The Pantry Staple That'll Keep Your Kitchen Towels Smelling Fresh

Kitchen towels take a beating. Between drying hands, wiping counters, and catching food spills, they quickly absorb odors that don't always come out in the wash. Most people don't launder or change kitchen towels as often as they should. If your towels are still in good shape but carry a lingering unpleasant smell, try baking soda. Instead of throwing your kitchen towels away, this humble pantry staple is a natural deodorizer that helps neutralize smells instead of just masking them.

To deodorize your towels, add about half a cup of baking soda directly into your washing machine along with your regular detergent. The baking soda boosts the cleaning power, breaks down grime, and eliminates any sour or musty scents clinging to your towels. If your towels are especially stubborn, try soaking them first in a solution of warm water and a half-cup of baking soda before laundering. This pre-soak works wonders to refresh fibers that have absorbed grease or lingering odors from heavy kitchen use. Unlike scented detergents or fabric sprays, baking soda leaves towels smelling clean rather than perfumed.  

Baking soda does more than just deodorize — it also helps towels stay soft and absorbent. Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can help to balance the pH of your wash cycle, remove odors, loosen detergent buildup, and restore your towels' fluffiness. It's also a powerful non-toxic cleaning agent, and there are so many genius ways to clean your kitchen with baking soda.

Give your kitchen towels an extra boost by incorporating vinegar, another eco-friendly kitchen staple. Regular detergents can leave behind residue that makes fibers stiff or less effective at drying. For this trick, avoid using laundry detergent altogether. Skip fabric softeners too, which can irritate skin and actually make towels less absorbent over time. Instead, add a cup of distilled white vinegar into the washing machine, then run a hot water cycle. Once it's complete, start another hot water cycle, this time with a half-cup of baking soda sprinkled onto the towels. 

Another tip is to avoid overloading your washing machine — in fact, it's good practice to wash your kitchen towels separately to give them a thorough clean. After washing, make sure to dry them fully, either in the sun (which adds a natural layer of freshness) or on a high dryer setting. With this simple routine, you'll keep your kitchen towels smelling clean, feeling soft, and ready to tackle any mess that comes your way.