Towels!

Want Soft, Absorbent Towels?

When I shop for new towels, I look for a “good hand” and how quickly I think the towel can absorb water. But no matter the towel’s quality or cost, all towels lose some of their softness after the first wash. Over time, frequent Washing, Chemical Buildup, Hard Water and Friction break down fabric fibers. The breakdown of fibers wears away softness and absorbency. Towels become scratchy, thin and uncomfortable to use. In this blog, I will share a few tricks on how to wash towels and keep them soft, wash after wash.

How to Wash Towels & Keep Them Soft

1. Use warm water.

Warm water is perfect for washing towels in many ways. First, warm water helps remove oil build-up and detergent buildup from the fabric. Although most of today’s detergents are formulated to work well in cold water, warm water also helps loosen the fabric fibers, making removal of dust and dirt easier.

2. Presoak badly soiled towels in warm water.

Since warm water helps loosen fibers, presoak heavily soiled towels in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes, before washing them. Soaking starts the process of lifting oil, dirt and dust buildups.

3. Break down large loads into smaller loads.

A larger load of towels means less room for towels to freely move in the wash cycle. Instead of going in for a one-time large load, break the load into two smaller loads.

4. Reduce the quantity of detergent.

More detergent means better cleaning, right? WRONG. Using more detergent than the instructions read will leave detergent residue on your items.

5. Cut back on fabric softeners.

While fabric softeners do soften towels, excess fabric softener means more residue on towels. To help your washer remove softener residue, use less.

6. Invest in dryer balls.

Dryer balls prevent the clothes from clumping in the dryer and, as they absorb some moisture, will help towels dry faster. Most importantly, using dryer balls helps “fluff up” your towels.

7. Use both tumble drying and air drying.

Although tumble drying fluffs towels, the heat damages the integrity of the towel fibers. The best method is to use both tumble and air drying. Air dry the towels partially on a line and toss them in the tumble dryer with a lower drying time for the final drying.

8. Give them a firm shake.

When your towels are dry – air dried, tumble dried or both, give them a good, firm shake. This final shake loosens the fibers of the towel, allowing your towel fiber to return to its original softness and fluffiness.

These simple and easy-to-do tips give you towels that last longer, provide absorbency and feel soft. Give your towels the care they deserve.