Washing towels correctly, as well as all linen in general, is not just a matter of hygiene and cleanliness: following the correct washing instructions also means preserving the quality and characteristics of the fabric and, therefore, prolonging its life.
So let's see how to wash towels in the most correct way.
Home Remedies
Home remedies never disappoint and have the great advantage of being natural. Here are some you can use to ensure softness and cleanliness:
- Vinegar and lemon: for a disinfectant and softening action at the same time, pour a few tablespoons of vinegar into the softener tray and a couple of drops of lemon. Proceed with a prewash in cold water and then the usual wash to remove the vinegar smell;
- Chamomile: To experiment with this second method you must soak the towels, after washing them in the washing machine, in a basin of chamomile tea that has been made to cool. Simply soak them for a few minutes and then wring them out and lay them flat. The properties of the chamomile will soften the fibers of the towels;
- Baking soda: to remove stains from towels and tablecloths, simply soak everything in a basin of warm water into which a tablespoon of baking soda has been poured. After washing the towels by hand and letting them soak overnight, proceed to wring them out and lay them flat without exposing them to direct sunlight. Alternatively, you can put the baking soda directly into the detergent tub of the washing machine and proceed with the usual wash cycle.
Some general tips
How to wash and the directions to follow vary depending on the type of fabric and color of the towels. There are a number of indications and tips that are generally valid for towels of any type. Let's see which ones.
- Follow the directions: the first thing to do is to refer to the directions on the label, avoiding washing in cold water. Temperature and washing program vary according to fabric and color. In general, the ideal washing temperature for whites is 60° C while for colors it is 40° C. However, this applies to terry cotton towels and even linen while for synthetic fabrics the recommended temperature is 30° C whether white or colored.
- Choose quality: in addition to observing simple precautions when washing, it is definitely a good idea to buy good quality towels that will last longer.
- Install a water filter: hard water (that is, the water that comes into our homes and washing machines) is more or less rich in limestone and minerals. These substances adhere to the surface of fabrics and, penetrating into them, stiffen their structure. Therefore, it might be useful to try to put a filter to decrease the level of limescale even though it is more of a precaution to avoid possible damage to the washing machine.
- Similar with similar: it would tend to be preferable to wash towels with other towels or with other similar linen, such as bathrobes and bath towels. Washing with completely different garments such as jeans, pants, sweaters and so on should be avoided.
- Separate white from colored: separating white towels from colored towels is important to avoid "migration" of color from one piece of laundry to another. Separation is also necessary to set the correct washing temperature.
- Do not wash too often: the frequency of washing is important, especially because fabric fibers will felt more easily if over-washed.
- Detergent and fabric softener: excessive amounts of fabric softener and detergent "tire" fabric fibers and are largely responsible for the felting of towels.
- Liquid detergents: in both machine washing and hand washing, it is preferable to use liquid detergents, which dissolve better and avoid leaving residues that, getting into the fibers, cause the felting of towels.
- Drying: it is recommended to air dry them in the open air, but without exposing them directly to the sun's rays, which dry out the fabric fibers. You can also dry your towels in the dryer whose air jet swells the fabric making it even softer and eliminates short cotton threads. If possible put a tennis ball inside or one specifically for dryers, both are very useful to prevent rubbing. Also, when drying is over, do not leave the towels inside the machine, they may stiffen.
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| Bathrobe in Pure Cotton Honeycomb Fabric- Jaspy | Towels in Stonewashed Terry Cotton with Linen Flounce - Loira | Towels in Terry Cotton with Embroidered Polka Dots - Coriandoli |
