Perhaps you all could lend a hand. I know there have been a lot of
posts on this but there could be a lot of variables after speaking to
my Air Conditioning guy and a friend.

-Problem: Bath Towels end up musty and smell after 1-2 times use when
I take a shower and dry off. (Bath is upstairs)
-Towel age-Probably a number of years old
-How do I dry towels after shower: I hang over the door to the
bathroom (not shower door)
-How do I wash towels: Cold Water (All or something like that) in
washing machine. I dry thoroughly in the dryer. I do not use bleach or
fabric softener.
Have tried the Bounce sheets in dryer though.

-Do I turn on bathroom fan? No since I never see any condensation on
mirror.

I live in Charlotte, NC where it is quite humid. I have 2 AC units and
like to keep house at about 73-75 degrees.

I think the humidity ranges from 55-65.
_______________________________

*Things I tried: Throwing towel in dryer after use and fully drying
it.
Result: Still smelled next time I used it.

*The HVAC guy (over phone) said I might need a central dehumidifier or
that my house was too humid upstairs. I do not know, but am having an
AC company come out under warranty to check this.

Thanks so much for your advice to this somewhat silly question and
plethora of info.

Sincerely
Peter

"Peter Cumming" wrote in message
om...
Perhaps you all could lend a hand. I know there have been a lot of
posts on this but there could be a lot of variables after speaking to
my Air Conditioning guy and a friend.

-Problem: Bath Towels end up musty and smell after 1-2 times use when
I take a shower and dry off. (Bath is upstairs)
-Towel age-Probably a number of years old
-How do I dry towels after shower: I hang over the door to the
bathroom (not shower door)
-How do I wash towels: Cold Water (All or something like that) in
washing machine. I dry thoroughly in the dryer. I do not use bleach or
fabric softener.
Have tried the Bounce sheets in dryer though.

-Do I turn on bathroom fan? No since I never see any condensation on
mirror.

I live in Charlotte, NC where it is quite humid. I have 2 AC units and
like to keep house at about 73-75 degrees.

I think the humidity ranges from 55-65.
_______________________________

*Things I tried: Throwing towel in dryer after use and fully drying
it.
Result: Still smelled next time I used it.

*The HVAC guy (over phone) said I might need a central dehumidifier or
that my house was too humid upstairs. I do not know, but am having an
AC company come out under warranty to check this.

Thanks so much for your advice to this somewhat silly question and
plethora of info.

We have the same problem. The AC doesn't seem to be the issue because it
happens whether we're using the AC or not. It does seem to be seasonal
however (usually this time of year) and because of that, I suspect the water
supply since our district uses more surface water (with chlorine) in the
summer and almost exclusively well water the rest of the year. The other
reason I suspect the water is because washer loads will sometimes get that
smell as well if a finished load sits for too long before going in the
dryer.

I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that 2 days is max for a towel. Now I
know how my poor mother felt... When I was a kid I got a new towel every
day.

(Peter Cumming) wrote:

(snip)
-Problem: Bath Towels end up musty and smell (snip)


Either:
1. Throw away the old ones, and buy new towels, OR
2. Use bleach in your laundry!!!!

Despite the warning labels on the towels, you will not be arrested for
using chlorine bleach on cotton/synthetic blends.

(Peter Cumming) wrote:


-Problem: Bath Towels end up musty and smell after 1-2 times use when
I take a shower and dry off.

Peter,

Lots of good advice here. However, I had a similar problem, and here's
how I resolved it.

Towels, by their nature, hold onto the detergent you use to wash them. I
am convinved that a normal machine wash/rinse cycle does not remove all
the detergent (and suspended soil) held by the towel, and wetting the
towel when you use it activates all the stuff that remains in your towel
from and incomplete rinse.

What I now do, and yes it's a pain, is I wash a load of towels as normal
and then run them through at least two additional plain water rinses, or
better yet, and additional short wash cycle with no detergent. Sometimes
I add 1/2 Cup vinegar to the rinse water. I have found that the problem
you describe has been completely eliminated in our household.

Good luck!

Lee

"Bystander" wrote in message
...
(Peter Cumming) wrote:


-Problem: Bath Towels end up musty and smell after 1-2 times use when
I take a shower and dry off.

Peter,

Lots of good advice here. However, I had a similar problem, and here's
how I resolved it.

Towels, by their nature, hold onto the detergent you use to wash them. I
am convinved that a normal machine wash/rinse cycle does not remove all
the detergent (and suspended soil) held by the towel, and wetting the
towel when you use it activates all the stuff that remains in your towel
from and incomplete rinse.

What I now do, and yes it's a pain, is I wash a load of towels as normal
and then run them through at least two additional plain water rinses, or
better yet, and additional short wash cycle with no detergent. Sometimes
I add 1/2 Cup vinegar to the rinse water. I have found that the problem
you describe has been completely eliminated in our household.

I also ran the washer empty with bleach to clean it out. Making sure to
clean the softener dispenser (that we never use) at the top of the agitator.