Help: Smelly "Unpaper Towels"

Angelas16

We started using rags instead of paper towels recently.  Now that's it summer and HOT, our laundry room is starting to smell from them.  They just fester.  It's so gross.  When they are wet I hang them up to dry out and try to wash them every few days.

Any tips on what to do?  We are thinking of just going back to paper towels for the summer.  Should I store them in a bucket of bleach water until wash day?

CDMay2006

We do as you do, but it isn't humid here, so maybe that's why it's not working for you?   Here's what i've got:
Use them less before you swap them out.
Rinse them really well in cool water (warm water will encourage yucky growth).
Squeeze them out really, really well before hanging them up
Make sure you are hanging them up somewhere where air can circulate through the fabric
Make sure they are getting really clean to start with, and drying right away so no residual smells/yuck/etc. linger between washes
Good luck!

lauraandlee

I add vinegar to a Downy ball for the rinse cycle for all of our towels to get rid of any stinkies. 

+ShannonB+

I was my kitchen rags/towels/napkins/bibs/etc. with my CDs (after the poop rinse!), but when things get stinky, I do a soak in oxiclean free.  Seems to do the trick.  I keep mine in the kitchen in a wetbag and I haven't had any mold issues washing every day or two.

aliciaroset

do you have a dehumidifier going in your laundry room? I find that really helps!

 

Angelas16

Thanks for the tips.  We do have a humidifier going, since the laundry room is off of our finished basement.  Maybe I have to rinse them out better, I'll try the cold water rinse.

I use cloth diapers as well, so it may be a good idea to throw them in with them, so I can get some more washes in without wasting water.

kz's_girlygirl

This happened to me when I kept them in the laundry room as well.  (Ours is also part of the unfinished basement area)

I switched to keeping them in a plastic tub under the sink and haven't had any issues between washes.  I usually rinse in cold water, then leave on the sink to dry before tossing into the bin.  

karavonakron

don't use bleach, the bleach will destroy the cloth. if you cloth diaper, do something similar, like use a pail and sprinkle with baking soda. also try line drying outside when its nice.