Can you use towels before their first wash
Short answer: You can, but most towels absorb less and shed more lint until they have been washed once. A wash before use removes finishing residues and loose fibres from production.
What is in a new towel
New textiles often carry residues from production, such as softening agents that make the fabric feel extra soft and look appealing in the shop. These agents settle around the fibres as a thin coating. There can also be loose fibres from weaving and dust from storage and transport. None of this is necessarily harmful, but it makes the towel less suited to its actual job, which is drying your skin.
Why a new towel absorbs poorly
Many people notice that a brand new towel seems to push water around rather than soak it up. That is mainly down to the coating of softener on the fibres. After one or two washes the coating is gone, and the fibres can take up water as they should. Bamboo viscose is in itself a fibre that can hold quite a lot of moisture, but you only really feel that quality once the fibres are clean.
Lint and colour in the first washes
A new terry towel has lots of loops, and some fibres are loose from the start. That is why lint can end up on your body and in the machine's filter for the first few weeks. Dark towels can also release some dye. Wash new towels on their own or with similar colours so that light clothing is not discoloured. This also applies if you wash them alongside bamboo panties or other light coloured underwear.
How to wash them the first time
Wash new towels at the temperature on the care label, usually 40 or 60 degrees. Use a normal amount of detergent and leave out fabric softener, because it adds a new coating to the fibres and reduces absorbency again. Load the machine a little less than usual so the towels can move freely and be rinsed properly. Hang them up to dry or use a tumble dryer if the label allows it.
If you use it straight away anyway
If you need a towel right now, it is fine to use it unwashed. Just expect it to dry you less well and perhaps leave a little lint behind. If you have sensitive skin that reacts to new textiles, washing first is the safe choice, and if skin trouble persists, talk to your doctor. The same principle applies to new clothing worn close to the skin, such as a women's long-sleeved bamboo T-shirt.
Care that keeps a towel in good shape
Once in use, a towel lasts longest when it can dry completely between uses. A towel left damp and crumpled can start to smell. Hang it spread out over a rail and wash it regularly. Avoid using too much detergent, since leftover residue makes fibres stiff. Many people wash towels together with other textiles of the same colour, for example bamboo tops for women, when the temperature suits both.
Frequently asked questions
Should you use fabric softener on new towels
No. Fabric softener leaves a coating on the fibres that makes the towel absorb less.
How many washes before a towel absorbs well
One or two washes are often enough. By then most of the production residues have been rinsed out.
Is it harmful to use an unwashed towel
For most people it is not. It simply absorbs less, and with sensitive skin it can help to wash it first.
See our range of bamboo towels.
