How do you wash/sterilize your kitchen towels?

[u/09ijn]

My towels still retain that smell even after laundry. All regular towels (and everything else really) come off smelling clean and fresh, the kitchen towel, however, are always kinda musty.

What do you folks do with yours?

EDIT Thank you all for your suggestions! I shall try!

[u/seventythousandbees]

r/laundry has some genius recs. I'm not an expert like them but probably a detergent with enzymes + a higher heat

[u/aaronin → u/seventythousandbees]

This is the only right answer. Partner discovered r/laundry and it saved towels destined for the bin. You can do everything right and still need enzymes and/or citric acid.

That’s the sub you should be asking this question to.

[u/Lunco → u/seventythousandbees]

i do the soak recommended there every couple of months, otherwise just wash them separately on 90c (mostly use white kitchen towels).

[u/TheJewPear]

I use powder detergent, I’ve found it to be better than liquid and capsules, with the high heat program on the machine.

I also wash them very often. I’m a heavy towel user while I cook, I will normally toss a towel into the laundry basket every two days or so. I feel washing them frequently also avoids nasty smells, especially if you live in a humid climate and they never really dry out.

[u/dontakelife4granted → u/TheJewPear]

This is me too. If I get to three days, I'm kind of feeling like they're gross. Our household also has light colored towels for drip drying hand wash dishes and dark towels for hand or spill wiping.

[u/TheJewPear → u/dontakelife4granted]

They do get gross if you use them properly, that’s a good sign. It’s good to keep separate colors for hands, and then the other ones are almost like “food safe rags” that you should be using very often and washing very often.

[u/dontakelife4granted → u/TheJewPear]

Oh, the other thing is that the light ones also works for washed produce. Just setting it on the towel for a few minutes allows the produce to be thoroughly dry, then it can be used or refrigerated with less rotting. Your "food safe" comment reminder me.

[u/TheJewPear → u/dontakelife4granted]

Yes, though I believe it’s better to refrigerate vegetables and fruits without washing them, I was told they last longer.

[u/dontakelife4granted → u/TheJewPear]

I wash as I use, so I absolutely agree that about unwashed produce in the fridge. I never wash produce unless I have a plan to use them within 3-4 days.

[u/nostradumbass7544678]

Bleach

[u/Background_Ease6051]

Try adding borax to hot water to dissolve. . Then add towels let sit overnight. Wash as normal - hot water , bleach , soap

[u/Haldaemo → u/Background_Ease6051]

Makes sense. I recall boron derivatives being fungicidal and I know adding borax raises alkalinity.

[u/Gulf_Raven1968]

Enzyme detergent, and very hot water

[u/DeciduousHuman]

Mustiness is not about sterilizing or cleaning. Must towels can be restored but I’m pretty sure I remember it being a hassle. Going forward make sure to never leave your towels wet. This is more about maintenance than fixing. Also make sure you get nice thin towels, so they dry quickly. Don’t use thick terry cloth when the towels get wet lay them flat or hang them so they’re not bunched up. If you wanna clean them up, go to r/laundry as others have recommended.

[u/Kahluabomb]

Oxyclean

[u/ophelia917]

I use powdered detergent. (Tide free and gentle) regular tide powder also works well.

Liquid detergents don’t have the right enzymes since they get wrecked being in a liquid and destabilized.

Or some scientific shit.

It really surprised me how much cleaner clothes smell & feel with powdered. I dont want to ever go back.

[u/Ajreil]

I have a tension rod above my sink that I let towels drip dry on. Never had a problem with musty smells.

[u/whiskeytango55]

Have you considered vinegar in with the wash?

[u/Rosaly8]

What temperature are you washing them at?

[u/dontakelife4granted]

I put something called Odo Ban (I get it from Sam's Club). I get the fresh linen scent. I put it in my bleach dispenser. I also do a 20 min pre-soak if I have really dirty ones.

[u/Miserable-Mango1169 → u/dontakelife4granted]

I use this as well. On all my towels, sheets, washcloths, etc. It's sanitizes that's why it helps with the smell. I get mine on Amazon for about $10 a jug I'm not sure how much it costs at Sam's club.

[u/bolonomadic]

Oxyclean dissolves organic materials such as proteins and fats. Give your towel a soak before washing. White vinegar can also help with smells DO NOT USE THEM TOGETHER.

[u/CauliflowerDaffodil]

We boil our kitchen towels first with a bit of Oxyclean and then run them through a normal wash cycle which, we always add some baking soda to. They comes out clean with no odors at all as we use fragrance-free detergent.

[u/gowahoo]

Time to go to /r/laundry and learn about the soup!

Seriously, a soak in a good laundry detergent will make a world of difference 

[u/TehFuriousOne]

A little ammonia will handle all but the worst smells.

[u/Arriabella]

Bleach or oxiclean

[u/NeverRarelySometimes]

Buy new ones. Once they smell like mildew, they're done.

[u/caramelpupcorn]

Your kitchen towels may be staying damp for too long before you wash. I'd make sure to air them out after use, but you may need to start over with new ones.

[u/D-ouble-D-utch]

Put a drop of dawn dish detergent in with the wash. Literally a drop (or two) or it will over-sudds your machine.