How to wash towels: a quick guide

While washing towels might seem like a straightforward task, that’s only at first glance. Before we pop them in the washing machine, it’s worth knowing a few handy tips that will help them keep their softness.

How to wash towels? It’s not as simple as it looks!

You might think that washing towels itself really isn’t difficult. After all, you just pop them into the washing machine, use your favourite detergents and you’re done. But is it really that simple?

To simply get them washed, you probably don’t need to delve too deeply into the topic. However, if we want our towels to be in excellent condition – soft, fluffy and pleasant to the touch – it’s useful to know a few rules. Proper care is the most important thing here!

Washing towels – where to start?

Take a look at your towel rail – what colours do you usually go for? Before you even start washing towels, focus on sorting them. Just as you shouldn’t wash white and red clothes together, colour separation is also key for towels, so a more dominant dye doesn’t play a trick on you and ruin a towel.

Anyone who wants to maintain the colour intensity of their towels should sort them by colour before washing and wash and dry them accordingly. White towels can safely be washed with those in ecru or beige.

At what temperature should you wash towels?

Another basic issue is the temperature to wash towels at. Although many people claim that the higher the temperature, the better, that’s not true – following that advice can cost you your towels’ softness. That method works in places such as hospitals or hotels, where lots of different people use the towels and eliminating bacteria is the priority.

In reality, they cope best with washing at 40–60 degrees Celsius, and that’s what you should stick to when washing towels at home.

What should you wash towels with?

Another important point is which products we use to wash towels. The type of detergents used definitely matters. Gentle products are particularly recommended, as they help maintain the towels’ softness and freshness. It’s also important that the chosen product doesn’t contain an excess of harmful chemicals.

Detergents for delicate fabrics work well; also take into account the colour of the towels you’re washing at the time – just as you would with clothes. Experts don’t recommend using powder for washing towels; in this case, a liquid is a better choice. What can you do to make towels fluffy after washing? A good idea is to add half a cup of baking soda to the wash every now and then.

Washing towels – what else do you need to know?

Where there’s washing, there’s drying. Many people use tumble dryers, which are slowly becoming a household must-have. With towels, however, you need to be careful – too high a temperature or too long a drying time can work against you. It’s easy to end up with towels that are rough and unpleasant. Many people, even if they have a dryer, prefer to dry towels in the fresh air. That’s a good idea, as long as you don’t expose them to intense sunlight.

Right, we now know what temperature to wash towels at and what to do to keep them fluffy afterwards. It remains to consider how often they should be washed. This depends primarily on how frequently we use them. Assuming we shower every day, every 3–4 days is about right for bath towels. It’s the same for hand towels. In short, what counts here is the regularity you establish for yourself.

As for ironing towels, that’s a very individual matter. Many people say you absolutely shouldn’t do it, as they’ll lose their look. Others can’t imagine not ironing towels. If you do decide to iron them, it’s important not to do it too often – it’s better to hang them properly to dry to avoid creases.