Setting to wash towels
How to Wash Towels & Keep Them Soft
Whether they’re bath towels, hand towels or washcloths, washing towels the right way is essential to keeping them fluffy and absorbent. Our step-by-step guide will show you how to wash towels and how to make towels soft again.
Since towels should be washed after every three uses or so, caring for them properly will help keep your towels looking new and smelling fresh.
Supplies you’ll need for washing towels
- Detergent
- Bleach or color-safe bleach
- White vinegar (optional)
- Wool or rubber dryer balls (optional)
Step 1: Consult the care label
New towels should be washed before you use them to remove any chemical coatings and to help reduce lint. Before washing, remember to check the care label. Some towels may have trim or other decorative fabrics that are different from the normal cotton towel, which can affect which wash and dry cycle you use.
Step 2: Separate towels by color
To keep white towels bright and help prevent discoloration, wash them in a separate load. Brightly colored or dark towels should be washed in their own loads to prevent fading or dye transfer. You’ll also want to wash towels in a load without clothes to avoid any possible transfer of bacteria.
Step 3: Load towels in the washer
Load towels loosely in the washer—towels need to be able to move around the wash basket for a thorough clean. Some larger capacity washers can handle more towels at once, but take care not to overload.
Step 4: Add detergent and other additives
Add detergent as you normally would for a regular load. Swash™ Laundry Detergent is designed with a pre-measured pour dosage cap to help you use the right amount. If your towels are beginning to feel stiff, you may want to consider adding a little bit less detergent. Residue from too much detergent can build up over time and be harder to wash out.
If you’re using bleach to brighten up or sanitize white towels, add about a half cup of liquid bleach in the bleach dispenser or to the wash water before loading the towels.
Cleaning tip: How to make towels soft again
You might be tempted to reach for the fabric softener or dryer sheets to help soften scratchy or stiff bath towels, but the chemicals can affect the absorbency of your towels and leave behind a coating that repels instead of soaking up water. A better bet is to add up to a half cup of either white distilled vinegar or baking soda to the load, which will help soften fibers and get rid of any musty odors.
Step 5: Choose the right cycle and settings for washing towels
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. A sanitizing cycle can also be used, but may not be recommended for every wash, depending on the towel fabric. Some washers, like Whirlpool® Top Load models with Intuitive Controls, help you choose a cycle based on what you’re washing and how you’re washing it.
Step 6: Dry towels in the dryer
Once the wash cycle is complete, transfer towels to the dryer right away to avoid any build-up of musty smells. To help towels dry faster, give them a good shake before loading to help release any creases or crumples.
Towels should be dried with the warmest heat appropriate for the fabric according to the care label. Generally, low to medium heat is recommended. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle. High heat and overdrying can cause fabric damage, so be sure to remove the towels promptly once they’re dry. Some dryers contain moisture sensors that stop the cycle automatically when clothes are dry, including these models from Whirlpool brand. You can also add wool or rubber dryer balls to help soften towels and help with drying efficiency.
Step 7: Fold towels when dry
Wait until towels are completely dry before removing them from the dryer, as any remaining moisture can cause musty smells. Fold towels and store them in a cool, dry spot to keep them fresh and fluffy.
Looking to upgrade your laundry pair for optimal performance? Take a look at smart washers and dryers from Whirlpool.
Our recommended washer and dryer picks
4.8 cu. ft. Smart Top Load Washer
Model: WTW6120HC
Color: Chrome Shadow
Sale:
$879.00
MSRP: $1,149.00
Save $270 (23%)
7.
4 cu. ft. Smart Top Load Electric Dryer
Model: WED6120HC
Color: Chrome Shadow
Sale:
$879.00
MSRP: $1,149.00
Save $270 (23%)
WTW6120HC,WED6120HC,WFW6620HC,WED6620HC
Explore more laundry cleaning how-tos
How to wash a comforter
Most people know they should wash their sheets frequently, but what about your comforter?
Read More
How to wash pillows for a clean night’s sleep
It’s easy, and essential, to keep your pillows clean.
Learn how in four simple steps.
Read More
How to wash shower curtains & liners
Keep fabric and plastic shower curtains and liners fresh and clean with these step-by-step instructions.
Read More
home heartbeat
Ready for more tips, home hacks and appliance guides?
Browse All Articles
Was this article helpful? Pass it on
Guide for How to Clean Towels| Peacock Alley
Guide to Cleaning Towels:
How to Wash & Dry Towels
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 fibers 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!
How to Wash Towels
- Separate Light and Dark Towels - Before washing towels, separate the light and dark colors into their own loads. Never wash white towels with dark colors. Since towels are so absorbent, the lighter colored towels can pick up some of the dye color from the darker ones which can cause them to become dingy or discolored.
- 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 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. When washing colored towels, you can only use color-safe bleach, as chlorine bleach will fade dark colored 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 fibers of the towels.
- What Temperature Should Towels Be Washed At? - White and lighter colored towels wash well with the hot water setting. Hot water helps to brighten white and light-colored towels for better cleaning.
Dark colored towels should be washed with the warm water setting. Warm water helps preserve the colors 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.
How to Dry Towels
- You can use a dryer for your luxury towels, or you can choose to let them air-dry. To use your home dryer, simply choose the regular or automatic cycle to maximize fluffiness, as over-drying can damage delicate fibers. When cycle is complete, remove towels promptly and fold immediately for less wrinkles.
- To air-dry towels, lay them flat on a drying rack inside or hang them outdoors on a clothesline. Air-drying towels may leave them feeling a little stiff but tossing them in the dryer for a quick ‘no heat’ fluff can soften them up a bit.
Tips for Towel Care
Here are some additional care tips for your favorite bath towels to keep them feeling soft and plush for years to come:
How Often Should I Wash Towels?
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.
What is the Best Way to Store Towels?
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.
How Do You Keep Towels Soft and Fluffy?
- Skip the fabric softener every other wash to avoid waxy build-up on towels that can lead to a reduction in absorbency and softness.
- Do not iron towels! This heat will only damage and flatten the fabric fibers causing them to be less plush than you would like.
- Clean towels are fluffy towels, so wash them twice a week for the best results.
How to Wash New Towels
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 colors on new luxury towels, it is best to wash colored towels with similar colored 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 colors and remove any detergent residue, making your new towels soft, fluffy, and ready for use!
How Do You Refresh Towels in the Washing Machine?
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.
Let us Inspire you
Shop Now
Shop Now
Shop Now
Shop Now
Shop Now
Shop Now
Shop Now
Shop Now
{{product_price}}
{{{product_options}}}
Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device
ᐈ How to wash terry towels so they stay soft - turnkey hotel design
September 9, 2020
Everyone knows that terry textiles are distinguished by special tenderness, softness, fluffiness.
But not everyone knows that he is also capricious, and therefore requires special care. We tell you how to wash terry towels so that they do not get rough; how to restore the fabric if it is already prickly and hard; and how to keep it perfectly clean.
How to wash terrycloth in the washing machine?
Load terry products separately from other things: bed linen, towels made of other materials, clothing, especially with locks and metal fittings. To avoid puffs, you can use "helpers" - special bags for washing clothes. It is important that there is only one towel in one bag.
Basic rules for washing terry cloth towels in an automatic washing machine:
-
Shake them well before loading to loosen the lint. Load the drum loosely - ⅔ of the volume.
-
Do not use loose washing powders, but liquid products (gels, one-time soap nuts) for delicate materials (wool, silk, lycra, organza, elastane, viscose). They do not crush the villi, are perfectly rinsed out and retain the volume of the canvases.
If there is no opportunity to wash with a gel and you have to use a regular powder, be sure to run the rinse 3-4 times. -
To keep the terrycloth fluffy, put plastic or rubber balls with spikes in the drum with it. These are often used for washing down jackets. For a standard wash, 2-3 hedgehog balls are enough.
-
Run full cycle modes at low temperatures: 40 degrees for color, 60 for white and heavily soiled items. Do not use the economy mode - it is important that the towels are well rinsed. The spin should be delicate, no more than 400, and even 300-350 is better.
-
Do not use store-bought conditioners, balms, bleaches - they are practically not washed out from thick pile. It is better to use a home conditioning composition. Mix water, soda and 9% table vinegar in proportions: 1:1:4. Be prepared: the composition will foam a lot, and when the foam goes down, add another 4 parts of cold water and add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil.
Pour into the rinse aid compartment as needed - 100-150 ml of product is needed for 1 cycle.
It is worth saying that to increase the softness of the terry, a silicone-based conditioner is sometimes used. It is effective, protects products from rapid wear, but there is a nuance. If you miscalculate and add more than you need, the dry towel will no longer fulfill its intended purpose - to absorb water. This means that you will have to overwash it in order to rinse the silicone out of the pile.
Another important point that affects the softness and splendor of terry towels is the quality of the water. To improve its composition, a cleaning filter is put on the feed. But if you don’t have it, then you can soften the water at home in many ways:
-
Salt. Extra, fine fraction, dissolves faster, but the usual one will do. Pour in 4 tbsp. into the powder container along with the gel detergent.
-
Vinegar. Pour 200 ml of 9% table vinegar into the conditioner compartment.
Vinegar, by the way, also perfectly refreshes, removes extraneous, even the strongest odors from the fabric. -
Soda. Both food and technical calcined works equally well. You need to put 4 tbsp. directly into the washing drum.
-
Soda with vinegar. Pour 200 ml of vinegar into the conditioner container, and pour 5 tablespoons of soda into the drum.
Shake towels before hanging to dry. Hang outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, but not in direct sunlight. In the shade on a balcony or yard - on a dryer or spread on a flat surface covered with a cotton cloth. It is not recommended to hang textiles near heat sources: heaters, batteries, fire. In such conditions, they will dry out and become tough.
To straighten the fabric after washing and give it extra softness and volume, hang it up and walk with hot steam from an iron at a temperature of no more than 150 degrees, without touching the fabric. Normal ironing will prematurely thin the fibers and turn fluffy textiles into a rough canvas.
How to wash terry towels by hand?
Many people think that mahr suffers from hand washing. This is a myth, since this method is even preferable - it allows you to do everything delicately. But if you want to wash textiles by hand, you will have to follow the rules:
-
Soak items first. Prepare a warm solution with liquid detergent or grated laundry soap and salt (2-3 tablespoons per 6 liters). Leave towels in it for about an hour.
-
Wash with light movements, as if whipping foam. Violently rubbing, kneading, pulling, tightly twisting the terry is absolutely impossible.
-
Rinse in clean cool water at least 3-4 times. At the last stage, add a glass of vinegar to the basin - it will remove soap residue and soften the linen.
How to soften, bleach and keep terry towels clean?
Do not rush to eliminate hard terry textiles that have suffered from improper care.
It can be resuscitated by soaking for 1-1.5 hours in a water-salt solution: for 5 liters of warm water - 5 tbsp. salt. After soaking, wash according to the above recommendations with the addition of vinegar and soda. Of course, the fabric will not become tender the first time. The softening procedure requires several repetitions.
It is impossible to bleach terry with the help of special bleaches and boiling. But the original color of yellowed or grayed things is returned by soaking. Suitable effective solutions:
-
Dissolve 8 tablespoons in 4 liters of ice water. salt. Soak for 2-3 hours.
-
In slightly warm water, add a liquid dishwashing detergent that works effectively against grease in cold water. Soak 5-6 hours.
-
Pour 40 ml of hydrogen peroxide and 4 tbsp into 6 liters of lukewarm water. ammonia. Soak for 30-40 minutes.
After soaking, textiles should be rinsed well and washed in the usual way.
If the first time to remove the ugly plaque did not work, repeat the procedure.
As for stains, it is better to wash fresh ones immediately with ordinary laundry soap. You can get rid of other stains like this:
-
Dried surface. Immerse the towels for 3-4 hours in the solution: for 1 liter of water - 1 tbsp. salt, 2 tsp aqueous solution of ammonia.
-
Established, of unknown origin. Lather the wet product with laundry soap, put it in a bag and, without closing, send it to the microwave for 1-2 minutes - a power of 650 W will be enough. Repeat the session if necessary.
-
Old dirt, fat, coffee, juice, wine. Soak for 10-12 hours in this solution: for 8 liters of water - 100 ml of washing gel, 6 tbsp. soda, 3 tbsp. sunflower oil.
There are few secrets for caring for terry towels: avoid salting, use delicate compositions for washing, soften water with high quality, rinse well and wring out delicately.
Follow them and your textiles will always be fresh, fluffy and soft.
How to wash terry towels so that they are soft
If after washing the terry towel becomes hard, it means that the washing rules have been violated. Don't worry, there is a way out. From the article you will learn how to properly wash terry towels so that they retain their softness and color. You will also learn how to restore the original appearance of washed products.
Which modes are suitable for washing towels
If you load towels into the washer, fill in the usual detergent and set the fast program, you will pull out hard and poorly washed items.
What affects the quality of washing
Looking at the surface of a terry cloth through a magnifying glass, you can see hundreds of eyelets. They give softness, good water permeability to products. A new towel always quickly absorbs moisture, while a washed one only scratches the skin. Due to improper care, the fabric is damaged.
This is facilitated by:
- Hard water. The high content of salts leads to the fact that they settle on the surface of the fabric. Mahra sticks together, becomes stiff and scratches the skin.
- Unsuitable powder. For terry products, as well as for delicate, woolen fabrics, a special liquid agent is required.
- Invalid mode. The further type of product depends on the program on which the washing is carried out. High temperature (boiling) and high spin speed lead to loss of fabric quality.
- Dry in the sun or near a heat source. As a result, the fabric dries out and becomes stiff.
- Wrong ironing mode. Only steaming is allowed, not dry ironing.
How to wash a towel at home?
Which wash cycle to use
First, separate the white towels from the colored ones. Choose a standard program with a full cycle: it involves the use of a large amount of water, which reduces friction between products. It is advisable to install an additional spin.
At what temperature to wash? Not higher than 60 degrees for white towels, and 40 degrees for colored ones. The latter are subject to molting, so it is better not to take risks and keep the color of the product.
Heavily soiled garments can be washed by soaking in soapy water overnight.
You can use balls with pimples to “break” the terry.
Spin
Spin power should not exceed 500 revolutions. When you select the delicate washing mode, the spin cycle runs at the minimum speed, but you can turn it off altogether. Then be sure to dry the product in the fresh air, otherwise it will rot.
How to wash terry towels
Use liquid bottled powders or disposable soap nuts that are tossed into the drum.
To maintain softness, use folk remedies:
- Salt has softening properties. Add three tablespoons to the compartment of the dispenser tray, or dilute the salt in a container of water and pour into the tank.
- Add 3% or 9% vinegar to the dispenser section. When washing by hand, add vinegar directly to the tub or basin.
- Soda softens fibers. Pour three or four tablespoons into the powder compartment. So does baking soda and vinegar.
You can use a silicone based rinse aid. The cleaning filter will help to constantly soften the water: good quality water will flow into the washing machine, then less detergent will be needed.
How to soften towels after washing
To make rough towels soft after washing, leave them to soak overnight in warm water. Then squeeze lightly and dry. Another option is to soften towels: after washing, soak the products in water with salt for several hours.
You can always renew and refresh terry products. But it is better not to bring things to a deplorable state.
How to dry towels
It's best to do it outdoors. Try to avoid direct sun, otherwise the fabric will dry out and become stiff.
