5 Ridiculous Ways People Ruin Their Towels (and how to save yours)!
Nothing feels as good as drying yourself after a shower or a long soak in the bath with a soft fluffy towel. It makes you feel special somehow when you wrap up in a luxurious towel.
Sadly that softness and fluffiness doesn’t last for long no matter how you try to look after your towels. You wash them regularly, but they still lose that hotel softness.
It could be easy to think that maybe the towels you’re using are to blame. But the reality is that in most cases, your towels lose their soft fluffy feeling because of the way you treat them.
If your towels no longer make you feel pampered, keep reading, because in this brief article I’ll explain the ways that you’re ruining them.
What’s Ruining Your Towels?
It can be easy in our busy lives to put down the towel after bathing and forgetting about it. Let’s face it, if you start your day with a shower, you’re probably already running late.
Which means once you’re dry and dressed, you’re out the door. Your towel doesn’t get a second thought. But simply taking a few moments out of your morning schedule can help your towels feel great and last longer.
Once you actually realise the ridiculous ways towels get ruined, you’ll kick yourself. How many of these are you guilty of?
They Don’t Get Washed Often Enough
Towels are in contact with our skin and water which means they get dirty, full of germs and start to smell bad in a very short space of time. Experts say that bath towels should be washed every three days and hand towels even more frequently because they get dirtier faster because of how often they get used.
Your bath towels are basically sponges that mop up all the post shower you, skin cells, oils, and, yes, even the faint whiff of your shampoo. Washing them every three days is like giving them a well deserved spa day instead of forcing them into a life of grueling servitude.
If you have a large family all using the hand towels, they should be washed daily to prevent germs and bacteria and keep them feeling soft and fluffy.
They’re Exposed To Too Much Detergent
While we’re on the subject of washing towels, this one is a killer! It can be tempting to use extra detergent to get your towels really clean. But it’s a waste of time and detergent.
More detergent doesn’t mean cleaner towels; it’s not a more is more situation here. It’s more like drowning them in sudsy drama. If your towels could talk, they’d probably stage an intervention.
Some experts even suggest that the recommended amount of detergent is too much, so there’s definitely no point adding more. The added problem when using too much detergent with towels is their absorbency.
Any extra detergent gets absorbed into the towel which leads to bacteria and mould and mildew growth. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the excess dried in detergent leaves your towels feeling stiff and scratchy.
You’re Using Fabric Softener
Fabric softener might sound like the hero of softness, but for towels, it’s more like their nemesis. It coats them in a slick chemical armour, leaving them about as effective at drying as using a wet sock.
But the chemicals in the softener actually prevent the towel from absorbing moisture and a towel that doesn’t absorb moisture is about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Over time the softener builds up and makes the towel hard and scratchy too.
You Wash Them At The Wrong Temperature
Towels need to be washed at the correct temperature or they soon start to lose their fluffiness and softness. Think of your towels as Goldilocks, too hot or too cold is no good.
Consult the wash care label on your towels because different towels have different washing requirements. Generally speaking, coloured or patterned towels should be washed at 40oC while white towels require a 60oC wash.
You’re Over Drying Them
If you leave towels damp they’re likely to become smelly due to mould and mildew spores. But over drying them makes them thin and lose their absorbency.
Over drying towels is like taking them out for a relaxing sunbathe and leaving them there until they’re shriveled and lifeless. Tumble with care, folks, this isn’t a barbecue.
If you can, air dry your towels or tumble until they’re nearly dry and then finish them off in fresh air. Either on a line, airer or rack.
Bonus Tips For Preserving The Quality Of Your Towels
That’s 5 ridiculous ways people are ruining their towels. But that’s not all, here are a few other ridiculous ways towels can get ruined;
You’re Not Shaking Your Towels
Towels can get creased up or squashed during the wash cycle in the machine. So to prevent them becoming flat and hard, you should always give them a good shake before putting them in the tumble dryer.
A good shake is like the towel equivalent of morning yoga. Stretch, fluff, and get them ready to face the world, or, you know, the tumble dryer.
If they’re not shaken properly, the dryer will heat up those creases and make them a permanent feature. Once the dryer has finished, your towels should be given another good shake before folding them and putting them away.
You’re Using Them Too Often
This is not necessarily about not washing your towels at the correct time (after 3 uses for bath towels and daily for hand towels), no, this is about not having enough towels to rotate their use regularly.
If you only have one set of towels and you’re washing them regularly, they will wear out much faster than they should and lose their absorbency, softness and fluffiness as well.
Think of it this way: if you had to go to work every day without a break, you’d look pretty rough too. Rotate your towels, and let them enjoy a little R&R.
Your Towels Get Stained From Other Products
If you start to notice white specks on your towels there’s a good chance that they’re caused by toothpaste or face cream or even acne treatment cream.
Some products are your towels’ worst frenemies. Sure, they look harmless, face creams, toothpaste, but together, they form a coalition of chaos that leaves your towels spotted and salty about the whole situation.
Other stains can be caused by makeup. These stains can be really difficult to remove because the heat from the washer and dryer can actually bake the stain into the fabric.
Hanging More Than One Towel On A Hook
Hanging towels together might seem cozy, but it’s actually the start of a germy group hug. Give your towels some breathing room; they’re not that kind of friend.
Who would’ve thought that hanging a couple of towels on the same hook could cause problems? The problem is that damp and dirt can get transferred from one towel to another as they hang together.
You then transfer those germs and bacteria onto your skin when using the towel to dry you. It’s ironic really that you can get covered in bacteria after having a hot shower.
But that’s what’s likely to happen if you hang more than one towel from a hook. If possible, hang your bath towels out in sunlight after use. Or at the very least, hang them separately.
You’re Twisting Your Towels
Do you ever wring your towels like you’re trying to juice them? Bad news, towels aren’t oranges. Twisting them too tightly can break the fibres, making them less absorbent and more prone to tears. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water like you’re handling a delicate soufflé.
Using Bath Towels On The Beach
Taking your plush bath towels to the beach might feel like luxury, but sand and saltwater are their worst enemies. Sand acts like a fine-grit sandpaper, and salt dries out fibres faster than a bad breakup. Save the fancy ones for home and grab a beach towel that’s up for the task.
How To Prevent Ruining Your Towels
Now you know what can cause the ruination of your towels, let’s look at the best ways to prevent it and keep your towels feeling new and fresh every time you use them. They include;
- Use Less Detergent
When you’re washing towels, use ½ as much detergent than is recommended for a regular wash cycle. If you don’t feel comfortable using less detergent than is recommended, at least treat your towels to an extra rinse cycle to remove as much detergent as possible. - Use Fabric Softener Alternatives
Fabric softener isn’t good for towels but that doesn’t mean you can’t soften them. Try using 1 cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle and if you’re drying them in the dryer, use wool drying balls.Think of these as little towel massage therapists. They bounce around the dryer, fluffing and pampering your towels like the divas they are. - Wash Towels In Their Own Wash
Towels are introverts, they don’t want to mingle with your jeans and T-shirts. Keep them in their own cycle to avoid awkward social situations and unnecessary wear and tear.Towels get roughed up if they’re washed with other items like denim for example. When you’re washing towels, give them their own separate wash. - Allow Your Towels To Breathe
Once you’ve dried off, hang your towel up to dry. A hook is OK but a towel bar is better. Or better still, hang your towel outside on the line in sunlight. - Use makeup Wipes
When removing makeup from your face, use makeup wipes to prevent getting makeup on your towels. It’s actually better for your skin because towels will smear the makeup whereas makeup wipes remove it completely.
If you follow these tips, your towels should stay fresh, soft and fluffy.
What Makes Towels Feel Rough?
There are three main causes of rough and scratchy towels which are;
- Overloading The Washer
Cramming the drum full of towels might cut down on detergent use and energy use, but it doesn’t allow your towels to get clean properly. They need room to move around in the drum to get really clean. - Hard Water
Unfortunately hard water affects more than 60% of the UK so it’s very likely that this could be a problem that affects you. If the mineral content in the water is too high it can cause your towels to become rough and scratchy. Try adding either 1 cup of white vinegar into the rinse cycle or 1 cup of ammonia in with the wash cycle but don’t mix these two chemicals unless you want to watch a science experiment go wrong. - Using Too Much Detergent/Fabric Softener
Using detergent and fabric softener in every wash can lead to a buildup that causes problems for towels. Try giving the detergents a rest and using bicarbonate of soda to wash your towels and adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Keep Your Towels Fresh & Fluffy
By now, you’re armed with enough knowledge to give your towels the spa treatment they deserve. Remember, towels are the unsung heroes of our daily routines, offering comfort when we need it most. Treat them well, and they’ll reward you with years of soft, fluffy, and loyal service.
Who knew that showing your towels a little love could make such a difference? So, go ahead, pamper your towels, and in return, they’ll pamper you! Oh, and don’t forget to share this with anyone that you think might find it useful.
SEE ALSO: What Can (And Can’t) Go In An Air Fryer: Full Cheat Sheet
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