We’ve all been there — you pull a towel from the dryer, it looks clean, but the moment it gets damp again… that sour, musty smell comes right back. I used to think my towels were just old, but the truth was they weren’t dirty — they were coated. Over time, detergent, fabric softener, and body oils build up in the fibers. That’s what traps the odor, and no amount of normal washing can fix it.
I remember when my husband said, “Honey, these towels smell like the gym.” That’s when I knew it was time to figure out a real solution. After trying all sorts of tricks, I finally found the one method that actually works — the two-cycle wash using vinegar and baking soda. No fancy detergent, no bleach, just two natural things we already keep in the kitchen.
This simple method deep-cleans your towels, removes the buildup, kills odor-causing bacteria, and makes them feel soft again — without any perfume smell. In this post, I’ll walk you through every step: how much to use, what temperature works best, how to dry them properly, and how to keep them fresh for good. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to masking the smell with softener again.
Why Towels Smell – The Simple Science Behind Musty Odors
If your towels still smell even after washing, you’re not alone. I used to wonder why mine always came out of the washer smelling “clean,” but got that sour odor again after just one use. The truth is, towels don’t get stinky because they’re dirty — they smell because they’re too coated.
Every time we wash towels with detergent and fabric softener, a little bit of residue stays behind. Over time, that buildup traps body oils, soap, and moisture, which feed the bacteria that cause bad smells. Add in the fact that many people wash with too much detergent or too little water, and the problem just keeps getting worse.
Another reason is that towels often stay damp for too long — in the washer, in the laundry basket, or even after hanging. Bacteria love warm, wet fibers. That’s why towels sometimes smell worse in humid weather or if your washing machine itself needs a good clean.
Vinegar helps because it breaks down residue and kills odor-causing bacteria. Baking soda follows up by lifting leftover dirt and neutralizing any remaining smells. The two-step cycle works better than mixing them together — each one does its part in the right order.
Once you understand what’s really going on, the fix becomes simple. You’re not masking a smell — you’re resetting your towels back to fresh, clean fabric again.
Step 1 – Prepare Your Washer for a Deep Clean
Before you start working on the towels themselves, it’s a good idea to make sure your washing machine is clean. I learned this the hard way when I used to do everything right with vinegar and baking soda, but my towels still came out musty. Turns out, the washer drum had its own buildup of detergent residue and bacteria.
To prep your washer, run one empty hot cycle — no detergent, no towels. Just set it to the hottest water setting and longest wash time. If it’s been a while since you cleaned it, pour in two cups of white vinegar before starting. The vinegar will loosen up soap scum, mildew, and any hidden grime inside the drum and hoses.
Once the cycle finishes, wipe the inside of the drum, the rubber seal, and the detergent tray with a cloth dipped in warm vinegar water. Those areas collect the most buildup, especially in front-load washers. Leave the door open afterward to let it dry completely.
It’s smart to do this kind of washer clean once a month, even when you’re not deep-cleaning towels. That way, every wash you do stays fresh and truly clean. Now that your washer’s ready, we can move on to the real work — stripping the smell out of those towels for good.
Step 2 – Cycle A: The Vinegar Wash to Remove Residue and Odor
Now that your washer is clean, it’s time for the first deep-cleaning step — the vinegar wash. This is the part that breaks down all the old detergent, softener, and body oils that are trapped in your towels. It’s simple, but it makes a huge difference.
Start by loading your towels into the washer. Don’t pack it too full — a medium load (about six to eight towels) is just right. The water needs space to move through the fabric. Set your machine to hot water and the longest cycle it offers.
Instead of detergent, pour in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar directly into the drum or the detergent tray. Don’t add anything else — no softener, no baking soda yet. Vinegar works best when it’s alone. It helps dissolve soap buildup, kills bacteria, and softens the towels naturally.
Let the cycle run fully. When it’s done, leave the towels inside for a few minutes with the door open to let the steam escape. You might already notice they smell a lot fresher at this point. The vinegar doesn’t leave a strong scent once it’s rinsed — it fades quickly as the towels dry.
If your towels were extra smelly or stiff before, you can repeat this vinegar wash one more time before moving to the next step. Otherwise, they’re ready for the second round — the baking soda cycle, which will finish the job and leave your towels soft and odor-free.
Step 3 – Cycle B: The Baking Soda Wash for Soft, Fresh Towels
Now comes the second and most satisfying part — the baking soda cycle. This is where your towels go from clean to truly fresh and soft again. The vinegar already broke down the buildup, so now baking soda can step in to pull out any leftover odor and refresh the fibers completely.
Leave the same towels in the washer, but make sure there’s no vinegar left inside. You can wipe out the drum or just run a quick rinse first if you like. Then, fill the washer again with hot water and set it to another full-length wash cycle.
Add ½ to 1 cup of baking soda directly into the drum — not in the detergent tray. There’s no need for detergent or softener here either. The baking soda will naturally balance the pH level of your towels, neutralize any last traces of smell, and lift leftover residue from deep within the fibers.
As the cycle runs, you might notice the towels start to feel lighter and softer. That’s because baking soda gently loosens the fibers that have been stiff from buildup. When the cycle finishes, give them a sniff — they should smell clean and neutral, not perfumed.
If your towels were very musty to begin with, don’t worry if they still feel slightly off after the first run. You can always repeat this baking soda wash once more, especially for older towels. The more buildup they had, the more time it takes to strip it away completely.
Once this step is done, you’ve officially deep-cleaned your towels without a single drop of chemical detergent — and you’ll notice the difference right away.
Step 4 – Drying Towels the Right Way for Lasting Freshness
This is the part many people overlook — and it’s often the reason towels start smelling again so quickly. Even after washing, if towels don’t dry the right way, moisture gets trapped deep in the fibers, and that’s when the musty smell returns. Drying them properly is just as important as washing them right.
First, take the towels out of the washer immediately after the baking soda cycle finishes. Don’t let them sit damp — even 30 minutes in a closed washer can let mildew start to grow again. Give each towel a little shake before placing it in the dryer. That helps air flow through the fibers better.
Set your dryer to medium or high heat, depending on your towel type, and let it run until they’re fully dry. Avoid using fabric softener sheets — they leave a coating that traps odor again. Instead, toss in two or three wool dryer balls or even a couple of clean tennis balls. They keep the towels fluffy and help them dry faster.
If you prefer to air dry, make sure you hang them in a spot with good airflow and sunlight. Sunlight naturally kills bacteria and adds that crisp, fresh scent that dryers can’t always give. But the key is to dry them completely — even a little dampness can undo all your hard work.
Once dry, fold them loosely instead of stacking tightly. Towels need to breathe a bit, especially if your bathroom stays humid.
When done right, your towels will come out soft, fluffy, and free from any sour smell — just clean and cozy, the way they should be.
Ongoing Care – Simple Habits to Keep Towels Smelling Fresh Longer
Now that your towels are clean and fresh again, a few simple habits will help keep them that way. I’ve followed these steps for years, and since then, my towels have never gone back to smelling sour or feeling stiff.
1. Use less detergent.
It’s tempting to think more soap means cleaner towels, but that’s what causes buildup in the first place. For a regular load, use half the usual amount of detergent. Towels don’t need much to get clean — the water and agitation do most of the work.
2. Skip the fabric softener.
I know it sounds strange, but softeners actually coat the fibers and trap odors. If you like your towels extra soft, use ½ cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. It softens naturally and keeps the fibers open.
3. Wash small loads.
Don’t cram too many towels into the washer. They need room to move around so the water can rinse out all the dirt and soap. A half-full drum gives the best results.
4. Let them dry completely.
Never fold towels while they’re still slightly damp. It only takes a few hours of trapped moisture for mildew to start. If you’re air drying, hang them with space between each one.
5. Keep your washer fresh.
Run an empty hot cycle with vinegar once a month to clean out detergent residue and bacteria. I usually do mine on the first weekend of every month — it takes just one cycle and keeps my washer smelling fresh too.
With these easy habits, you’ll never have to worry about musty towels again. They’ll stay soft, clean, and fresh-smelling — just like the day you first bought them.
Alternatives – Simple Substitutes if You Don’t Want to Use Vinegar
Not everyone likes the smell of vinegar, even though it fades after washing. If that’s you, don’t worry — there are a few other safe, natural ways to freshen towels without using it. I’ve tried these when I ran out of vinegar, and they work surprisingly well.
1. Use Borax.
Borax is a natural mineral powder that softens water and helps remove odor. Add ½ cup of Borax to your wash cycle with hot water and no detergent. It breaks down buildup and leaves towels feeling clean and light. It’s especially good if you have hard water.
2. Try Oxygen Bleach.
Oxygen bleach (like OxiClean or a generic version) is a color-safe way to deep-clean towels. Mix ¼ cup into a hot wash cycle without detergent. It lifts stains, kills bacteria, and helps remove that sour smell without the harshness of chlorine bleach.
3. Use Lemon Juice for a Natural Boost.
If you don’t mind a hint of citrus, pour ½ cup of lemon juice into the rinse cycle. It works a lot like vinegar — cutting through residue and leaving a light, fresh scent. I sometimes use this for my white towels when I want a bright, clean finish.
Just remember, whatever method you choose, always run baking soda in the second cycle to finish the job. That final step is what neutralizes any leftover odors and brings your towels back to that soft, clean feel.
These alternatives work just as well as vinegar — so even if you skip it, your towels can still come out smelling fresh and feeling brand new.
FAQs – Common Questions About the Vinegar and Baking Soda Towel Method
1. Can I mix vinegar and baking soda in the same wash?
No, don’t mix them together. They cancel each other out. Vinegar is acidic and baking soda is alkaline — they work best when used in separate cycles.
2. Will this method fade colored towels?
Not at all. Both vinegar and baking soda are safe for colored fabrics. Just make sure to wash with hot, not boiling, water and skip chlorine bleach.
3. Can I do this in a front-loading washer?
Yes. Add vinegar or baking soda directly into the drum, not the detergent tray. Use the hottest setting and longest cycle your machine allows.
4. What if my water is hard?
Hard water can make smells worse. Add ½ cup of Borax or washing soda to your vinegar cycle — it helps soften the water and boosts cleaning power.
5. How often should I deep-clean towels this way?
Once every one to two months is plenty for regular use. If you have gym towels or kids’ towels that get heavy use, you can do it more often.
6. My towels still smell even after two cycles — what now?
Try repeating the baking soda cycle, or check your washer for buildup. Sometimes the smell is coming from the machine, not the towels. A quick vinegar rinse cycle usually fixes it.
Also Read: DIY Fridge Deodorizer with Baking Soda & Lemon (10-Minute Reset)
Conclusion
Fresh, clean towels shouldn’t be a luxury — and with this simple two-cycle method, they never have to be. A little vinegar and baking soda can do what most detergents can’t: strip away buildup, kill odor-causing bacteria, and bring your towels back to life. It’s gentle, cheap, and works every single time.
I still remember the first time I tried this method on my old bath towels. They were rough, smelled sour, and I almost threw them out. But after just one vinegar wash and one baking soda rinse, they came out soft and smelled completely clean again. I couldn’t believe it — it felt like I’d just bought a new set.
Now, I use this trick every few months to keep all my towels fresh. It’s easy, safe, and doesn’t require anything fancy. The best part? You probably already have everything you need sitting in your kitchen.
Give it a try the next time your towels smell musty — it really works. And once you see how soft and clean they turn out, you’ll never go back to store-bought fabric softeners again.
