Start with everyday use
After drying yourself, spread the towel across a rail with room for air to move around it. Several folds on a hook can keep the centre damp, particularly in a poorly ventilated bathroom. Avoid overlapping several towels. Where hanging space is limited, a less bulky towel may be more practical. Notice whether it dries between uses before changing detergent in search of a nicer smell. Fragrance does not correct a textile that remains wet, and a crowded rail may be the main problem.
Prepare a load that can rinse properly
When a towel needs washing, separate it from clothes that will wait for several days. Let it dry in a suitable place if you cannot run a load promptly. Read the label for washing temperature, drying instructions and any restrictions associated with decorative borders. Two cotton towels do not necessarily need identical care. A delicate trim should not be washed according to the toughest towel's label merely because the pieces look like a matching set or share the same basic fibre.
Build a load compatible in colour and care, without compressing it to use every remaining space. Towels need room to move and rinse. Dose detergent according to its directions, the actual load and water conditions. Do not add more simply because a towel is thick. If washed towels feel soapy, review the load size, dose and rinsing. Follow the product guidance about fabric softener; accumulating treatments for an artificially silky feel may not be what the towel needs to perform well.
Dry the dense parts too
Use a tumble dryer only where allowed and with the specified setting. When line drying, open each piece so that thick folds do not remain damp for hours. Check borders and denser sections before folding. Do not put a towel away because its centre seems dry if the edging still holds moisture. Allow space in the cupboard instead of packing it tightly. Keeping a spare makes it easier to avoid returning a towel to the bathroom before it has finished drying properly.
If the smell returns quickly
Review the entire route: use, waiting in the hamper, washing, drying and storage. Changing everything at once makes the problem harder to identify. If the cupboard smells musty, inspect that space as well as the laundry. Do not combine disinfectants or bleaching agents to seek a quick solution. A badly worn towel or one with persistent odour despite appropriate care may need replacing. For the next purchase, consider the drying conditions in your bathroom rather than judging only by the weight or thickness advertised.
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