A dirty and threadbare towel hanging loosely from your bathroom’s rail can make the entire room look drab. Towels are among those home essentials that undergo daily use and need to be washed frequently. This makes it hard to keep them looking fluffy and fresh however, if you try the following methods, we can guarantee you that your towels will retain their freshness for longer.

The right time to wash

The right time to wash towels is after three to four days of use. This keeps them in good condition and removes all damaging grime from them. Normally, people use them and wait an entire week before they wash them. Try to rotate between two or more towels. Have one on the go and keep the others washed and when you use another then wash the first one.

Cold water washing

Normally, people tend to use hot or warm water for laundry and this goes for their towels as well. Washing towels in heated water shortens their life and makes them saggy and rough. This is why we recommend using cold water to wash them. Cold water prevents shrinkage at the seams and helps retain the colours in the material for longer. This method also works when washing bamboo towel sets. Cold water washing is recommended for removing certain stains such as wine, coffee, chocolate and blood.

Avoid the fabric softener

People use fabric softeners to keep their laundry soft, however they don’t realise that the harmful chemicals in them can actually reduce the life of textiles. In order to retain your towels’ ultra-plush feel, keep them away from these unnatural products as they damage the fibres and make them less supple over time. Instead, throw a tennis ball into the dryer along with the load. This will agitate and fluff them up and help them dry more quickly.

Drying matters

Most towels are made from cotton that dries quickly. So prolonged drying can actually reduce their life. It’s best if you dry towels separately from other items to extend their life further. Also, don’t forget to forgo the tumble dryer sheets as they can seriously reduce towel absorbency over time. Line drying instead of tumble drying can also help increase their lifespan.

Detergent quantity

Don’t guesstimate with the detergent quantity. Know the precise amount of detergent your towels need as these contain chemicals that can harm the fabrics if used to excess. Read the specification set out by the manufacturer and measure out the amount of detergent needed. Remember, a medium load roughly translates to about two to three kilos of laundry. It fills three-quarters of a household washing machine.

Use a bleach alternative

Bleach can keep your towels white and bright, but those chemicals can also damage the material. In order to get that bright white lustre back to your towels try using the baking soda and vinegar approach. Simply add half a cup of baking soda with your preferred detergent and wash the towels in the washing machine. While rinsing, add half a cup of distilled white vinegar and you’ll be good to go.

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