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Does anyone have any remedies for getting the mildew smell out of towels and other laundry??? I've tried several different detergents, ammonia and color safe bleaches/regular bleach with no results....help....
I usually use 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Some people put baking soda in the washer too. But don't mix baking soda with the vinegar or lemon juice beforehand, it makes a huge bubbly mess.
Turn on your washer, and let the vinegar and lemon juice mix well with the water, then add your towels. Recently I washed a load of bath towels and then we went out of town without drying them. They smelled horrible when I found them in the washer. But the vinegar and lemon juice took care of the smell.
Vinegar does work; also air drying after one wash, leaving in the direct sun and then perhaps some repeats with a natural concentrated soap (with a lavender or lilac scent). It worked for me with a few items.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inthesierras
I usually use 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Some people put baking soda in the washer too. But don't mix baking soda with the vinegar or lemon juice beforehand, it makes a huge bubbly mess.
Turn on your washer, and let the vinegar and lemon juice mix well with the water, then add your towels. Recently I washed a load of bath towels and then we went out of town without drying them. They smelled horrible when I found them in the washer. But the vinegar and lemon juice took care of the smell.
I only asked because you don't want to do something to harsh on your bath towels. A good hot wash and air dry until the towels are completely dry seems to work well.
I have found that sometimes my kids, teenagers, put the towels away from the dryer when they are still slightly damp then that smells sets in. I just rewash them with hot water and hang them out to dry and it works really well.
Good luck...there nothing quite so yucky as that smell.
Be sure to always leave your washer's lid open if you have a top loader and the door slightly open if you have a front loader after you have completed washing for the day. That is something my mother told me many years ago in order to avoid mildew odors. I've always done that and I've not once had a problem with mildew odors.
So, to get rid of any odors you have now, it is probably best to do an empty wash cycle using the hottest water you can attain and use 1 cup of bleach and let it go through the complete wash cycle. But remember to always leave the lid or door open after a wash.
Ok, my first attempt today is gonna be the vinegar and lemon mix.
I've been using Borax lately - cleans very well, but doesn't always remove the smell - would this be similar to using baking soda or no?
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