Here is everything you need to know.
Before getting into the how, it helps to understand the why.
Kitchen towels are used repeatedly throughout the day, often without being rinsed or hung properly between uses. Every time you dry your hands, wipe a surface, or blot a spill, the towel absorbs moisture, bacteria, grease, and food particles. When a damp towel is left folded or scrunched up, it stays warm and wet, the exact conditions bacteria need to multiply quickly.
This is why kitchen towels can smell musty or sour even after what feels like regular use. The problem is not just dirt on the surface. It is bacteria building up inside the fibres over time.
Understanding this makes it easier to see why the habits below matter so much.
How to Wash Kitchen Towels the Right Way
Washing kitchen towels correctly makes a significant difference to how clean and fresh they actually come out.
Wash them separately. One of the most common mistakes is throwing kitchen towels in with regular laundry, jeans, t-shirts, or bed linen. This transfers grease and food bacteria to your other clothes, and it also means the towels do not get washed at the temperature they need. Always wash kitchen towels as their own load or with other kitchen linens only.
Use warm to hot water. Warm water activates your detergent more effectively and helps break down grease and bacteria. For cotton and linen kitchen towels, a warm wash cycle works well for everyday cleaning. If your towels have developed a persistent odour or have been used around raw food, a hot wash cycle will do a more thorough job.
Skip the fabric softener. This one surprises many people. Fabric softener coats the fibres of your towels with a waxy layer that makes them feel soft but also makes them significantly less absorbent over time. For kitchen towels that are meant to dry dishes and absorb spills, this is counterproductive. Leave the fabric softener out entirely.
Add white vinegar instead. Half a cup of white vinegar added to your wash cycle is one of the most effective natural solutions for removing odours and cutting through greasy residue. It does not leave a smell on the towels once they are dry, and it is a gentle, chemical-free alternative to harsh additives.
Use oxygen bleach for stains. If your towels have visible stains, add a scoop of oxygen-based bleach (not chlorine bleach) to the wash. It lifts organic stains effectively without damaging the fibres or fading the colour of your towels. Avoid chlorine bleach unless your towels are white, as it will weaken the fabric and cause colours to fade quickly.
Do not overload the machine. Kitchen towels need space to move freely in the drum during the wash cycle. Overloading prevents them from being rinsed and cleaned properly, leaving detergent residue behind, which itself can cause a dull, musty smell over time.
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How to Remove Tough Kitchen Towel Odours
Sometimes regular washing is not enough to remove a sour or musty smell that has built up over time. When that happens, these methods work well.
Soak in hot water and white vinegar. Fill a large basin or your kitchen sink with very hot water and add one cup of white vinegar. Submerge the towels and leave them to soak for at least 30 minutes before putting them through a normal wash cycle. This loosens deep-set odours and softens the fibres at the same time.
Boil them on the stovetop. For a complete reset, place your kitchen towels in a large pot of boiling water on the stovetop and leave them for five to seven minutes. This kills bacteria effectively and removes even the most stubborn odours. It sounds old-fashioned, but it works exceptionally well, particularly for white or natural linen towels.
Baking soda in the wash. Add half a cup of baking soda to your wash cycle alongside your regular detergent. Baking soda is a natural deodoriser that neutralises odours at the source rather than simply masking them.
How to Make Towels Soft Again
Old towels can become rough over time because of hard water and detergent buildup.
Easy Ways to Restore Softness
- Wash with vinegar occasionally
- Reduce detergent use
- Shake towels before drying
- Use dryer balls instead of softener
These simple changes can improve towel texture naturally.
How to Dry Kitchen Towels Properly
Drying is just as important as washing. A towel that is not dried properly after washing will develop a musty smell almost immediately, undoing all the effort of a good wash.
Dry fully before storing or reusing. Whether you air-dry or use a tumble dryer, the towel must be completely dry before it is folded and put away. Even slightly damp towels stored in a drawer will begin to smell within hours.
Air dry in sunlight when possible. Hanging kitchen towels outside in natural sunlight is one of the best things you can do for them. Sunlight has natural antibacterial properties and helps eliminate any remaining bacteria or odours that the wash cycle may have missed. It also keeps colours bright and fibres fresh.
Use a low to medium heat in the dryer. If you are using a tumble dryer, keep the heat setting at low to medium. High heat can shrink cotton and linen fibres over time and weaken the fabric. A dryer ball added to the load helps towels dry more evenly and come out softer without the need for fabric softener.
Hang towels flat or spread out. When air drying indoors, hang towels fully spread out rather than folded or draped over one another. Overlapping towels stay damp in the middle and will not dry fully, leading to the exact musty smell you are trying to avoid.
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How to Store Kitchen Towels Correctly
Where and how you store your kitchen towels between uses matters more than most people realise.
Store in a dry, ventilated space. A kitchen drawer or cupboard shelf works well, provided the space is dry and has reasonable airflow. Avoid storing towels in spaces that are prone to humidity, such as near the sink or underneath the kitchen counter where pipes run.
Do not store damp towels. This sounds obvious, but it is very common. Always make sure a towel is fully dry before folding it and putting it away. If a towel has been used and is slightly damp, hang it to dry before returning it to the drawer.
Keep them separate by purpose. If possible, designate specific towels for specific tasks: one for drying dishes, one for drying hands, one for wiping surfaces. Keeping them separate reduces cross-contamination and makes it much easier to know when each one needs washing.
Daily Kitchen Towel Habits That Help
Beyond washing and drying, a few small daily habits go a long way toward keeping your kitchen towels cleaner for longer.
Always hang your towel up after use. A towel left bunched on the counter or scrunched over a tap will stay damp and become a breeding ground for bacteria within hours. Hang it flat or looped over a rail so it can air out between uses.
Rinse after heavy use. If you have used a towel to wipe up a large spill or handle something particularly greasy, give it a quick rinse under warm running water and wring it out before hanging it up. This removes the bulk of the residue and slows bacterial growth until you are ready to do a full wash.
Replace towels that have seen better days. Even with the best care, kitchen towels do not last forever. If a towel has a persistent smell that no amount of washing removes, has lost its absorbency, or is visibly worn out, it is time to replace it. A worn-out towel does not do the job properly and is harder to keep hygienic.
How to Use Vinegar
Add 1 cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle once every few washes.
Benefits include:
- Removes musty smells
- Softens towels naturally
- Helps restore absorbency
- Breaks down soap residue
Do not mix vinegar directly with bleach.
How Often Should You Wash Kitchen Towels?
This is the most common question, and the answer is more often than most people think.
As a general rule, wash your kitchen towels every two to three days during regular use. If you have used a towel to handle raw meat, wipe up a large spill, or clean a particularly greasy surface, wash it immediately; do not wait.
The most practical approach is to keep a rotation of at least six to eight towels so you always have a clean one available. This way, you are never tempted to keep using a damp or dirty towel simply because you do not have a fresh replacement.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your kitchen towels clean and fresh is less about any single magic trick and more about a few consistent habits done regularly. Wash them more often than you think you need to, dry them completely every single time, hang them up between uses, and rotate through a small collection so no one towel is overworked.
Cotton and linen kitchen towels, when cared for properly, will stay soft, absorbent, and genuinely hygienic wash after wash, lasting far longer and performing far better than towels that are simply run through the machine occasionally and forgotten about the rest of the time.
Your kitchen towels are working hard for you every single day. A little consistent care is all they need in return.
At All Cotton and Linen, our cotton towels are made from natural cotton terry designed for absorbency, durability, and everyday comfort. With the right washing routine, they continue getting softer and fresher with every wash.
