“Hot water can be damaging to the cotton and shrink the towel,” she says.
Aggressive on textiles, we recommend using hot water to launder only heavily soiled or odorous items made from strong fiber like cotton, and durable synthetic fabrics. Never use hot water on delicate fabrics, as it can cause damage or shrinkage to the garment.
Yes, it can cause shrinkage in delicate or non-colorfast fabrics, so always check care labels. On the wrong items, like delicate or dyed fabrics, hot water can cause shrinkage, fading and wrinkling.
Use warm to medium hot water on a normal washing cycle
However, the general rule of thumb is to put towels through a regular cycle at a medium-hot temperature, just hot enough to kill off any bacteria and remove loose towel fibres. However, you should check the care labels for product-specific instructions.
For household washing machines, the best temperature to wash towels at is at around 40 degrees. Washing at 40 degrees will ensure your towels stay feeling and looking their best for longer, whilst removing most of the germs that breed there.
Incorporating natural additives such as vinegar or baking soda during the wash cycle can further enhance softness. Advanced drying methods, utilizing commercial-grade dryers with precise drying cycles, play a crucial role in preserving the towels' plush texture.
Certain fabrics, especially delicate ones like silk, lace, Cashmere, or certain synthetics should avoid being washed in hot water at all costs. According to Dills, these materials can be damaged from the heat and cause them to lose their shape or texture.
Washing cotton in hot water can cause shrinkage. While cotton fabrics tend to have a maximum shrinkage capacity, heat can cause your cotton items to permanently shrink. Avoid this by using cold water when washing cotton, or alternating between warm and cold washes.
Temperature Makes a Big Difference
And typically, to kill the microbes and remove body oils and stains, towels should be washed in warm or hot water. Or, using chlorine bleach can sanitize white, cotton towels when added to a washer's bleach dispenser or diluted with water before adding to the washer drum.
The idea is simple: Heat kills bacteria. By immersing towels in boiling water, proponents argue you can eliminate germs effectively without the need for harsh chemicals.
The most crucial one being that hot water should be used during the wash cycle for hygienic cleanliness. You may worry that hot water could shrink your fabrics, but this is not a concern when it comes to tea towels!
Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels.
The number one rule for microfiber is to only wash with cold water. Hot water can damage, shrink, and melt the synthetic polymer fibers causing the towels to lose their softness and absorbency.
Tempting though it is to dry towels as quickly as possible by turning up the heat on the tumble dryer, it can actually do them a lot of harm. “High heat can damage the fibres of your towels, causing them to become rough and less absorbent,” explains Molly Freshwater. “It can also lead to colour fading and shrinkage.”
Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle. A sanitizing cycle can also be used, but may not be recommended for every wash, depending on the towel fabric.
Delicate fabrics (lace and silk) and dark, colorful fabrics actually do best in cold water. Not all stains respond to warmer water. For example, blood and sweat can actually set into fabric in hot water. Also, hot water tends to shrink, fade, and wrinkle certain fabrics.
Wash jeans in warm water: Most of the time when you have something that you want to wash gently you wash it in cold water. But that's not the case when you are washing denim jeans. Warm water will help the color stay in the jeans and help keep the jeans from shrinking. Hot water is too hot and can destroy the fabric.
Hot water can ruin delicate fabrics like rayon, rayon blends, wool, or silk by shrinking or breaking the fibers.
It's best to wash towels separately from clothes. If washed together, towels will spread lint and other fibers onto clothes and fabric. Additionally, towels are typically washed on a heavier cycle, using hot water and no fabric softener.
Using a warm or hot wash cycle can cause your clothes to shrink, especially if they're made from cotton, wool, and linen. Not to mention, hot water can fade the color in fabrics, reduce their elasticity, and make them prone to tearing or fraying.
Light from the hallway, which often remains on throughout the night in hotels, and the sounds of footsteps and conversations from people walking in the hallway can penetrate through the gap under the door. The towel effectively covers this gap and muffles sound and light, improving sleep comfort.
Baking soda or vinegar will do the trick. BAKING SODA: Adding baking soda to your towel wash helps remove soap and chemical residue that can end up covering your towels. Add half a cup of baking soda with your washing detergent, then wash as usual.
Why are hotel towels so much better? The fabric of towels you'll see in hotels is of high-quality cotton with dense loops, offering more softness, absorbency, and durability.