Keep Bath Towels From Smelling Musty in Humid Weather

Towels that smell sour five minutes after a shower are a classic Florida problem — humidity keeps them damp, and damp towels grow mildew fast.

Break the cycle

• Wash towels in hot water with half a cup of white vinegar and no fabric softener. Softener coats the fibers and traps the smell.
• Run an extra spin cycle to get more water out before drying.
• Dry them completely — still-damp towels folded in a closet go musty overnight.
• Hang towels spread out on a bar, not bunched on a hook, so air reaches both sides.
• Leave the bathroom fan running after showers to pull moisture out of the room.

Once the mildew smell is in the fibers, one vinegar wash usually clears it. If not, repeat with a cup of baking soda instead.