After a long shower or bath, you want to feel clean and refreshed—drying off with a towel that smells like mildew is far from ideal.

If you’re struggling to keep your towels feeling (and smelling) fresh and fluffy, it’s likely due to one simple mistake, which experts say also has an equally simple fix.

Here’s what they had to say about the most common causes of towel odors, plus their top mildewy towel solutions.

The Common Mistake Making Your Towels Smell Mildewy

If you’re noticing a damp, musty smell every time you pick up your towel after a shower, it’s almost always because it’s been left in a way that prevents it from drying.

“One of the biggest mistakes people make is letting damp towels sit too long—either in the hamper, on the bathroom floor, or even in the washer,” laundry expert Ashley Matuska Kidder explains. “Mildew loves dark, moist environments, and it doesn’t take long for that musty smell to set in.”

Towels can also struggle to dry if they aren’t given enough time to release absorbed moisture before their next use, or are not being spread out properly when hung up in the bathroom or kitchen.

“Mildew growth happens when fabric is exposed to moisture— even a small amount— for an extended period,” laundry pro Frej Lewenhaupt adds. “This is common in towels. since they regularly get wet and may not have a chance to fully dry in between uses.”

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6 Other Reasons Why Your Towels Smell Mildewy

While leaving towels in a washing machine, laundry hamper, or bunched up on your bathroom’s to retain moisture tends to be the main culprit behind mildew smells, there are a few other causes to look out for:

• Using too much detergent or washing your towels with fabric softener, which causes product buildup and allows bacteria to grow.
• Forgetting to deep-clean your towels regularly.
• Overloading the machine when washing towels.
• Using a washing machine that needs cleaning.
• Storing towels in closets or cabinets with little airflow, especially when they’re not fully dry after washing.
• Hanging up towels in a poorly-ventilated bathroom or a room with the door closed.

How to Keep Towels Smelling Fresh

According to our experts, the biggest key to maintaining that just-washed scent in towels and preventing mildew is to make sure they dry properly after each use in a well-ventilated area, with plenty of space to avoid any bunching.

“Airing towels outside can be good for adding freshness, especially in the warmer months,” Lewenhaupt says. “Additionally, you can try using a heated towel rack or have a couple towels on rotation so they have time to fully dry.”

And although running smelly towels through the laundry might feel like it would refresh them in the short-term, it’s also important to prevent detergent from getting trapped in the fibers.

“Using too much detergent can also lead to residue buildup, which traps moisture and bacteria, leading to that musty smell—so don’t forget to deep clean your towels,” laundry pro Alicia Sokolowski says. “Towels need an occasional wash with hot water and natural boosters like baking soda or oxygen bleach to break down buildup and bacteria.”

When giving towels that much-needed deep clean each month, our experts say there are a few options you can use in place of detergent: 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of white vinegar, or an oxygen bleach according to its label—just make sure to always skip the fabric softener.