Causes of Musty Smell on Towels

Apart from prolonged use leading to dirt buildup on towels, there are several other reasons why towels can develop a musty smell:

1. Infrequent Cleaning: Towels often come into contact with the body, oils, dead skin cells, and other dirt. If not washed and cleaned regularly, this can create a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, resulting in a bad odor.

2. Damp Weather Over Time: A consistently damp and warm environment is ideal for the growth of bacteria and mold.

3. Towels Not Fully Dried: If towels are not dried thoroughly, any remaining moisture increases humidity, providing a suitable environment for bacteria to grow.

4. Improper Drying: Drying towels in a non-ventilated area or stacking towels on top of each other can also cause towels to develop a musty smell.

Tips for Eliminating Musty Odors from Towels

1. Soak in Warm Water with Salt
   For this method, prepare a basin of warm water and add salt. Soak the towels for about 10 minutes. After soaking, wash them thoroughly. Salt has strong antibacterial properties, which can help remove dirt on the surface and neutralize odors.

2. Use Vinegar
   You can also use white vinegar to wash towels. Simply add a little vinegar to warm water and soak the towels for about 10 minutes. After soaking, wash the towels as usual.

3. Rice Water
   Another option is to use rice water to wash the towels. This method will help keep your towels smelling fresh, soft, and fluffy.

4. Hot Water
   You can also directly use hot water to clean the towels. The high temperature of hot water will disinfect and kill bacteria in the towels, eliminating any slime and lingering odors.