The Ultimate Guide To Washing Your Towels

Throwing your towels in the wash with the correct setting and laundry detergent is enough to clean them, but it’s not the ideal way to care for them. Discover our top tips for washing towels to help you get them clean, fluffy, soft and smelling fresh.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about washing towels, including how often to wash them, what temperature to use, and whether they should be washed with clothes.

For hygiene purposes, we recommend washing your towels at least once a week as part of your bathroom cleaning routine or every three to five uses. Still unsure when your towels need washing? Smell them to check for unpleasant odours.

Towels that still smell unpleasant after washing may contain stubborn bacteria that need removing. Rewash your towel using a cup of white vinegar instead of detergent. This should kill the bacteria and neutralise any odours.

In addition, ensure you hang towels out to dry immediately after washing them. Leaving towels in the drum allows mould and mildew to develop, causing damp smells.

Too much detergent can make your towels feel stiff after washing. Use half the amount you would for clothes and choose an extra-long rinse cycle to remove detergent residue. Never use fabric softener on towels, as it lessens their absorbency.

Drying your towels correctly will help you achieve soft, fluffy towels. Try this method for optimal results: 

1. Take the towels out of the wash and shake them thoroughly.
2. Put them in the tumble dryer with some clean tennis balls and dry for around 20 minutes on a high heat. The tennis balls will fluff up the towels, and the heat will kill any remaining bacteria.
3. Hang the towels on the washing line to finish drying them, and ensure they are completely dry before storing them.

If your towels look worn or smell unpleasant, it’s time to invest in new ones. Remember to wash new towels before you use them for the first time, as they have a silicone finish that makes them less absorbent. This also sets the colour so that it doesn’t run or fade. We recommend using half your usual amount of detergent and adding half a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle for the first few washes.