If you think about it, bath towels are designed to absorb excess water to dry just-washed skin, so they really aren’t dirty when you put them in the washer. The musky smell actually comes from mildew that grows on towels if they are too damp and don’t air-dry quickly enough. To wash towels, use half the amount of laundry detergent you normally would. Too much will linger in the towels and eat away at the fibers. You can even skip using detergent once in a while; the warm water will be enough to freshen the towels and keep them clean.
ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION