How to Properly Clean Your Towels

Regular usage of towels can lead to discolouration, mildew and roughness if not cleaned properly. Just like your clothes and bedding, towels require regular cleaning. However, the process of cleaning towels does not just involve throwing them in the washing machine with detergent and fabric softener.

Follow our recommendations on how to clean towels and you will end up with towels that remain soft and colourful for the longest time. This article will give you suggestions on what you should and shouldn’t do when cleaning towels.

If it touches your skin, clean it!

Anything that touches your skin- your clothes, bedding and towels, should be cleaned regularly. Skin cells and body oil build-up in your towels can easily attract bacteria if they are not cleaned out. Your bathroom towels and kitchen towels are used on a daily basis. The amount of dirt that gets collected in them needs to be cleaned if you want to prevent any health problems.

You want your towels to continue feeling fluffy and soft against your skin instead of being rough. But to maintain that softness just a simple machine wash may not be enough. Moreover, machine washed towels can become rough after a couple of washes. So, you need to know the right ingredients to use when cleaning your towels and how often should you clean them.

Care for your towels, the right way!

Your towels need a lot of love and care to provide you with comfort whenever you use them. Even before you use a newly bought towel, you need to clean it in order to maintain hygiene. However, too much cleaning can also lead to problems. So, we have gathered a few tips on how to clean your towels, the right way.

Care instructions

Always read the care instructions your towels come with. Some may require hand washing or a mild detergent. It is important to stick to the recommended care instruction since the manufacturer knows best when it comes to their towels. If you deviate from the instructions, after a couple of washes your towels might become too rough to use.

Separate them

DO NOT wash your towels with the rest of your clothes or anything that is not a towel. The fabric of towels is different and the best way to clean towels would be to put them in the washing machine with other towels. However, make sure that you don’t exceed the washing machine’s loading capacity which will result in towels that are not properly cleaned. Furthermore, it is recommended to always separate the white and coloured towels.

Deal with the immediate concern!

Before cleaning your towel check for a couple of things. If your towel has big stains or a nasty odour, it may require something more than detergent. Furthermore, you should also make sure your washing machine is clean before you put in your towels. An unclean washing machine will result in shabbily cleaned towels and an unpleasant smell.

Get your settings right

Using the correct washing setting on your washing machine is important when cleaning towels. After separating your white and coloured towels, you need to ensure that you use the correct water temperature to wash each type of towel. Your towels come with their own care instructions which should mention the water temperature that is best for cleaning your towel.

Dry them well

A towel needs to be completely dry before being used. While the main use of a towel is to absorb water and dry you up, you need to ensure that they are completely dry before you use them. You can use a tumble dryer to dry your towels if it says so on the care instructions. Towels need to be completely dry before they are used because a little bit of moisture can lead to mildew that can lead to skin concerns.

What’s That Smell?

This is one of the most common problems with towels- smell. Many people complain about a nasty odour from their towels even after they have been washed. One use after being washed and the odour seems to come back. This can be the result of your towels not being cleaned properly or due to trapped moisture. The best way to get rid of any kind of moisture in your towels is to dry them outdoors.

If the smell persists it means your towels were not cleaned properly. One of the main reasons for this smell is the cleanliness of your washing machines. A build-up of dirt, detergent and fabric softener is normal in both top and front loaders. But while top-loaders are better at draining out the dirty water, front-loaders are more likely to have standing water in the tub after a cycle. This can cause the towels to smell when washed in such an unclean environment. Many washing machine cleaners can help with this problem. Sanitising your washing machine will always benefit you and your health.

When the washing machine is clean you can clean your smelly towels. All you need is distilled vinegar and baking soda. These two ingredients mixed with hot water will rid your towels of any dirt or fabric softener build-up. The vinegar helps break down the dirt on your towels and baking soda neutralises the odour.

NO Bleach!

Bleach is a forbidden substance when it comes to cleaning your towels. You want your towels to be clean, soft and fluffy. But cleaning them with bleach will only harm the material. Bleach breaks down the threads of the fabric and will give you a towel that is discoloured and rough. You can either use a bleach alternative or a vinegar and water solution to get rid of those stains or smells. Vinegar does not harm the fabric and at the same time, ensures that any built-up dust or dirt is lifted from the towel.

Discolouration and Stains

You may have come across stains on your towels that you just cannot get rid of. These stains are usually caused by particular soaps. The best way to clean these stains is detergent and water. Just make a paste of detergent and water and apply it to the stain for approximately 15 minutes. That is enough time to break down the soap molecules and then just wash your towel in the washing machine for a completely clean towel.

Another very common concern with towels is discolouration. Bright coloured towels often lose their brightness due to constant washing. But you can maintain that brightness by ensuring that you wash your coloured towels in warm and not hot water. Moreover, before cleaning your coloured towels, check the care instructions to ensure you are washing your coloured towels right. Additionally, you should know what detergent to use. Heavy-duty detergents work well with white towels but not with coloured ones. You will need a milder detergent that doesn’t strip the colour off of your towels. However, this also depends on your towel’s individual care instructions.

How To Dry Towels?

If you have a dryer, you can use them but beware that too much heat can also turn your towels rough. Excess heat also leads to a lot of steam and the slightest bit of moisture left in towels will lead to mildew. Whether you have to air dry your towel or tumble dry it, the towel’s care instructions should help you with your queries. Always dry your towels partially on a low heat setting. The best way to completely dry your towels and get rid of any bacteria that might be there is by air-drying them.

Hang your towels out in the sun and let them dry. If you don’t have that option, hang them on the clothes drying rack. Too much heat from the drier can also result in the tightening of the fabric threads. Air drying them allows the fabric to breathe and maintain the softness of the towel.

Note: NEVER let your towels sit in the washing machine or the dryer. Take them out immediately and give them a good shake.

Usage and Storage

If you’re not using the towel you have just washed, make sure it is completely dry before you store it. Towels can be stored just like the rest of the clothes in a cupboard. However, if you are regularly using a towel, for example, a bath towel, do not store it in a cupboard. Towels that are regularly used need to be dried. Whether it is the bathroom or the kitchen, hang them up, don’t fold them. Furthermore, if you have the option to hang your bath sheets or towels out in the sun every time you shower, do it.

When to Wash and When to Throw!

Your towels are used daily which means there would be a lot of dirt build-up on them. To avoid problems such as skin irritation, you have to clean your towels more often. It is recommended to clean your towels after three uses. Whether it is your kitchen towel or bath towel, they both should be washed at least twice a week. This may seem excessive, but it is easy for allergens and bacteria to settle in a dirty towel. Make sure that you wash your towels the right way to avoid ruining their quality.

Towels cannot last forever. They are meant to last only one or two years with the right care instructions. After that time period, towels should be disposed of. The soft and fluffy texture of towels only lasts for some time. So, it is better to get rid of them when they feel rougher on the skin or have stains that just won’t budge.