Towel Care Tips
Wash
and dry your best bath towels before
using them for the first time. Most towels have silicone or other finishes.
Washing the towels removes these finishes and permits maximum absorbency.
To set colors, wash colored
towels with similar colors in warm water for the first several washings. Using
about half the recommended amount of detergent, add 1/2 to 1 cup of white
vinegar to the wash water. The vinegar helps set the colors and removes excess
detergent residue.
Wash
towels every three to four days. Use warm water and color-safe bleach (if
needed) for colored towels. Use hot water and nonchlorine bleach (if needed)
for white towels. White towels should be washed separately or with other white
items to avoid subtle discoloration over time.
Wash
bath towels separately from clothing for sanitary reasons.
Use
fabric softeners according to directions, but use only every three or four
washes. Waxy buildup from softeners can deteriorate the towel fibers over time
and reduce their absorbency.
Give
your towels a shake when taking them out of the washer. This will help fluff
the terry loops that aid absorbency. Don't iron terry towels; this will reduce
absorbency.
Ensure
that towels are dry when you remove them from the dryer. Even slightly damp towels
can quickly mildew, but avoid overdrying; it can destroy the integrity of the
individual cotton fibers.
Many
high-quality towels feature decorative trims to add a soft design element amid
the hard, shiny surfaces of the bathroom.
If possible, use towels with specialty trims as accents only, so you can limit
their laundering and reduce the wear on ribbon, rickrack, lace, or other
decorative elements.
Fold
bath towels and hand towels in thirds for best use of shelfspace:
Fold the towel in half, with open ends to the left, then fold in half again.
Fold up the bottom third of the towel, then fold the top third down. When
storing, face the outer edge of the towel to the front to make it easy to grab
a single towel.
Linen
hand towels for the bath can be safely ironed for a crisp finish. After
ironing, fold linen towels in thirds like other towels.
Towels,
face cloths, and bath mats are
as much home fashion accessories as necessities. As with sheets,
you can choose from the ever-popular classic white or an array of fashion
colors, trims, and patterns. Fluffy white towels give a clean, spa-like feel to
a master, guest, or shared family bath. White and ecru coordinate with
virtually any bathroom color and have longevity. Colors tend to fade over time
(so you might want to buy extras).
Because
of its absorbency and strength, cotton is the fabric of choice for most bath
towels. The manufacturing process and the choice of material affect towel absorbency.
Although sheared towels are the most absorbent, they aren't necessarily the
best for drying. Towels don't dry simply by absorbing moisture; the fiber loops
also brush water off the body. Bottom line: The number of loops per square inch
is the most important indicator of towel performance.
Good-quality
bath towels can last for 10 years with proper care.
Always check the label on
your best bath towels for particular care instructions before proceeding with washing and
drying.
