If the towels have a smell I suggest drying them completely, and rewashing them – you may need to completely dry them after showering but before washing. Could always add some vinegar or in wash booster powder to help reduce those mouldy odours.

Can you hang them outside, or in another room on a clothes horse?

I only use cold water and have trouble with mould if something isn’t completely dried. You can get a fungus addictive for your washing machine that will clean it out, too. Helps with future washes. Otherwise, maybe hang towels elsewhere and bring one into the bathroom when you need it. That’s what I do.

try adding vinegar. It’s a good stain remover and supposed to be a “softener” of sorts.

Mmmm, living in QLD for years, I have heard you can never remove the smell, once they have turned, they need to be replaced. Hope you find different advice x

I would use napisan on the towels.

Wash them and line dry them in the sun. If you have poor ventilation then the towels probably won’t dry, I hang the bath mat over the shower cubicle or bathtub to dry after use. Sheridan have some super thin super absorbant fast drying towels that I find abpre better then the really thick fluffy ones

I always wash towels in warm water. How often do you change them?

when clean you could soak them in softener with lavender essence added to water too
leave them in it for a while, then spin in washer and hang on line it is true
any other essence scent of your choice you can use
but a good quality one! few drops you choose
also cotton ball with essence added it is true
in your vacuum cleaner is great to do
hope this is helpful to you

Did you try the vinegar? how did you go?
white vinegar works well also air dry them when possible. during winter I have to dry them on my maiden inside which isn’t great but I just need to do more often to prevent them smelling.

i use white king or vanish in my loads occasionally and when you want to get the machine clean, run a load of washing, and put your white king in and wash on the highest hot water setting. don’t overload so your clothes will wash properly and leave the washing machine door open to let it air out and dry other wise your machine will stink

I find once the mould gets in it’s near impossible to remove from towels. When you purchase towels in future always ensure they hung out to dry immediately after washing. Leaving them wet or in the washine machine for extended periods of time results in that mouldy smell.

eucalyptus oil, a few drops in every wash does wonders

I’d try Dettol Sanitising Laundry Rinse or some eucalyptus oil, lavender oil in the final rinse.

We always hang our towels and bath mats out on the line after use, to dry them out a bit, and give them a bit of fresh air. And if the weather’s cold & wet outside, hanging them over a clothes-airer works a treat. If you use some white vinegar in the final rinse when you wash the towels, etc. that also helps enormously, and also makes them soft and fluffy.

I have the same problem, will be ready all these tips

Thanks CHERZ- I will try the vinegar & baking soda first before purchasing the laundry rinses.

Best of luck.

Wash your towels in hot water with a cup of vinegar, and then run again in hot water with a half-cup of baking soda. That will strip your towels from all of that residue and mildew smell and will actually leave them feeling fluffy and smelling fresh. ***Do not add laundry detergent to either wash. Just once with vinegar and once with baking soda.
Also I never use fabric conditioner as it gunks up the washing machine. I regularly clean my machine by running a cycle with no clothes only water and either washing soda, epsom salts or vinegar.
Also you can buy two products for the supermarket that are antibacterial rinses that you add to the final rinse.
And lastly if it is not raining, inbetween washes you could try airing the towels out side during the day. Good Luck.

Is it one particular brand of towel? Change your brand of washing powder? Use hot water to wash. Always hang the bath mat after using.