Clean smelly towels

[soph87]

Some of my bath towels come out of the washer with a bad smell (this doesn't happen with any other item, only with towels). As weird as that may sound, it's true: clean but smelly!

What the hell is going on and how to avoid this?

TIA!

How hot are you washing them? I always wash towels at 90, as anything less just doesn't cut it, IME.

throw some bicarb in the powder drawer before you put the powder in.

Try adding a little white vinegar to the conditioner drawer (and stop using fabric conditioner for towels if you are). They may smell a little vinegary when they come out but as they dry it evaporates off and then they are smell-free.

Alternatively you could try (the rather expensive) Daylesford laundry liquid which smells divine.

Intensive 60 degree wash here for towels. And I always make sure my towels get dry quickly between uses (ie. hung up flat on a radiator airer or the heated towel rail).

yes, white vinegar is fab. i haven't used softener/conditioner in years.

I'll increase the temperature to 90 (been doing them at 60 degrees). The drying is done quite quickly so don't think that's the problem.

I do, however, use fabric conditioner. Will try the white vinegar in the conditioner drawer instead.

And the bicarb should just go mixed in with the powder then? Wonder if I can do a wash with the bicarb and the vinegar... hmmm....

Thanks so much to you all for the tips (and what speed!). The smelly towels have really been bothering me so I REALLY appreciate the help

i do the bicarb and vinegar together. both are deodourisers (sp?)