When towels are not properly cleaned, they can often develop a musty smell. This can be due to a number of reasons, and in the winter, may be caused if they are not drying properly. Taking to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, one group member asked for advice on how to prevent the smell from happening.

The anonymous group member wrote: “Help! I wash towels with gel in the drum and fabric softener. They come out smelling great, and I put them on the heated airer with a cover.

“Once dry they still smell but when I put them away and get them out they always smell funny. What’s going on?”

One reason towels get that musty smell is because there is mildew growing on them, caused by a number of reasons.

Mildew and other bacteria grow rapidly on soft, moist surfaces, making towels a great breeding ground for them. Washing on the hottest setting can help to get rid of the smell, but may not prevent it altogether.

‘Don’t use fabric softener’: How to avoid towels smelling damp - use 3p trick instead 

Cleaning enthusiasts took to the comments to share their best tips on how to reducem the nasty smells from building up.

Lorraine Cornish wrote: “Don’t use fabric softener, use scent boosters and white vinegar. The smell will last longer and towels will be much softer.”

The group member said to put the white vinegar directly into the drum along with the scent boosters.

Another group member, Harriet Wilson said: “Avoid fabric softener can make them slippery and less absorbent anyway.

“A scoop of baking soda and some white vinegar in the drum is the best trick to remove odours.”

The acetic acid in white vinegar is what helps to neutralise any odours on towels, bedding and clothing, which means it can help get rid of smells cheaply and easily. 

White vinegar can be purchased in large bottles for as little as £1.50 from stores such as Wilko and BM.

Wilko sells one litre of original white vinegar for just £1.50, and just one capful is needed when washing towels and clothing. This means each use of white vinegar could cost as little as 3p.

It is recommended to take towels out of the washer as soon as possible 

Jessica Hanley, founder of Piglet in Bed, also recommended Britons avoid using fabric softener when washing towels.

The expert explained: “Adding fabric softener coats the fibres with residue, which can hinder water absorption.

“Instead, use wool dryer balls to help fluff fibres and speed up drying time.”

Other Mrs Hinch fans recommended making sure they were fully dry before putting them away, as any excess moisture can cause smells to occur.

White vinegar can make towels soft 

Kate Little said: “I use a heated rack after using no conditioner to wash them. Make sure you turn them every so often but it’s great for using when the weather is cold and towels wouldn’t dry.”

Missy Benjamin wrote: “I put mine on a normal airer for a day and then finish them off on the heated airer. Don’t dry them for more than two or three days as they may begin to smell then. Also make sure the place you are storing them isn’t damp in itself.”

Expert Jessica also recommended keeping clothing and towels separate when washing. She explained: “Washing towels with clothes can transfer a lot of bacteria between each item in the washing cycle. Putting towels in their own load allows towels to dry easier, as damp towels typically dry slower than clothes.

“Make sure you shake any excess water from your towels before placing them in the dryer, as this will help fluff the material and keep them absorbent. Avoid leaving wet towels to sit in the washer for a long period of time, as this can result in an unpleasant musty smell.”