Sour towels? Help.

Ok, so I forgot about a load of towels in the washer. I rewashed them and then dried them. They still stunk! I washed them again with soap/softener and they still dont smell great. They are not as bad as they were, but not anything I want to dry off with!

Any remedies to un-stink them?:lol::lol:

 

Put a cup of vinegar in the wash when the tub fills up with water and let it sit for half hour. Then run it with regular laundry detergent. Should do it.

I have experience with this.

 

hot water, and a splash of bleach (and of course normal detergent). Let the washer fill up about half way, so the bleach will be good and diluted, and it wont make the colors run. I have done it many times.

 

To remove the nasty smell, wash them in hot water with the normal amount of laundry detergent. Then add 1/2 cup baking soda (or you can use washing soda which is found in the laundry aisle) to the washer at the beginning.

If you have hard water, increase the amount of soda to 3/4 cup.

Lay off the fabric softener for this round of wash. Liquid fabric softener or sheets can cause buildup if not used correctly, and the towels will not absorb water as well.

Be sure to put the towels in the dryer ASAP. Use the sniff test — if they still stank, repeat the process. This should do the trick.

 

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've done that, LOL!

I have always had good luck with washing them again, which you've already tried, so I'm not much help.

Can you bleach them? If not, Febreeze? Last resort: throw them out and have fun shopping!:lol:

 

I tell you what Rich - you are just a wealth of helpful information on here today :lol: You from around these here parts?

 

YES to Baking Soda. It is a real laundry sopa booster!!!

I would also LINE DRY them but just not today!

 

Born and raised young lady! I got a few tips up my sleeve (actually I don't usually wear sleeves, but you get the point!)

I would quote your reply so's they know who I'm talking to, but I aint figured out how to do that yet!

Anyway, thanks Bandmom!

 

I second the baking soda and Borax works well, too. I also leave the lid up so they can just soak in the water for a while after the machine is finished agitating for the wash cycle.

 

It easy - just click the blue 'quote' button then type your reply underneath.

 

Thanky!

 

:iagree: I second this...The vinegar solution worked for me too...

 

You were born and raised a young lady!?!?!
How did you get to be a man? I've heard they could do that these days, but never met anyone that had the b---- to do it, so to speak.:mrgreen:

(Sorry, RR. Just teasing. I couldn't resist. Welcome to 40/42. We're glad to have you.)

Snuff

 

That made me chuckle! lol

Thanks Snuff!

 

Thanks, I will go try a few of these and hope I get some fresh smelling towels!! (wonder what would happen if I combined them all) probably blow up my laundry room!

 

L, you can try adding Borax to the load if you have some on hand, it's a deodorizer too.

 

I do the bleach thing, too. Just a tiny bit will take that funky smell right out.

 

You should be just fine, unless you combine amonia with bleach. DON"T DO THAT! And don't run your dryer on the high heat setting without emptying the lint trap. Lint burns.

This public safety message brought to you by the Snuffleufogous foundation for home safety. And remember kids, DO NOT try this at home!:lol:

 

Bleach wont ruin the color on the towels? Like how much bleach? Fill it, add bleach, then towels?

 

add the bleach as the water is filling up (without towels), probably just 1/4 cup or so for a full load, then when its filled put your hand in there and swish it around a bit - then add the towels and detergent