We certainly invest in luxury towels for our homes to take the greatest care of ourselves, but do we care for our towels in a correct way to be soft and fluffy for as long as possible?
Although washing towels might seem as simple as throwing or tossing them in the washing machine, there are certain things to be aware of to make sure you are using the proper technique for washing towels to keep them soft and help them last longer even after washing too many times. So here we’ll discuss the right way to wash your towels and if you can wash them with clothes or not, how to dry them, and care properly.
Wash New Towels before use
Always make sure to wash towels before you use them for the first time. This is the required step as most brand-new towels have silicone or other coatings on them that prevents absorption. The extra-fluffy appearance and feel they have at the store are due to this coating. Remove these finishes by washing your new towels to ensure maximum absorbency.
For the first few launderings of new towels, it is advisable to wash colored towels with like-colored towels in warm water.
Tips on How to Wash Towels:
- Light and Dark Towels Should be Separated –
Towels should never be washed in dark colors. Due to their high absorption capacity, towels of lighter colors may absorb some of the dye from those of darker colors, turning them dull, discolored, or stained.
- Use Less Laundry Detergent –
Using excessive laundry detergent can cause stiffness in your towels. To achieve the best results, it is advisable to use around half of the recommended amount of laundry detergent. Most laundry detergents are safe to use on towels, you may use whichever you like.
- Washing Machine Overload –
Put towels in the washer, but make sure you don’t overload it. Also, when using top-loading machines with an agitator, ensure the load is balanced.
- Add Bleach –
Bleach works well to remove stains from towels and get them clean. For white towels, both chlorine and non-chlorine (color-safe) bleach can be used. For colored towels, only use color-safe bleach, since chlorine bleach can fade dark-hued towels and leave white bleach stains that will destroy your expensive towels.
- Regular Wash Mode –
You can wash your towels in the usual or standard washing machine mode as they are the most effective at cleaning towels because their faster spin and longer wash times remove dirt and bacteria more thoroughly than do gentler modes.
- Temperature to wash towels at –
White and light-colored towels should be washed with the hot water setting as hot water helps to brighten the color and improves cleaning.
Whereas dark-colored towels are washed in warm water which helps in preserving the colors and removing germs and bacteria.
- Shake out extra water –
If you use Semi-Automatic Washing Machine, then after washing the towels, remove and shake off any excess water that must be remaining from each towel individually before putting them in the dryer. It speeds up the drying process, keeping the towels soft. Shaking off water also helps in fluffing the absorbent terry loops.
- Wash Towels with Vinegar –
Wash your similar shades of towels with Vinegar to prevent colors from bleeding for the first several washes. It helps in setting colors and removing excess residue of detergent in towels. While washing, use about half the suggested amount of detergent, and when rinsing, add 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar to the water.
- How to Dry Towels after the wash –
Always make sure the towels are dry when you take them out of the dryer. Even if towels are slightly wet, they can easily mildew. Avoid over drying; it may cause the cotton fibers to lose their integrity.
- Follow Care Instructions –
With proper care and following instructions, high-quality towels may last up to ten years. Always check the care label instructions given on your towels before washing and drying.
Do’s –
- Wash your towels every 4 to 7 days as clean towels remain fluffy.
- Wash white towels completely separately to avoid discoloration, fading, or dullness over time.
- Use fabric softener, but only add it per three to four washes. Over time, the towel fibers may degrade and lose absorbency due to waxy buildup from softeners.
Don’ts –
- Do not iron terry towels because doing so will decrease their absorbency.
- For sanitary reasons as well as maintaining colors, do not wash towels with clothes, it can transfer dirt, bacteria, germs, and some parts of their dark dyes in between them. Additionally, since towels dry more slowly than garments do, it will be simpler if the washing load has just towels.
Keep following this guide for the best towel laundry tips, dos, and don’t, and learn how to wash towels the right way, keep them smelling fresh, soft, and fluffy and prevent stinky odors and fading colors.
