rags from thrift shop

[Guest guest]

So many of you are/were dealing with mold, so I value your opinions.

I bought 4 plastic bags of towels from the thrift shop-- to use as rags. I don't

think I can smell anything but I get a bad taste in my mouth when I handle them.

I did a load in my washer & dryer, also did a load in the laundry room where I

live (senior mobile home park). I used my detergent and non-chlorine bleach in

one load, and detergent & baking soda in the other. I am still getting the same

reaction to the rags even after washing.

I don't see any mold spots, so I figured the towels could be full of dust from

being in the thrift shop a long time. The taste in my mouth, if I remember

correctly, seems to be the same as when I took curtains down last year, when I

clean the faux wood blinds in my living room, and also when I sweep up leaves

and hose down the carport. So I figure it is just dust.

I did a quick querie on the net, was on musty smelling towels. One woman said

detergent & bleach, or w/ baking soda or peroxide won't get the musty odor out.

She said detergent and 20 mule team borax worked well for her.

So, should I toss the towels, or wash them all with the detergent & the borax?

I thought, at the least, I could do that and if it does not work, then keep the

clean towels out in my shed and just use them to wipe down the patio chairs, dry

my truck after I wash it.

Appreciate your comments.

....Corky