Washing towels
Lovely, such a soft towel to dry yourself with after showering, but after a few washes your new towels become stiffer and more rigid, while they felt so wonderfully soft. Washing is important to continue enjoying your towels. We are happy to give you a few tips.
1. Go for quality
Terry cloth is made of cotton fibers, these fibers are woven into loops, which makes the fabric good at absorbing moisture. Good quality towels are often a bit thicker than normal and are better at absorbing moisture. This prevents a clammy towel when drying. In addition, these towels are also somewhat more resistant to higher temperatures and can be washed more often before they are worn out.
2. Wash your towels separately
Towels can wear out faster if you wash them with other clothes, and lint from your towels can end up on your other clothes. Do you want to wash a stack of towels? Then we recommend washing towels separately from the rest. Make sure you wash similar colors together because new towels can still give off color.
3. Do not wash at a high temperature
There are many misunderstandings about washing instructions, and many people think that laundry will not be cleaned properly if it is not washed hot enough. In most cases, towels will be perfectly clean at a temperature of 40°C . and once in a while you can wash them at 60°C or more, but you certainly do not have to do this every time.
4. Don't use too many remedies
Because we love fresh laundry that smells nice, we tend to add a big scoop of washing powder to our laundry. But the soap residue in the towel can make the towel a bit rougher. And be especially careful with certain agents such as chlorine. Not only will this make your towels fade, it will also damage them.
5. Put your towels in the dryer
If you dry towels outside or on a clothes horse in the attic, the towels will often become a bit stiffer as they dry. Choose a drying program that is not too hot, so that the cotton fibers of your towel are not damaged. When the program is finished, you should remove the towels from the dryer immediately for the softest result.
6. Do not use fabric softener
You would think that a fabric softener would make your laundry softer, and your laundry would also smell extra nice. However, this does not entirely apply to towels. Your towels will indeed become somewhat softer, but the absorbency of the towels will be reduced by the fabric softener. In addition, there is a chance that more soap residue will remain in the towels.
7. Don't iron your towels
Just like using fabric softener, you would think that ironing your towels would result in softer towels, but ironing your towels at too high a temperature can damage the cotton fibers. This reduces the absorbency of your towel, meaning you end up with a wet towel faster.
8. Don't fold your towels
Usually, all towels should be stored in a cupboard or drawer in the bathroom. By stacking them on top of each other and cramming them in the cupboard, the towels can no longer air, which also makes them less soft. It is better to shake the towels loose after they come out of the dryer and roll them up loosely. You can also always hang a few towels on the towel rack in advance, so that you are at least provided with a number of nice, soft towels.
When to buy new towels?
Are the edges worn and frayed? Are some towels even sanded at the edges but the towel itself is still without holes and still feels soft? These are all cosmetic questions but what is perhaps most important is to ask yourself whether your towel still absorbs water well. The smell of the towel can also give something away about the state of affairs. In other words: does your towel smell unpleasant, even if you have just washed it? Then the towel is really done for!
How long do towels last?
Because towels are used daily and washed frequently, it takes about 2 years before you need to replace your towels. But that depends. Do you have multiple sets of towels? Then you have the opportunity to change and you will also use them longer. Our tip is therefore to feel well while drying whether you are still satisfied with the absorption of the towel, smell it and look at the towel set with a critical eye and ask yourself sincerely whether you still like them and whether you are still happy with them.
Washing new towels for the first time?
When you want to use new towels, you notice that they hardly absorb moisture and can start to fluff. That can be very frustrating. People often think that it is due to the quality of the towel, but that is usually not the case. Unfortunately, it is a fact that new towels do not absorb water well. This is caused by a natural wax layer on the fibers. In addition, the manufacturer uses all kinds of chemicals to make the cloth strong.
Our tip : Before washing new towels as you normally would, we recommend that you leave the new towels overnight in a bucket of cold water and a little vinegar. This will cause the cotton fibres to open up and absorb moisture better. It will also remove excess paint residue and chemical layers.
At what temperature should I wash towels?
We often have in the back of our minds "the hotter, the better" especially with towels and bedding. But that is not entirely true…
Washing towels at about 40°C is sufficient and occasionally at 60°C for some extra cleaning. This way they will be cleaned properly and will last longer. For new towels and very dirty towels you can also choose to wash them at 60°C .
Washing towels with fabric softener?
As wonderful as it feels and smells when you use fabric softener, it is bad for the fibers! You are essentially putting a new layer on the fibers, which means the towel will absorb less moisture.
Our tip : It is better to add a dash of vinegar or citric acid to the last rinse water.
Can towels be put in the dryer?
Of course, the towel can go in the dryer. This method is the least environmentally friendly, but gives the softest result. We do recommend not drying too hot in the dryer. This damages the fibers, which means you will not enjoy your towels for as long.
My towels don't dry quickly, what can I do about it?
Yes, definitely! Put the towels overnight in a bucket with cold water and a dash of natural vinegar (not cleaning vinegar) and then wash them at 60 degrees. The layer of natural wax that is on and around the fibers will dissolve and the fibers will absorb much better but also dry.
A few handy tips:
Everyone knows this… You’ve let your towels air dry and they’ve become quite stiff. When you use them the next time, it almost feels like you’re drying yourself with sandpaper! Don’t worry. It’s easy to fix. Put your towels in the dryer, no matter how dry they are. Choose a program that’s not too hot and as soon as the dryer is finished, take your towels out. This way, they’ll still be nice and soft and drying them will be much more pleasant.
Check the packaging carefully to see how much detergent you should use. Better to use a little less than too much. You also need less detergent with soft water than with harder (lime) water. Because we love fresh clothes that smell nice, we tend to add a good scoop of washing powder to our laundry. But the soap residue can make the towel a little rougher. Definitely do not use chlorine! That will bleach your towels and damage the fibers.