Q&A for How to Remove Mildew Smell from Towels

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What removes mildew from fabric?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

To remove mildew from fabric, you can use a solution of laundry detergent and hot water. Apply the solution to the area affected with mildew, and use a toothbrush to brush it off.

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Question

What can I do if the towels smell fine after the laundry but start smelling bad when we use them to dry after showering?

Community Answer

Wash with vinegar and then a round with baking soda -- it helps for a bit. Only use the towels for a few days before replacing again and ensure that they dry completely between uses. If all else fails, you could bleach them -- they will fade but they won't smell bad. After washing, always ensure that the towels dry completely or they will smell. If hanging outside, ensure that they are hung out early and brought in before the day's chill sets in again. A whirl in the dryer after being outside in cold air will help if needed.

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Question

Our very old thin towels remain fresh and dry us well. However the newer thick fluffy weaves become stiff after one use. Why?

Community Answer

I wonder if your new towels might be holding extra detergent? This might be the case if you dry your towels in a dryer, rather than on the line: you might not notice them holding the extra detergent after they are dryer fluffed, but the re-wetting gets the detergent moving to the surface of the weave.

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Question

What more can I do besides using laundry soap and vinegar if my towels still retain some of the bad smell?

Community Answer

OdoBan works wonders on odor! I've even used it to to treat my carpet and other areas after being sprayed or urinated on by animals. Smell came right out. I purchased it at a hardware store.

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Question

After washing towels in detergent they smell fine but still look dirty (there is a brown/black stain down the middle). What is this mysterious stain and how can I get rid of it?

Community Answer

Assuming they didn't go into the wash with the stain, it could be maintenance grease from your washer or dryer.

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