The Laundry Hack You Should Try Before Tossing Old, Smelly Towels

We've all been there: You reach for a towel after a refreshing shower just to notice an unpleasant smell coming from the fabric. It's not uncommon for towels to start holding onto odors after repeated use and washings. These smells are most often caused by a build-up of bacteria, mildew, detergent, and soap residue. Hard water can also have an effect on the texture and smell of your towels. Even if you're going to purchase new ones, don't jump to throw away ones that are starting to show their age. Instead, you can use Epsom salt as a way to refresh your towels and help keep your washing machine smelling fresh.

But what is it about Epsom salt that helps it breathe new life back into laundry? Its power lies in its chemical makeup, specifically the magnesium sulfate. When added to a washing machine cycle, the salt works to break down minerals like calcium found in hard water that contribute to towels turning musty. Its many uses make this product great to keep on hand, whether it's for use as a laundry aid or an ingredient for a relaxing bath. Be sure to keep any Epsom salt stored securely and out of reach from pets and children to avoid ingestion.

With how often we reach for our towels in a day, it can be hard to keep them soft and clean. To help get rid of those pesky odors, try soaking the items in a mixture of warm water and salt. A good ratio for both odor and stain removal is ¼ – ½ cup of Epsom for every gallon of warm water. Let the towels sit in the mixture for one hour before throwing them into the washing machine. This helps make sure the salt has enough time to get into the fibers and break down any smelly build-up. However, while Epsom is a gentle ingredient, always test a small area of any fabric before submerging it to prevent unexpected results.

There are certain scenarios where it's actually your washing machine that's causing smells to build up on your laundry. To combat a dirty washing machine, add 1 cup of the salt and half a cup of vinegar directly to the drum before running a hot water cycle. You can also pour anywhere from one tablespoon to one cup of Epsom directly into your washer before adding laundry, depending on how severe the odors are. This is a double cleaning method that can prevent mildew from growing in your machine and help keep your towels smelling great.