Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant, essential for maintaining the safety and cleanliness of hotel pools. Yet, this very hero can leave behind its signature scent.
When chlorine mixes with other organic matter on the fabric, it forms chloramines, which is why you get the lingering odor in the pool and swim towels even after washing.
A clean towel that smells like chemicals? That’s a hospitality red flag.
Did you know that guest satisfaction surveys frequently highlight cleanliness and amenities as top priorities? A subtle, unpleasant odor, even on a seemingly clean towel, can undermine perceptions of hygiene and comfort.
Your guests deserve the best in every detail. That means no smelly towels ever!
Why Do Hotel Swim Towels Smell Like Chlorine?
After guests swim, they dry off with your swim towels—transferring chlorinated water into the fabric. What happens next?
Chloramines cling to towel fibers.
These compounds resist regular laundry cycles.
Over time, towels can smell more like chemicals than cleanliness even after washing.
This odor can be mistaken for mildew or poor laundering, which reflects badly on your housekeeping standards.
If your hotel provides pool towels or beach towels, this guide is for you. Learn how to remove the chlorine smell from towels, keep them fresh and guest-ready, and know when it’s time to replace them with new, high-quality options.
How to Get Rid of Chlorine Smell from Towels
The good news? You don’t need special equipment or harsh chemicals. All you need is white distilled vinegar and some patience.
Follow These Simple Steps:
Soak Towels in a Vinegar-Water Mix
Fill a sink, bucket, or tub with equal parts cool water and white vinegar.
Submerge the towels completely. Let them soak for 1 to 2 hours (longer for heavily saturated towels).
Rinse Thoroughly
After soaking, rinse the towels well with cold water. The vinegar smell may linger initially, but it fades fast, along with the chlorine scent.
Wash as Usual
Launder towels in a hot water cycle using your standard detergent. Avoid fabric softeners; they coat towel fibers and reduce absorbency.
Dry Completely
Use a commercial dryer or hang towels in the sun. Sunlight naturally deodorizes and sanitizes fabric.
Never Mix Bleach and Hydrogen Peroxide with Vinegar
Vinegar is safe, but never mix it with the following:
Bleach + Vinegar: Produces dangerous chlorine gas
Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar: Creates harmful peracetic acid
Stick to simple methods to protect your laundry team and your linens.
Prevent Chlorine Smell Before It Starts
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Rinse towels quickly after pool use before laundering.
Designate towels specifically for pool or beach areas.
Implement a regular deep-cleaning schedule with vinegar soaks.
Why Fresh-Smelling Towels Matter in Hospitality
Housekeeping teams already work hard to maintain standards. But towels are one of the most touched and judged items in any hotel.
Here’s why removing the chlorine smell makes a difference:
Guests associate towel freshness with cleanliness
Odor-free towels improve first impressions and guest ratings
Clean towels reduce complaints and boost housekeeping scores
It reflects a detail-oriented and professional property
Whether you're running a luxury resort, a beachfront hotel, or a city property with an indoor pool, every touchpoint matters, and that includes your towels.
When to Replace Chlorine-Damaged Towels
Sometimes, the damage is done. If your pool or beach towels:
Still smells like chlorine after multiple washes
Feel stiff, rough, or faded
Show signs of wear, fraying, or discoloration
…it’s time to upgrade your inventory.
Buy Pool and Beach Towels Built for Hospitality
At DZEE Textiles, we offer premium wholesale pool and beach towels designed for hotels, resorts, spas, and vacation properties. Our towels are crafted to meet the rigorous demands of the hospitality industry.
Our towels are:
Highly absorbent and fast-drying.
Made with durable, 100% premium combed cotton.
Bleach-resistant towels that can withstand laundering stress.
Engineered to last 3x more washing cycles than other towels, offering exceptional longevity and value.
Fade-resistant and colorfast, ensuring vibrant appearances wash after wash.
Available in bulk at competitive pricing.
Final Thoughts
A great poolside or beachside experience extends to every detail, especially the towel. A fresh, clean-smelling towel powerfully communicates your hotel's commitment to quality and guest comfort.
Conversely, a lingering chlorine scent can detract from that experience. Your housekeeping team plays a vital role in ensuring this freshness, amplified by investing in high-quality, durable towels.
Choosing DZEE Textiles' fade-resistant, colorfast towels built for 3x more washing cycles supports their efforts, reduces costs, and ultimately elevates guest satisfaction and your hotel's reputation.
Browse the DZEE Textile website for a wide range of hotel supplies from economy to premium pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why do pool towels smell like chlorine even after washing?
Chlorine binds to towel fibers during use, especially when guests dry off after swimming. Standard laundry cycles may not fully remove chloramines, which are chemical byproducts of chlorine. These lingering compounds cause the strong, chemical smell to remain even after washing.
2. What’s the best way to remove chlorine odor from hotel towels?
The most effective and hotel-safe method is soaking towels in a 50/50 solution of white distilled vinegar and water for 1–2 hours. Afterward, rinse thoroughly and launder as usual. This breaks down chlorine compounds and neutralizes odor without damaging towel fibers.
3. Can I use bleach to remove the chlorine smell?
No. Using bleach with chlorine residue or vinegar can release harmful fumes. Bleach may also degrade the towel fabric faster. Stick to vinegar soaks, which are safe, effective, and environmentally friendly.
4. How often should hotel housekeeping soak pool towels in vinegar?
For best results, soak pool and beach towels once a week, especially during peak swim seasons. If the chlorine odor is persistent, increase the frequency or replace older towels that no longer respond to treatment.
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