Why Your Towels Smell Musty — And How to Fix It for Good

You pull a towel out of the closet, bring it to your face, and — there it is. That unmistakable musty, damp smell.

Musty-smelling towels are one of the most common household complaints. The good news is that the problem is both understandable and fixable.

Why towels get musty

Musty odors in towels almost always trace back to one root cause: moisture trapped in the fibers for too long.

The most common cause of a mildewy smell in towels is that they have stayed wet for too long. When a towel remains damp in a poorly ventilated area — folded and put away damp, hung in a steamy bathroom with no fan, or left bunched up on the floor — bacteria and mold have the perfect environment to multiply.

Mildew grows on various surfaces and materials including cotton, so your bath, hand, and kitchen towels are a veritable breeding ground for it. It grows faster in damp, dark places like your laundry room or an overflowing laundry basket.

Other contributing factors

• Detergent residue buildup: Detergent left behind in the fibers can trap bacteria. This is more likely if you use too much detergent.

• Fabric softener coating: Fabric softener coats fibers and can trap bacteria against the cotton surface.

• Washing at too-low temperatures: Cold water may not fully kill bacteria.

• Overloading the washer: When towels are crammed in, they do not rinse or tumble properly.

• Leaving towels in the washer too long: Wet towels left sitting for hours become a breeding ground for bacteria.

How to remove musty odors

Method 1 — The vinegar and baking soda rescue:

1. Wash towels in hot water with one cup of white vinegar (no detergent)

2. Run a second wash with hot water and half a cup of baking soda (no detergent)

3. Dry thoroughly on high heat or in sunlight

Method 2 — Presoak:

1. Fill a bucket or sink with warm water and add ½ cup of white vinegar

2. Submerge towels and soak for 30 minutes

3. Wash on the hottest temperature recommended, adding ½ cup of baking soda

4. Dry completely

Method 3 — Vinegar rinse:

1. Add about half a cup of distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle

2. Hot water helps dissolve detergent residue and kills odor-causing microbes

3. The spin cycle extracts excess water, speeding up drying

How to prevent musty odors from returning

Once you have conquered the smell, follow these prevention habits:

• Always dry towels completely between uses: Hang them fully spread out. Don't fold or bunch them.

• Improve bathroom ventilation: Run the exhaust fan during and for 30 minutes after showers. If your bathroom has a window, crack it open when the weather is nice.

• Wash towels every 3-5 uses.

• Don't leave wet towels in the washer: Transfer to dryer promptly.

• Use less detergent: Excess detergent leaves residue that traps bacteria.

• Skip fabric softener entirely.

• Do a vinegar rinse monthly.

Why fabric softener makes it worse

Towels can also smell like mildew if you use fabric softener or too much detergent. The waxy coating from softener traps bacteria against the fibers, making odors worse over time.

SEMAXE's advice

Musty odors do not mean your SEMAXE towels are defective — they mean moisture management needs attention. By following the prevention habits above, you will keep your towels smelling fresh and performing beautifully.

Key Takeaways:

• Musty odors are caused by bacteria and mold growing in damp conditions

• Always dry towels completely between uses

• Wash with vinegar, then baking soda to remove existing odors

• Improve bathroom ventilation to reduce humidity

• Wash towels every 3-5 uses

• Don't leave wet towels in the washer

• Skip fabric softener entirely

• Sunlight is a natural deodorizer