Towels Still Musty After Washing? Here’s How to Fix It

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I hate opening the washing machine and being greeted by a musty smell. It’s especially unpleasant when that smell spreads into the laundry room. The whole thing feels gross, and it makes me wonder how fresh my clothes and towels can be when the machine itself smells bad.

Recently, my towels were also developing that unpleasant smell when they got wet again. They had already been washed and dried, but they didn’t smell fresh when we used them.

The basic approach is simple: clean the washer, rewash the towels with properly measured detergent and no fabric softener, then dry them completely. The steps below will help you check each part of the process.

Why Towels Can Smell Musty After Washing

Musty towels can have more than one contributing cause. Residue in the washing machine, too much detergent, crowded loads, and towels staying damp can all be worth checking.

The smell may come from the washer, the towels, or a combination of both. Checking the machine first gives you a clean starting point for rewashing.

Step 1: Clean the Washing Machine

Open the empty washer and check for an unpleasant smell. With a front loader, gently look inside the folds of the rubber door seal for lint, debris, and trapped moisture. Check the detergent and fabric softener drawer for buildup as well.

I,age of washing machine liner thst needs to be cleaned

Follow your washer’s manual to clean the seal, door, and dispenser. Some drawers are removable for cleaning; others are not. Use the cleaning method recommended for your model and wipe the cleaned surfaces dry.

Next, clean the inside of the washer using washing machine cleaning tablets or another approved washer cleaner. Keep the drum empty and follow the directions for the cleaner and your machine’s cleaning cycle. Use the amount specified on the package. If stubborn odors require another cleaning cycle, repeat only as directed.

I use Affresh in my front loader, and I’ve been happy with how it works in my washing machine. Cleaning the washer helped get rid of that unpleasant smell in mine.

Step 2: Rewash the Towels With Measured Detergent

Once the machine is clean, rewash the musty towels. Check the care labels and select the hottest water the towels allow, along with an appropriate towel or regular wash cycle.

If you’re unsure about loading the washer or choosing a cycle, my guide to how to use a washing machine⁠ walks through the basics.

Check your detergent’s label for the dose that matches your load size and water conditions. For liquid detergent, look closely at the measuring marks on the cap; filling it to the top may give you more than the recommended amount. Concentrations vary, so use the directions on your current bottle rather than carrying over the amount you used with another product.

Use HE detergent if your machine requires it. Extra detergent can leave residue, so check the dose before increasing it.

For more help understanding detergent amounts and other laundry products, read How Much Laundry Detergent Should You Use?⁠

Leave room in the drum for the towels to move freely. Divide a tightly packed load into smaller loads so the towels can wash and rinse properly.

Skip fabric softener while you’re getting the towels fresh again. It can coat towel fibers and reduce absorbency. Whirlpool recommends leaving fabric softener out of towel loads.

If detergent residue remains, an extra rinse may help. Check the options and instructions for your machine.

Step 3: Dry the Towels Promptly and Completely

Remove towels from the washer as soon as you can after the cycle finishes. Leaving a clean load sitting wet gives odors another opportunity to develop.

Dry the towels according to their care labels, with enough room for air to circulate. Before folding them, feel the thicker hems and edges. If those areas are still damp, let the towels finish drying before putting them away.

If you need help choosing a dryer setting or figuring out why a load stays damp, see my guide to how to use a clothes dryer⁠.

For towels dried on a rack or clothesline, spread them out with space between them. Make sure they’re dry all the way through before they go into the cupboard.

Step 4: Let Towels Dry Between Uses

How towels are handled after a shower matters, too. Spread each towel out on a bar or rack so air can reach the fabric. A towel left bunched on the floor or in a damp pile takes longer to dry.

Before putting damp towels into the laundry basket, hang them up to dry. Keep clean towels in a dry cupboard or linen closet.

Step 5: Keep Up With Washer Maintenance

I leave my front loader’s door cracked between loads so the inside can dry. Along with the washing and drying steps above, these maintenance habits can help keep the machine fresh:

Wipe moisture from the rubber door seal after use.
Let the washer dry between loads as your manual recommends, while keeping children and pets from accessing the drum.
Check the dispenser drawer for buildup and clean it as directed.
Run the washer’s cleaning cycle on the recommended schedule.

Use your machine’s maintenance instructions as the starting point. For example, Affresh recommends its washer cleaner monthly or every 30 wash cycles.

What to Check if the Smell Keeps Returning

If the towels still smell musty after cleaning the machine, rewashing them, and drying them thoroughly, notice where the odor remains. Does the empty washer still smell, or is the problem limited to the towels?

For a washer that still smells, check the manual for additional maintenance, including any accessible drain filter. Follow the instructions carefully rather than opening unfamiliar parts. If cleaning doesn’t resolve the odor, a service technician may need to investigate.

If the washer smells fresh but the towels do not, work through these checks:

Did the towels have room to move, or was the load tightly packed?
Was the detergent measured for that load and product concentration?
Were the towels dry at the hems and edges before they were folded?
Is the linen cupboard dry, and can towels dry fully between uses?

I hope this helps you get to the bottom of that musty smell and enjoy fresh, clean towels again. Drying off after a shower shouldn’t make you wonder whether you need another one!

From my hearth to yours,
Becky

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