I have a front load washer and towels that are three years old. The combination means having that dreaded smelly towel smell, even when they’re “fresh” out of the washer and dryer! Front load washers, unfortunately, are rather notorious for taking on that moldy, mildewy odor, thanks to the rubber gaskets and seals that are often used in and around the door, and the water that gets trapped in and around them. Certain makes of front load washers can wind up giving off the odor of stagnant water and mildew thanks to the design of hoses, drainage areas, “debris” traps, and even the types of detergents and fabric softeners that you use. You can help to treat and prevent these issues by airing out your washer after every few cycles, checking and cleaning hoses and drainage areas routinely, and trying out specialty detergents and fabric softeners until you find the right combination. But what about towels and other articles of fabric that have taken on and retained that gross odor?
Enter Smelly Towel Cleaner. Smelly Towel Cleaner is a product designed specially for tackling mold and mildew odors in towels and other laundered fabrics. It’s an all-natural product that can be used alone or in conjunction with your standard detergent to remove musty odors and restore freshness. The instructions direct you to use approximately one tablespoon — that’s a level capful of the stuff — in place of detergent in a hot wash cycle. For really smell towels and clothing, you may need to soak the load for two hours or more. You can also use Smelly Towel Cleaner on a regular basis to keep colors bright and fresh smelling.
I had the opportunity to try out Smelly Towel Cleaner recently. I’ve already taken care of the mildew smell issue my front load washer (a GE, for those who are curious) by regularly leaving the door open so that the washer can fully dry out between loads; taking a dry cloth or paper towel and wiping around the door’s gasket and seal; washing in cold water and cutting back on the amount of detergent and fabric softener I use, and not allowing washed clothes to sit in the washer for long after the wash cycle has completed. But sadly, our bath towels and dish towels had taken on the icky odor, and no amount of washing seemed to get rid of the smell. On the surface, the towels smelled fine. But put them near your face, or breathe deeply, and you got assailed with an underlying musty odor. Ugh. Once again, enter Smelly Towel Cleaner.
I washed all of my towels on a 45 minute hot cycle with nothing but Smelly Towel Cleaner. After the cycle ended, my towels definitely smelled better, but the scent was still noticeable, so I washed them again, this time on a two hour hot cycle and with a little extra Smelly Towel Cleaner. And you know what? That’s all it took: three hours worth of wash cycles and two and a half tablespoons of Smelly Towel Cleaner, and my towels smelled as good as new. ♥
Since then I have been using small amounts of Smelly Towel Cleaner with our sheets, our jeans and my hoodies, as those are items that seem to soak up any odors that the washer might retain. It has worked perfectly. Our clothes come out clean, soft and smelling fresh, and by using just a teaspoon at a time, the 12 oz. bottle of Smelly Towel Cleaner will be sure to last for quite a while.
Want some of your own? You can get it at SmellyTowelWasher.com for $16.99.
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