10 Natural Tips to Fresh-Smelling Towels and Sheets

There’s nothing like the feeling of fluffy, fresh-smelling towels after a hot shower, or sliding into clean sheets at the end of a long day. But if you’re not properly caring for your linens, they can quickly lose that fresh scent and develop musty or stale odors.

So, settle in while I share ten tips to get those towels and sheets fresh-smelling and keep them that way even when they’re in your linen closet.

1. It Starts in the Wash.

Fresh-smelling linens start in a clean washing machine. To keep yours from developing funky odors that transfer to your sheets and towels, give your washer some regular TLC. Once a week, wipe the interior with equal parts water and vinegar to prevent mold and mildew growth. And don’t forget to leave the door or lid open between washes to let it air out and dry completely.

2. Don’t Let Grime Build up.

The longer you use dirty sheets or towels, the harder it is to get all the grime out of them. So, to help keep your linens smelling fresh, you need to wash them on schedule. How often depends on several factors, like your bathing routine and whether you share your bed with a furry friend or fellow human.

Here are some general guidelines about how often you should wash towels, sheets, and other bedding:

• Washcloths: Wash after every use.
• Hand towels: Wash daily.
• Bath towels: Wash every three to four uses.
• Pillowcases: Wash every week.
• Sheets: Wash every one to two weeks.
• Blankets: Wash every three to four months.
• Mattress protectors: Wash every one to three months.
• Duvet covers: Wash every one to two months.
• Comforters: Wash every three to four months.
• Duvet inserts: Wash every six months to a year.

3. Choose the Right Wash Temperature.

Repeated studies show that odor-causing germs and the bacteria in fecal material survive cold water washing no matter what the detergent makers claim. So, wash those cotton sheets in hot and everything else in warm. And if you just can’t bring yourself to do that, then use a longer cycle to get the most grime out.

4. Get them Dry as a Desert.

Your dryer or clothesline are convenient helpers in your quest for fresh-smelling towels and sheets. You can eliminate mildew smells and sanitize fabrics using your dryer’s high heat setting.

Or, if you prefer to line dry clothes, hang them in direct sunlight so the sun’s UV ray’s can kill odor-causing germs. Just be sure to dry them thoroughly until there are no traces of moisture.

5. Strip Wash Sparingly.

Strip-washing is a method to deep clean towels and bedding that helps keep them smelling fresh by eliminating product buildup and soap scum that traps odors. Strip-washing can be harsh on fabric, so it’s something to do just once or twice a year, but it’s grossly satisfying to see how much grime comes out of your linens when you do.

To strip-wash linens, add 1/4 cup of borax, 1/4 cup of washing soda, and 1/2 cup of liquid laundry detergent directly to the machine. Select the longest, hottest wash and rinse cycle permitted on the fabric’s care label.

6. Make Space in Your Storage.

After you’ve washed and dried your linens, don’t ruin your efforts by wadding them into a pile and cramming them into a musty closet. Fold clean towels and sheets directly out of the dryer to prevent wrinkles, but wait to put them away until they’ve cooled so you can be sure they’re completely dry.

Once you’re certain, place them on your linen closet shelves with plenty of space between stacks so air can circulate. You can even tuck sachets between layers to add a beautiful scent to your towels and sheets.

7. Add a DIY Linen Closet Sachet.

To make homemade linen closet sachets, combine one of the damp-absorbing materials with one or more of the fragrant ingredients in a muslin bag or or shallow bowl. The damp-absorbing materials help eliminate musty smells while the fragrant ingredients add a delicate scent to create fresh-smelling towels and sheets. Change when the fragrance fades.

Damp-absorbing materials: Charcoal, clay or crystal kitty litter, silica gel, baking soda, cedar shavings, chalk sticks or powder, uncooked rice.

Fragrant ingredients: Cinnamon sticks, cedar shavings, lavender blossoms, dried herbs, eucalyptus leaves, flower petals, star anise, dried citrus slices or peels, tea leaves, cloves, bay leaves.

8. Rotate Your Linens.

The general rule for linens is to have “one set in use, one in the wash, and one on the shelf” so you’re ready for repeated bed changes if someone is ill, or if you fall behind on laundry. But the rule also helps you avoid using the same set over and over.

Rotating different sets of linens helps you spot which ones need a strip-wash to get them smelling fresh again, since you’re more likely to notice musty smells after they’ve been off-duty for a bit. Plus, you’ll avoid wearing out your towels or sheets too soon.

9. Skip the Fabric Softener

Using fabric softener to stop static or add fragrance can do more harm than good. Fabric softeners add a thin residue to make things feel fluffy and soft, but this can trap bacteria and cause a sour smell in your towels and sheets that’s tough to get rid of.

Try using white vinegar instead—the acetic acid removes detergent residue and softens fibers. Or make your own dryer sheets and you can control what touches your clothes.

10. Use a Linen Spray

To make an easy DIY linen spray recipe, combine 4 ounces of a quickly evaporating, antibacterial ingredient (vodka or rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, or white vinegar), 12 ounces of water to dilute it, and 20 drops of essential oils for fragrance.

Try any of the fragrance combinations from my homemade air freshener recipe to layer a custom scent throughout your home.