Smelly Washcloths

Hi Joyce,
I would soak mine in baking soda, and then throw in the wash.
I also use a mild bleach solution on the white ones.
Hope this helps.

For a kitchen washcloth, you can put the damp cloth in the microwave for about 30 seconds. You can do this after every meal or at the end of the day.

Throw them in the washer, by themselves, with hot water and bleach, kills mildew very well.

add 1 cup of amonia to your wash load, pre soak, wash like normal.

Hi Joyce, The only time that I have that problem is when one of my kids don't squeeze the wash cloth dry enough and it will sit there until I see it. In that case that cloth will smell, but check to be sure that everyone is getting them bry enough before hanging them on the towel rack.

I can sympathize!! I solved the problem by washing towels and washcloths in the hot/cold cycle (NO REDS THOUGH) Then dry in high heat cycle. It works for me, good luck.

First of all, make sure you wring them out and hang them to dry after you use them. Second, put a little bit of ammonia in with the laundry. About the same amount as you would bleach but DO NOT put bleach in at the same time. These two chemicals do not mix well together.

I buy all white towels and cloths so I can safely bleach them when needed. I also add vinegar -instead of fabric softener- to the softener dispenser in my machine. I also will add another 1 cup -sometimes 2- of vinegar to the water. I never have smelly washcloths or towels! My kids have towels & washcloths that are not white - have characters on them - and it works for them as well. I have had washcloths that had been smelly and this always works for me. (I wash them on hot) Good luck!

Are you allergic to bleach?? if not just wash them in bleach water in the laundry.. If you're allergic get eucaluptus oul and soak them all in a 5-gal. bucket of water with about 10-20 drops of euc. oil.. This is a natural antibacterial. The smell is from bacteria growing on them.. Bleach kills it, we all know,, but a natural and non-allergic alternative is a god "eucy" soak. You can buy the oil at any health food or organic market.. it's usually a LITTLE spendy when you wonder why you're paying $12.00 for a bottle the size of the average RX bottle,, but it lasts forever and makes EVERYTHING it touches smell SO good... I use it for everything. From the carpet steamer, to countertops, sinks, everything bathroom, dusting, etc. Just NOT on glass.. That will streak and smear and look cloudy.. I just use vinegar for those.. With that every bacteria and germ are killed and everything smells fresh and clean.

Joyce, I use a cup of white vinegar in my clothes, that helps. I also use borax with all of my clothes, its like a freshner and whitner. I hope this helps Cyndi

when it starts to get that nasty "sour" smell, let it soak in a mixture of baking soda and water and the baking soda will absorb the nasty smell, just rinse out your washcloth and then toss in the wash with your other clothes. it will be good as new:)

plus, it's safe for the environment!

We had this same problem with our towels. I stopped using liquid fabric softner and only use dryer sheets now. I also took apart my washing machine and cleaned it all out. I did a few loads with water and vinegar and water and bleach. My towels are back to spelling good. I also really try not to let a load sit in the washer too long, I know it is hard witha big family. Good Luck!

Vinegar in the wash cycle, and don't leave them sit in your washer wet. :)

You can use vinegar in your wash load or Arm & Hammers baking soda.Use cold water also.

I only use a was cloth 1 time because they smell right away.

I know lots of people with kids don't like using or keeping bleach. Vinegar is a good alternative. 1/2 a cup to a full cup depending on the size of the load can make a big difference.

I hate that stinky washcloth smell! My hubby leaves a washcloth in the shower, and it gets NASTY! I always wash our towels in hot water. (everything else in cold) I recently bought all white towels so I can bleach them, but before that I used ammonia or white vinegar. I thought the ammonia worked better. (Not with bleach though--the combination creates a poisonous gas!)

We had the same problem...our washer was actually causing it. I looked online and found this powder at smellywasher.com. I bought it and used it and it worked great! As long as you follow the instructions that come with it, you shouldn't have any trouble with the smell afterward. We treated our washer and then re-washed all of our towels and washcloths (per the instructions received with the powder) and I haven't had the problem since! Hope this helped...good luck!!

I change my wash clothes every day and bleech them every time.

Me neither. Let me know if you find something that will help. I do not know if it is my well water or what, but I use my washcloth once and it is smelly. The same with my dishcloths.