How to Keep Your Towels in Tip-Top Shape
Do your towels smell musty? Are they shedding? Check out my 8 tips to solve these and other after-the shower issues.
1. Smell musty? Wash, using the hottest water the towels can tolerate along with one to two cups of vinegar. Then wash again with your regular laundry detergent.
2. Don't get you dry? Washing and drying 5 times or more may help increase absorbency. Laundering will remove some of the coating manufacturers put on their towels to make them feel soft in the store and some of the dye, both of which interfere with the towel's absorption.
Related: Terrific Bath Towels
3. Shedding little bits of lint all over the bathroom or on your skin? Laundering them a few times will remove loose fibers.
4. Want to keep the color on your new towels? Put vinegar in the first time washing towels with your detergent which may help reduce color loss. Dry them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
5. Feel like sandpaper? Dry your towels with a fabric softener sheet instead of using liquid fabric softener since liquid fabric softener can inhibit absorption
Tips:
If it says no chlorine bleach, don't use it! Even some white towels have a finish that shouldn't be bleached. Bleach can weaken the fibers over time and make towels less absorbent.
Related: Tips for Buying Top-Notch Towels
Read the care label before you wash. Machine wash on the hottest temperature-setting recommended, with similar colors.
Maintain fullness by fluffing, or shaking out washed towels before placing in the dryer and fluffing again upon removal
Are you using too much laundry detergent? Check out our laundry advice from Cleaning Appliances Director Carolyn Forte.
What other questions do you have about keeping your towels in good shape? Let me know in the comments.
- by Jamie Ueda
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