Easy trick to stop freshly-cleaned towels turning 'smelly' - and it's free

12 June 2024 , 09:16

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Say goodbye to musty towels for good (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

There's nothing quite as grim as grabbing a musty towel when you've just stepped out of the shower.

Despite the shocking habits of some Brits, who keep their crusty towel for a full year before adding it to the laundry basket, it is recommended to wash your towels every three to four uses. This is to prevent the risk of bacterial and fungal infections, as well as not smelling like an actual foot.

However, if you're regularly popping your towels into the washing machine and can still smell that funky scent - you're probably making one simple error. Fans of cleaning ace Mrs Hinch have pointed out the best way to keep your newly cleaned towels smelling fresh without having to spend a fortune on expensive scent boosters.

Taking to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, which has more than 443,000 members, one desperate user asked: "How do you get this nasty smell off your towels, even if they've been washed?" While some cleaning enthusiasts recommended adding white vinegar - which you can buy for just 35p at Tesco - to the washing machine; or investing in a scented fabric conditioner, the overwhelming majority said no product is needed at all.

In fact, they say the key to prevent towels from turning smelly is simple: get them dry ASAP. "Hang them outside in fresh air to dry," one person wrote. Another agreed, commenting: "They're not dry enough or have been left in the washer before drying." A third added "Once washed, dry outside in sunny weather" - to which another user said: "This is a must".

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With the unpredictable UK weather flicking back and forth between rain and sun, it might not always be possible to dry your towels outside. Plus, you might not have access to a garden or space to hang up your laundry.

If that's the case, you can either pop your towels in the tumble dryer or dry them out on a heated airer. These mighty appliances often use less energy than a tumble dryer and can be purchased for as little as £34.99 from retailers like Home Bargains. You can also invest in a three-tier heated airer for £100 if you're drowning in soaking laundry.

Liam Gilliver