When it comes to towel care, there are a few key questions we seem to get over and over:
"How do I properly wash & dry my towels?"
"How can I whiten and brighten dingy or discoloured towels?"
"Why are my towels losing their absorbency?!"
"How long will my towels last?"
This week we're diving into Towel Care 101 so you can get the most out of your investment. Read on for detailed care instructions and a host of tips & tricks for keeping your towels in top shape!
Washing
- Wash with a sparing amount of detergent (half of the recommended amount is just fine unless the towels are heavily soiled!). Excess detergent can cause build-up on the towel fibres, which reduces absorbency
- Wash on medium heat to avoid baking the cotton fibres. This will increase the longevity of your towels: excess heat can lead to tearing and shrinkage
- Use a gentle, liquid detergent. Avoid laundry pods, as they are known to discolour & can leave residue behind. Liquid Ivory, Sunlight, and Le Blanc Towel Wash are all excellent options!
- Wash whites and colours separately
- Wash with other towels only (hooks, zippers, or other embellishments can catch on the towels and cause pulling and/or fraying)
- TIP: Do not use fabric softener! It causes build-up on the towel fibres, reducing absorbency and causing the towels to feel 'gummy'
Drying
- Shake out damp towels before putting in the dryer to avoid clumping
- Dry on medium heat to avoid baking the cotton fibres
- Ensure that the towels are completely dry before removing from dryer/folding, otherwise the towels will smell musty
- Dry with other towels only (hooks, zippers, or other embellishments can catch on the towels and cause pulling and/or fraying)
- Use dryer balls (such as our Eco-friendly 100% Wool Dryer Balls) in your dry cycle: these are fantastic for not only softening the towels, but also for reducing static, taking away lint, and increasing the fluffiness of the towels
- Dry whites and colours separately
- TIP: Do not use dryer sheets! These will coat the towel fibres, reducing the absorbency of the towels
Whitening & Maintenance
- If white towels start greying, soak them in a mixture of Oxiclean (or other gentle bleach alternative) and water for an hour up to overnight, then wash/dry as usual. Avoid bleach! Using bleach will harm the cotton fibres, reduce the longevity of your towels, and can actually discolour whites
- If you do notice any build-up on the towels or if they start to look dingy, add 1/2 to 1 cup distilled white vinegar to the wash cycle in place of detergent. It can be added to the detergent dispenser in a side-loading washing machine or directly added to the load once the machine is filled with water in a top-loading machine. Vinegar is a natural clarifier and will help dissolve any build-up on the cotton fibres
- Hang your towel up straight after use so that it can dry quickly and properly. 100% cotton towels dry quickly by nature, but damp towels are a breeding ground for mildew, germs, and bacteria. Make sure the towel is spread out!
- Acidic facial products, acne treatments, and hair lighteners or dyes can stain and/or discolour towels. Be cautious!
- Any pulls or snags that occur can typically be snipped off without compromising the integrity of the towel
Longevity
- Good-quality towels can last for up to 2-3 years with proper care. Rotating multiple sets of towels will increase longevity
- Towels should be replaced if they have a lingering odour, are losing their absorbency, or if they start fraying/tearing
Lint
New towels (especially plusher towels and those that are not pre-washed) will shed a certain amount of lint during the first few wash/dry cycles. This is completely normal! Linting will reduce significantly after a handful of washes. We recommend a low-heat dryer cycle with an empty lint trap to help expedite the de-linting process.
