Hotels keep towels white using a combination of high-quality, 100% cotton towels, commercial-grade laundry equipment, and specialized chemicals like oxygen bleach, optical brighteners, and enzyme detergents, often with very hot water and long wash cycles. They meticulously sort laundry, avoid harsh chlorine bleach, pretreat stains, and use fabric conditioners, while also investing in regular replacement of older towels to maintain that pristine look.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that bleach is involved in keeping hotel towels white. Hotels use oxygen or chlorine bleach, depending on the type of fabric and stains. Oxygen bleach is a form of hydrogen peroxide and releases oxygen to remove stains without damaging the fabric.
Adding between half a cup and a cup of white distilled vinegar to each wash will help remove stains and whiten your towels: you can add it to the fabric-softener dispenser. Diluting one part vinegar in four parts water and spraying it directly onto stains is also a way of pretreating them.
Wash towels at 40°C (warm) for regular cleaning and to preserve softness/color, but use 60°C (hot) for a deeper clean, sanitizing to kill germs, especially if someone is sick, to remove oils and bacteria, but be aware it can wear them out faster. Use a good detergent and avoid fabric softener to maintain absorbency.
Additionally, according to a 2024 survey of 1,376 hotel managers by Wellness Heaven, which asked them which items are most commonly stolen, towels top the list, with 79.2 percent reporting guests nipping the cosy threads. They were followed by bathrobes, hangers, pens, and cosmetics, rounding out the top five.
Loads of hotels - particularly in America, but everywhere, really - tend to avoid having rooms with the room number 420. Yep. They'll have 419 and 421. But rarely 420.
The "bathroom towel trick" usually refers to a popular, space-saving, and decorative towel rolling method that makes towels look like spa rolls, creating tight cylinders that store neatly and look elegant in bathrooms, often by folding in triangles and tucking the end into a pocket. Another less common "trick" involves using a towel for jawline exercise, where you bite down on a folded towel to strengthen jaw muscles, or a cooling method with a wet towel near a fan.
For most people, reusing a towel two or three times is safe as long as it dries completely after each use. However, using the same towel for an entire week can increase bacterial buildup, especially in humid conditions.
Laundry detergent buildup will create that grey appearance in whites over time." Her picks? Tide Ultra Stain Release for detergent, and OxiClean White Revive or borax for boosters.
Choose Bleach or Vinegar for Whitening
However, vinegar is a safer, eco-friendly alternative that effectively whitens and freshens without the harsh effects of bleach. Adding half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help remove detergent buildup and restore softness.
Most white clothes can be washed in cool or lukewarm water (between 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit). Using hot water can shrink fabrics, set stains, and use excess energy.
“After every use, I always tell clients to hang towels fully open (not folded over) so air can circulate.” You can technically “fold” the towel over a bar, but Kidder says you don't want the sides touching at all, so the towel dries more evenly.
How to Whiten Towels (3 Methods)
RFID tags help hotels and commercial laundries count, sort, and trace towels as they move through wash cycles. Most losses occur during laundry transfers, not from guest theft, and the chips reduce mix ups between properties. They are not GPS devices and do not provide live, off site tracking.
Being made out of 100% pure British wool, laundry dryer balls gently absorb excess moisture as they take a tumble with your clothes, bed linen and towels. The result is naturally softer, fluffier laundry with less creases.
"A variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, can all grow on the fabric of towels," says Dr. Jennifer Maender, a dermatologist at Houston Methodist. "Respiratory viruses and fungi can survive for several days on fabric, while bacteria can survive two to three weeks."
Many of us will pop them into the washing machine once a week, while one study of 100 people found about a third of them did so once a month.
The American Cleaning Institute recommends washing towels every three or four uses.
The towel makes it more challenging for intruders to open the door from the outside using any device. Pro tip: Keep the towel by your hotel room door so you'll remember to use it whenever you're in the room.
The Tea Towel Trick
To prevent water from dripping back onto food in a slow cooker, some people place a clean, folded kitchen towel or a few layers of paper towels between the lid and the pot to absorb moisture. If you use the technique, make sure you still have a tight seal between the lid and the pot.
The rule dictates that when a staff member is within 10 feet of a guest, they must make eye contact and smile. When they come within 5 feet, they must greet the guest verbally, offering assistance if needed. This straightforward rule ensures guests feel recognized and valued by staff.
Due to triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13, many hotels and high-rise buildings give the 13th floor a different name or number to avoid scaring guests. Ever wonder why you've never stayed in a hotel room on the 13th floor? The answer is simple: The floor doesn't exist.
In adults-only hotels, children aren't present, creating a more tranquil or party-focused atmosphere with amenities and activities tailored to grown-ups, such as fine dining, spas, cocktail classes, nightlife, yoga, and romantic settings, ranging from quiet relaxation to lively socializing. The vibe depends on the resort, but expect fewer distractions, more upscale services, and a diverse crowd from honeymooners to friend groups.