Step 1: Wash your new towel or towel set in warm to hot water -- not scalding -- on a regular wash cycle with one cup of white distilled vinegar. DO NOT USE DETERGENT, only white vinegar.
An initial wash also helps remove lint left over from the weaving process. For the first wash, add half a cup of white vinegar to the wash water, along with about half the recommended amount of laundry detergent. The vinegar will help set the colors and remove any residue on the towels.
Most detergents are fine for washing towels, so your favorite 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 (color-safe) bleach.
If your towels look worn or smell unpleasant, it's time to invest in new ones. Remember to wash new towels before you use them for the first time, as they have a silicone finish that makes them less absorbent. This also sets the colour so that it doesn't run or fade.
Wash new towels before using them for the first time.
As soon as you bring new towels home, toss them into the wash to remove any chemicals manufacturers may have used to make them look fluffy and feel soft in the store. This can also help reduce lint.
According to the NHS you should wash household linen, towels and underwear at a temperature of 60°C to prevent any germs spreading. There is a misconception that you must wash clothes on the highest setting possible to kill bacteria, but it is proven that 60°C is adequate.
Should we wash towels or underwear at higher temperatures? "Clothes washed at 30C and below will come out clean," says cleaning guru Stephanie Zia, "but dust mites, pet allergens, mould spores, pollen and bacteria will be completely removed only by heat – ie, at 60C plus.
You can wash new towels according to the guide above, but add baking soda, or vinegar to a hot wash to really break down whatever treatment the towels have on them. This may make your towels feel rough, but you will be free of any lint and potential piling.
3. Towels. While everyone loves to dry off with a soft towel, liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets can reduce the absorbency of terry cloth and other fluffy fabrics. If you feel like your towels aren't drying as well as they did when they were new, skip the softener every few washes.
Many hotels choose to use HTD Heavy Duty Detergent. This powdered formula, which contains phosphates, fights the toughest stains quickly and effortlessly. Some of the best HTD laundry detergent brands that we recommend to use in 2021 are: Persil ProClean.
Towels should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric according to the care label. Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle.
Towels are hard after washing because they build up soapy residue and are over-dried. Here's the good news: With a few simple tricks, you can restore your towels to their original softness and help ensure that they never go scratchy again. Use warm water.
Use about half the recommended amount of detergent while washing and add ½ to 1 cup of white vinegar to the water during the rinse cycle. The vinegar helps set the colors and removes excess detergent residue.
Bacteria then starts to builds up in the fabric, and hey presto, you've got yourself mildew-y smelly towels in a pile of just-washed laundry. But you can make your old towels feel as fluffy and fresh as new, with two ingredients: white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
Any item that is intended to absorb – such as hand and bath towels, tea towels, and microfiber cloths that are designed to absorb water, and quick-dry sports wear which absorbs sweat, should be treated with care. To keep towels soft and fluffy, yet still absorbent – wash alternately with and without fabric conditioner.
Use almighty vinegar instead
Use 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment of your machine – it softens towels and helps removes bacteria, a much better option than coating said towels with synthetic chemicals.
New towels are super soft, which is great but not that effective when it comes to drying! This is because the manufacturers use a lot of fabric softener and treat the towels with a silicone finish, reducing absorbency.
“We recommend washing bath towels after every three uses, or at least once a week, to ensure truly clean towels,” said Kate Elks, Brooklinen director. “Brooklinen's bath offerings, including bath towels and sheets, hand towels, and washcloths, only differ in size, so you can care for them all the same way.”
A good temperature for washing towels and sheets is 40 degrees, but a 60 degreewash will be better at killing germs. Changing your sheets and towels once a week can help to keep them fresh and clean**. Use ourlaundry tips section for guidelines on different fabrics.
Recommended Washing Instructions for Towels
The NHS also recommends washing shared towels at 60 degrees. This needs to be combined with a good detergent to effectively kill germs.
For household washing machines, the best temperature to wash towels at is at around 40 degrees. Washing at 40 degrees will ensure your towels stay feeling and looking their best for longer, whilst removing most of the germs that breed there.