That unmistakable, musty smell. Those ominous black or greyish specks dotting your favorite bath towel. Discovering mildew on your linens is a frustrating—and all too common—household problem. Your first thought might be to trash them, but hold on!
Before you declare your towels a lost cause, know this: in most cases, you can completely remove mildew and its nasty odor. We’ve compiled the most effective, battle-tested methods from cleaning communities on Reddit to create your ultimate guide on how to remove mildew from towels.
Let’s rescue your linens from the brink.
First, Understand Your Enemy: What is Mildew?
Mildew is a type of fungus that thrives in damp, warm, and poorly ventilated spaces. It’s what causes that “damp towel” smell and those characteristic spots. The key to defeating it is twofold: kill the spores and remove the stains and odor they leave behind.
Method 1: The Heavy-Duty Soak (For Stubborn Smells & Stains)
When you need maximum firepower, a long soak is your best friend. This is the most recommended method across r/CleaningTips and r/laundry.
The OxiClean Soak
This is the go-to solution for many Redditors for a reason. OxiClean (or any generic oxygenated bleach) is brilliant at breaking down organic matter without the harshness of chlorine bleach.
- One 5 lb container of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder with over 101 uses for laundry and around the home
- Oxygen-powered, water-activated OxiClean powder removes everyday dirt and grime, and tough set-in stains from machine-wa…
- Use as a stain removal presoak and as an in-wash laundry booster stain remover, with regular laundry detergent, followin…
How to do it:
- Fill a bathtub, large sink, or bucket with very hot water.
- Add a generous scoop of OxiClean (follow package directions for heavy-soil amounts) and stir to dissolve.
- Submerge the mildewed towels completely and let them soak for at least 4-6 hours, or even overnight.
- After soaking, wring them out and wash as normal in the washing machine with hot water and detergent.
Reddit Wisdom: “Have you tried soaking it for several hours or overnight in a generous amount of Oxiclean? This can help to remove mildew and brighten both white and dark fabrics.”
Method 2: The Disinfecting Wash (To Kill Spores)
Sometimes, you need to ensure every last spore is dead. These methods are perfect for that.
For WHITE Towels: The Bleach Method
If your towels are all-white, chlorine bleach is the most powerful disinfectant you can use.
How to do it:
- Wash your white towels on the hottest cycle your machine offers.
- Add your regular detergent and ½ to 1 cup of chlorine bleach to the bleach dispenser.
- For extra power, let the machine agitate for a few minutes, then pause the cycle and let the towels soak in the hot, bleachy water for 30 minutes before resuming.
Reddit Wisdom: “I bleach my white towels. Always. Every time I wash them.” This is a powerful reminder that bleach is a safe and effective routine for all-white linens.
For COLORED Towels: Laundry Sanitizer
You can’t use chlorine bleach on colors, but you can use a laundry sanitizer like Lysol or Clorox Laundry Sanitizer.
How to do it:
- Wash towels on a warm or hot cycle with detergent.
- Add the laundry sanitizer to the fabric softener dispenser or during the rinse cycle as directed on the bottle. It needs to sit in the rinse water for a specific time to kill germs effectively.
Reddit Wisdom: “Lysol makes a laundry disinfectant that is gentle and works wonders on killing germs and yuck that cause odors.”
Method 3: The Natural Power Combo (Vinegar & Baking Soda)
If you prefer to avoid harsh chemicals, this dynamic duo can work wonders.
How to do it:
- Vinegar Wash: Run the towels through a hot wash cycle with 1-2 cups of white vinegar instead of detergent. Vinegar is acidic, which helps kill mold and break down residue.
- Baking Soda Boost: Immediately after the vinegar wash, run another hot cycle, but this time add 1 cup of baking soda along with your regular detergent. The baking soda helps neutralize the acidic vinegar smell and lifts away odor-causing particles.
Reddit Wisdom: “I find that a hot wash with a buttload of vinegar added generally does the trick for me.” and “Wash small loads at a time to pull smells out: add cup of baking soda to tub with towels.”
The Secret Weapon: Let the Sun Do the Work
Never underestimate the power of nature. The sun is a natural bleaching and disinfecting agent.
How to do it:
After you’ve washed the towels, hang them outside to dry in direct sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV) rays are brilliant at killing remaining mildew spores and helping to fade stains.
Reddit Wisdom: “UV is your friend” and “Wash them once in hot water and your regular detergent, and let them dry outside in the sun for a day.”
How to Prevent Mildew from Ever Coming Back
Fixing the problem is only half the battle. Here’s how to keep it from happening again:
- Dry Towels COMPLETELY After Every Use: This is the golden rule. Never hang a wet towel in a bunched-up heap. Spread it out fully on a towel rack or over a shower rod.
- Never Toss Damp Towels in the Hamper: A towel must be bone-dry before it goes into the laundry basket.
- Wash Towels Frequently and in HOT Water: Don’t let them sit for weeks. Wash them after 3-4 uses in hot water to kill bacteria.
- Ditch the Fabric Softener: Redditors are adamant: “Do not use fabric softener with towels.” It coats the fibers, trapping moisture and bacteria inside.
- Clean Your Washing Machine: Mildew can live in the damp seals and drum of your machine. Run a clean cycle monthly to prevent re-contaminating your laundry.
Quick-Action Guide: Which Method Should You Use?
| If Your Towels Are… | Use This Method First |
|---|---|
| Extremely musty with visible spots | OxiClean Overnight Soak |
| All-White and stained | Bleach Wash |
| Colored and smelly, but not stained | Laundry Sanitizer |
| Slightly musty, no major stains | Vinegar & Baking Soda Wash |
| Freshly washed but need a final refresh | Sun Dry |
Don’t let mildew win. With these proven methods, you can salvage your towels, save money, and enjoy that fresh, clean feeling after every shower.
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we believe in.
