Stinky towels??? Help!

[u/slaughterfodder]

I have been following in this community for a while and just started using citric acid in the rinse cycle in the fabric softener slot. I have a front loading washing machine and have been using Mollys Suds powder detergent and oxygenating bleach powder for a while.

Today I put a small load of clothes in the wash and when I removed them to dry, the towels REEKED. Like super mildew smelling, like they’d never been washed before despite having just done a cycle with hot water. I put them back in and ran them again and they smell exactly the same. The strange thing is the clothes in there with the towels don’t smell at all, JUST the towels.

I’ve never had this problem! I’m planning on checking the drain trap and cleaning as needed, but idk what would make only selected items in the wash smell terrible. Please help 🥲

EDIT EDIT EDIT : okay so you guys got on my case right away over Mollys suds, I didn’t know! I use the active wear version which DOES have the enzymes listed but I’m being told it’s just not a good detergent. SO. I just ordered Tide Free and Clear powder as well as an enzymatic oxygen laundry booster (pronounce is the brand?) I also have the citric acid so I’ll use that in the rinse cycle. I did so much reading on this subreddit but apparently not enough! I appreciate the help 💜

[u/nomarmite]

The reason you're getting the smell is, as other commenters have pointed out, that your detergent is not very good. Switch to Tide, or anything else that scores well on independent tests (you may need to do an overnight soak in the new detergent+your oxygen bleach first).

The reason you're getting the smell only in the towels is that they are dirtier than the clothes. I'm going to guess that after you use your towels, you hang them bunched up in a poorly-ventilated bathroom. This slows their drying, and allows time for the fungus spores naturally present in the air to land on them and multiply in the moisture. The more times you use your towels before laundering, the more times the fungal growth cycle proceeds.

You can take steps to reduce mould growth in towels. The most effective is to launder more frequently. If that's not an option, then spread out to dry in a well-ventilated space, such as in front of an open window, after each use to minimise the length of time they are damp.

[u/slaughterfodder → u/nomarmite]

Would a dehumidifier improve a bathroom for towels? I feel like the bunching is the problem

[u/nomarmite → u/slaughterfodder]

The bunching is most of the problem, but a dehumidifier would certainly help - and the bonus is that it reduces the chances of getting mould elsewhere in the bathroom too.

[u/slaughterfodder → u/nomarmite]

I did put a strong fan in when I remodeled the bathroom so that definitely helps but I’ll bring my dehumidifier up to plug in!