Have you ever wondered why towels feel soft and velvety when you first buy them but turn harsh and rough after a few washes? In this article, we’ll explain why this happens and help you keep your towels clean and cozy for years to come.
Sort your towels before washing
Organize your towel-washing by sorting them by color into three general categories: white, light, and dark. Separating the colors of your towels extends their life and also prevents color bleeding in the wash. You can also sort towels based on their weight. Quality towels come in various weights, and they are measured by Grams Per Square Meter (GSM), which directly indicates the towel’s quality, feel, and plushness.
Typically GSM suggests the absorbency of the towels, the higher the GSM the heavier and more absorbent the towels. Generally, cotton bath towels range between 300 and 900 GSM. A moderate level of GSM is considered to have consistent and reliable performance with a long-lasting plushy feel.
Use the right amount of detergent
Another way to make sure your towels stay soft is avoiding adding too much detergent to the wash. Detergents are not always thoroughly removed during the rinse cycle, so cutting back on detergents will work in your favor.
Detergents are generally harsh, and they can stiffen your towels up, taking away their plushness. In order to keep your towels fluffy, make sure to use the right amount of detergent for your towels. Bleach also has adverse effects on towel’s fabric. Use bleach in moderate amounts and only when required.
Choose a laundry soap.
Chemical filled detergents can be harsh on your best beach towels and weaken the fabric thread fibers, which causes them to turn dull and lose absorbency. Instead of using detergents, we recommend laundry soaps for your plushy cotton, linen, and polyester towels. Make sure you choose one with powerful enzymes that clean and remove stains without damaging the fabric. Having the right laundry soap for your towels can drastically extend the life of your towels and maintain their performance in the long run.
Washing and drying
Washing the towels in the machine with cold water helps colors stay bright and keep the individual fibers strong. Overloading the washer and adding clothes alongside your towels will also cause them to turn stiff and wear down earlier. Clothes’ rough and corrosive objects like zippers, buttons, and embellishments can pull at a towel’s pile and lead to fraying and other damage. Wash your towels separately. Give them a gentle shake as you remove them from the washing machine to release water from the fibers and streamline the drying process. Make sure you avoid dry cleaning or ironing your towels which will lower their absorbency. Always refer to the care label for washing instructions.
Skip the fabric softener
Chemical-based ingredients can be harsh on your towels. Just like detergents, fabric softeners can make towels scratchy and rough-edged. Avoiding fabric softeners completely will help keep your towels soft and absorbent. If you don’t wish to avoid it entirely, stick to a minimal amount. The overuse of softeners or fabric conditioners build in your towels over time, causing your towels to become non-absorbent.
Avoid using towels to wipe off cosmetics
It can be easy to wipe a full face of makeup or skincare off with a towel. However, coming in contact with cosmetics increases the chances of your towels bleaching and spotting. Hence, it is always recommended to avoid any contact with cosmetics and skincare products.
Do not wash too many towels at a time
Washing too many towels at a time can damage your washing machine, won’t allow your towels to get thoroughly clean, and can fray your towels. Do multiple, smaller loads instead of one large load.
Store towels correctly and care for minor snags and pulls
Once your towels are dry, fold, stack, and store them in a dry linen cabinet. When linens are stored in a bathroom closet, make sure to use a moisture absorber to prevent the growth of mold or odor.
Minor snags and pulls happen to all the bath and beach towels. Make sure to snip a snag or pull with scissors instead of pulling the threads out of your best beach towels.
Revive and restore towels in three simple steps
Although the products by Home City Inc. are of supreme quality and designed for durability, repeat laundering can affect even the finest of quality towels.
There are several factors that can cause your towels to become stiff and scratchy, such as the use of well water or hang drying in humid weather. You can restore your best beach towels and bath towels with these simple steps involving the use of vinegar and baking soda.
Step 1 - Soak your towels in warm to hot water for 10 minutes or so, then add a cup of white distilled vinegar to it. This helps rid the towels of any built-up residue. Wash them in the washing machine.
Step 2 - Run the load one more time; add a half-cup of baking soda. Baking soda will remove any lingering smell from the towels.
Step 3 - Dry the washed towels according to instructions without any fabric softener sheets.
This process will definitely keep your towels soft, plushy, and smelling fresh like new.
Now that you’ve learned how to keep your bath and beach towels clean, you’re ready to start fresh with a brand new set. Check out Home City Inc.’s towels here now!
