If you want nice things in your life, you need to be willing to maintain them. It’s easy to buy a set of nice bath towels – take a look at this new review for my top picks – but keeping them that way is another matter. I’ve spent the last decade testing laundry machines and reviewing fabrics, and have gleaned some tips.
I also consulted experts, including Kavita Mathur, an associate professor at the Wilson College of Textiles. For the perspective of someone who cleans towels professionally and at great scale, I spoke with Ayush Agnihotri, an executive housekeeper responsible for maintaining luxury towels for a spa, pool, and 160 rooms at the Ramada Hotel & Suites in the Amwaj Islands, Bahrain.
Here are our collected dos and don’ts for maintaining towels.
Do
Choose the right temperature
The best way to wash towels is to follow the care instructions and symbols on the tag. But in general, colder water is more color safe and is less likely to cause damage to fabrics. Hotter temperatures are better at removing body oil. Therefore, you should adjust the temperature according to your current needs.
Both Agnihotri and Mathur recommend washing white towels on hot and dark towels at cooler temperatures. Agnihotri advises that “hot” translates to around 140F. Mathur suggests a cool color-safe temperature is about 40F.
Use a little less detergent than you think you need
It feels instinctual to say more soap equals cleaner. But washers are often calibrated to rinse away a certain amount of detergent, so adding too much will often leave residual stains. In addition, towels, with their longer fibers, tend to hold onto substances like soap. To compensate, you could even use a little less than the recommended amount.
Throw them in the dryer one by one if possible
When I did laundry for a living, one foe was always looming on the horizon–the laundry sausage. You’ve probably experienced this: your sheets, towels, and sweaters twisting together into an abomination with a dry exterior but a damp interior.
But there are steps you can take to avoid the dreaded laundry sausage.
First, you can toss in towels and other items one at a time. “Before placing the towels in the dryer, give them a good shake; this helps to puff up the fibers and allows for better air circulation,” Agnihotri advises.
Second, try not to overstuff your dryer. Giving your towels room to separate will encourage them to do so.
Finally, you can add items like dryer balls to help further separate items and help with even drying.
Tumble on low when possible
If you want bone-dry towels, you should also try to get them out of the dryer as quickly as possible. Most dryers are designed to leave a little moisture to aid in ironing and prevent wrinkles. Getting to your towels sooner will help prevent that moisture from settling. Tumbling on a low heat will help prevent the fabric from getting damaged.
Store in a well-ventilated place
Storage is also important to maintaining your towels long-term. “Towels should be completely dry before being stored to prevent mildew or musty odors,” advises Mathur. “Store them in a well-ventilated space, preferably on open shelves or in a linen closet that allows air circulation. Avoid tightly packed drawers or plastic bins that trap moisture.”
Don’ts
Don’t leave them in the hamper or washer too long
If you’re going to toss a damp towel into the hamper, be sure to get to your laundry quickly. Most hampers and laundry baskets I’m familiar with are stored in dark places. Dark and moist places are breeding grounds for smelly bacteria. Ideally, let your towels dry before placing them in the hamper. The same goes for towels in the washer after a cycle is complete: don’t leave them in there too long.
Don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets with towels
The way fabric softener achieves that “soft” feeling is by adding a layer of oil onto fabrics. It’s usually silicone-based and can ruin the absorbency of your towels. Dryer sheets can have a similar effect.
If you’re looking for an alternative, Agnihotri suggests that “a quarter cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of a regular wash will help to keep the towels soft naturally”.
Don’t wash your towels with pants
Zippers and buttons can snag on your towels and damage them.
Don’t dry towels with thin or quick-dry fabrics
The sensors in a dryer that determine when the load is done work by means of conductivity. If a wet item touches the sensor, it conducts better than a dry item. When you wash towels together with items that dry quickly, it’s more likely the dryer will end the cycle prematurely, leaving you with damp towels.
