Household Tips

I had an e-mail today from a reader asking about sour towels. Can I say first of all, I love it when you write! It makes this blog SO much easier to write! And this is a great question.

The truth is, there are lots and lots of great laundry products on the market. I personally swear by the Kirkland detergent at Costco. That plus some Oxyclean in every load is my basic routine! But I can relate to the sour smelling towels.

Towels by their nature spend a lot of time damp, and dampness encourages mildew. So, let’s get to the root of the problem.

Laundy Rule One. Always take the laundry out of the washing machine as soon as the spin cycle completes. Then immediately throw it in the dryer or hang it outside.

If you’re already obeying rule one, and you still have sour smelling towels, you can probably still blame mildew. Your towels hang around damp. A lot. So what is mildew’s number one enemy? The sun!

Laundry Rule Two. The sun can be your laundry’s best ally!

If you can, spread your towels out in the sun for a morning or an afternoon, but remember, that the sun is also a natural bleaching source! So, don’t leave them out so long they’ll lose their color. The sun will destroy the mildew and hopefully freshen your towels.

Laundry Rule Three. Vinegar or baking soda really can cure almost everything.

If washing and sunlight don’t work, revert to you grandmother’s picks. For a baking soda cure, Place an open box of baking soda in the bottom of a plastic bag. Place the towel in with the open box of baking soda. Seal the bag. (You can do this just by tying it!) Now, let it stand overnight, or better yet, for a day or two.

To use vinegar, simply fill your washer with hot water. Add a cup of white vinegar. Add the towels and soak for a half-hour. Vinegar is also a great color-setting agent! (Hence, the reason you use it for Easter eggs!)

Laundry Rule Four. If all else fails, revert to the fast food laundry cocktail!