A care plan for towels

Short answer: Wash at forty degrees without softener, shake them out before hanging and spread them wide between uses. Replace them when they no longer absorb.

Washing

Forty degrees without fabric softener. The film from softener settles over the loops and makes the towel absorb worse, which is exactly the quality you paid for. Use a mild detergent and pick a programme with a good rinse, so no detergent is left in the fabric.

Without softener

Softener feels like an advantage because the towels smell nice. But it leaves a film on the loops, and then the water sits on top instead of soaking in. If you want a scent, air the towels outdoors. That gives a fresh smell without ruining what a towel is meant to do.

In the machine

Wash towels with towels or other clothes that do not shed lint. The loops can catch on zips and hook-and-loop fasteners, and loose threads are easily pulled out. Do not fill the drum completely, so the water gets through and every towel is rinsed properly. Overfilling is a common reason towels do not come out clean.

Shaking them out

Shake the towels out before hanging so the loops stand up instead of lying flat. It takes seconds and makes a visible difference as they dry. Dry towels with raised loops feel softer and absorb better than ones hung up just as they came out of the machine.

Drying

Hang them spread wide so they dry quickly and evenly. A short spin in the tumble dryer at the end makes them softer, if the symbol on the label allows it. Use a low temperature and take them out while still a touch damp, so they do not turn stiff. See bamboo towels.

Between uses

Spread wide on a rail rather than folded on a hook. A folded towel does not dry through, and damp is the only cause of the smell. Hang it so air reaches both sides, and do not leave it wet in a heap on the floor or in a basket.

Odour

If a towel smells, the cause is almost always damp that has not gone away. Wash it without softener and make sure it dries completely. Hang it in a room with good air and avoid a closed bathroom without ventilation. A fully dry towel does not smell, and little else is usually needed.

Replacing it

Replace the towel when it no longer absorbs after a wash without softener. Absorbency falls gradually over the years, and that is normal. If the loops are flat and worn or the edges have started to fray, it is time for a new one. Retired towels work for cleaning or the garage. See bamboo bedding and homewear in bamboo.

Several in rotation

With several towels in rotation, each one has time to dry fully between uses, and wear is spread out. A few extra towels in the cupboard mean you never have to use one that is still damp. It is an inexpensive way to keep them fresh and to extend their life.