren't getting clean at a lower temp

BUT my washes are relatively short time wise - I have a "daily wash" that washes any temp between 30 deg and 90 deg

A 40 deg wash takes 50 mins & a 60 deg wash an hour so not a huge difference BUT if I was to wash them on the "proper" wash - they'd take over 2 hours :eek:

sound like you have the same/similar machine to me and I found that stuff I washed at a higher temp started to smell esp towels
has yours got a self clean mode? if so try running it with no detergent or run the longest hottest wash with just water its amazing how much residue and scuzz builds up in the machine even when your running hot washes
have you checked all the filters?

rising_from_the_ashes

mandco wrote: »

have you checked all the filters?

mmmmm I thought about this a while ago & then totally forgot again

Must dig out the manual as I've actually no idea where they are so ..... they probably could do with a good clean!

Will have a look and see if it's got a self clean mode - never even thought of that!