When we invest in luxury bath towels for our home, it is important to know how to properly care for them so that they last and keep their soft, fluffy feel as long as possible. While washing towels might seem like a simple task of just tossing them in the washing machine, there are definitely some things to know to ensure you are using the right technique for washing towels to keep them plush and help them last longer. Our ‘Guide to Cleaning Towels’ is here with some helpful tips about how to wash towels to keep them looking and feeling their best even after many washes.
Washing dirty towels with the rest of your laundry is never a good idea. Not only will the towels not get as fresh and clean due to other soiled items in the washing machine, but delicate fibres could be damaged or tangled with smaller items that will prevent them from being properly washed.
Here’s how to wash your luxury towels and some tips to ensure they turn out wonderfully!
Separate Light and Dark Towels - Before washing towels, separate the light and dark colours into their own loads. Never wash white towels with dark colours. Since towels are so absorbent, the lighter coloured towels can pick up some of the dye colour from the darker ones which can cause them to become dingy or discoloured.
Do Not Overload the Washing Machine – Place towels in the washing machine and avoid overloading. Also, be sure to make the load even, especially with top loading machines with an agitator. For reference, a typical front-loading washing machine can hold around seven bath towels, and a top loading machine can hold around 10.
Use Less Detergent – Using too much laundry detergent can cause your towels to get stiff. It is a good idea to use about half of the suggested amount of laundry detergent you would typically use for best results. Most detergents are fine for washing towels, so your favourite should work just fine.
Add Bleach if Desired – If you have stains on your towels, bleach works well to get them clean. When washing white towels, you can use chlorine or non-chlorine (colour-safe) bleach. When washing coloured towels, you can only use colour-safe bleach, as chlorine bleach will fade dark coloured towels and leave white bleach spots that will ruin your luxury towels.
Washing Machine Cycle -Your luxury towels can be washed on the regular or normal cycle in your washing machine. These cycles work best for cleaning towels, as the faster spin and longer washing time versus the gentler cycles helps to better clean dirt and bacteria from the fabric fibres of the towels.
What Temperature Should Towels Be Washed At? - White and lighter coloured towels wash well with the hot water setting. Hot water helps to brighten white and light-coloured towels for better cleaning. Dark coloured towels should be washed with the warm water setting. Warm water helps preserve the colours and get rid of bacteria.
Remove Excess Water Before Drying - Once the towels have been washed, remove them and shake out any excess water from each individual towel before you put them in the dryer. This shortens the drying time and helps keep towels soft.
Here are some additional care tips for your favourite bath towels to keep them feeling soft and plush for years to come:
Your luxury towels should be washed every three to four days. Using towels longer than this can unnecessarily expose you to bacteria that needs to be washed away during laundering.
Fold clean, dry towels and store in a linen closet, bathroom rack, or drawer, according to the best available space in your home. It is important that you do not store damp towels. Always be sure to dry towels thoroughly before putting towels in a linen closet or drawer, as this can cause mildew to form.
Always be sure to wash new towels before you use them. This is an important step because it is necessary to remove the silicone coating on them from the factory, which can greatly reduce their absorbency. To set colours on new luxury towels, it is best to wash coloured towels with similar coloured towels in warm water for the first few launderings. It is also a good idea to use only half of the recommended amount of laundry detergent when washing new towels. In addition, add ½ cup of white vinegar to the wash water for the best cleaning results. Adding the vinegar along with the laundry detergent will set the colours and remove any detergent residue, making your new towels soft, fluffy, and ready for use!
Sometimes towels tend to get a light mildew smell. To refresh towels in the washing machine, let them run through a complete wash cycle using no detergent or bleach. Instead, add one cup of distilled white vinegar into the washing machine before starting the wash cycle. Let towels air-dry or put them in the dryer when cycle is complete.
If towels still have a musty smell after washing with vinegar, run them through a complete wash cycle with no detergent again. This time add one-half cup baking soda before starting the wash cycle. Dry towels as desired upon completion.
