High-end hotels prefer to use Egyptian cotton, which is softer, fluffier, and cozier than regular cotton. Such that, even
Mix up your drying methods
'Alternate between tumble drying and line drying,' advises Lucy Ackroyd. 'The best way to get super fluffy towels is tumble drying immediately after a wash, however overuse can make the fabric wear down over time. 'To combat the effect of the tumble dryer, line dry your towels occasionally.
Use Vinegar or Baking Soda
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda or vinegar to the laundry at the time when you add your regular liquid detergent. Baking soda or vinegar helps: Keep towels fluffy.
The main reason is that they wash their towels in hot water 40-50c with commercial detergent and no fabric softener. Fabric softener can really reduce the absorbency of your towels,which leave a waxy residue on towels, for example. Also, cotton gets more absorbent with use, and hotel towels are well-used.
Bleach and Peroxide Detergent Usage
One of the most well-known secrets of the hotel industry in keeping their sheets enviably is peroxide-based detergents. Bleach is also added to the mix.
Hotels and laundries have a chemical called Potassium permanganate which is a very strong oxidizer that can kill everything and also remove stains effectively. So now you know how hotels manage to keep towels white.
Remove Stains From Clothes
Hydrogen peroxide is a very effective stain remover for protein- and plant-based stains. And it works well in treating mildew, blood, fruit and vegetable, and dye-transfer stains.
Ring-spun cotton is the most popular design for most high-end hotel towels. Perfect for an authentic 5-star feel, the blend of long and short twisted fibers helps to make the towel loops strong and smooth.
According to Erdem, essentially everything else falls onto the "do not take" list. "Linens, such as towels, sheets, and pillowcases, are some of the big no-nos. Also, some guests incorrectly assume that books or magazines available in their rooms are up for grabs; they often are not," Erdem said.
Finally, some hotels actually sell linens to guests like me who are tempted to pack the towels in their suitcases. (Don't do that, by the way. If you do, you'll probably find an extra charge on your credit card.) Some hotels may have a store on the premises where you can buy sheets and towels to take home with you.
Instead, try soaking your towels in a solution of a baking soda and water before putting them in the machine. Adding a little baking soda to your wash cycle detergent can help too, as can distilled white vinegar added during the rinse cycle.
Gather all towels
Many hotels have signs in the guest room bathrooms instructing guests to leave towels they don't plan to use again on the floor (or in the bathtub) as a sign to housekeeping that you want them replaced.
Cotton naturally retains water, and it is this 'residual water' that binds the cotton fibres together. Hence towels often feel stiff after they have been washed. Even when cotton feels dry to the touch, the individual microscopic cotton fibres still have a thin broken film of water covering them.
With the correct care, you can keep them feeling soft and fluffy for longer. Towels and bathrobes should be washed frequently using a warm gentle wash cycle at 40 degrees. Be careful not to overload, and separate light colours from dark ones.
Wash towels with vinegar every month or so to keep them as soft as the day you bought them. Doing so will also help if you have noticed that your usual bath towels are feeling less absorbent, as it will dig into the fibers and help to remove soapy residue.
Turns out there are few things you might be doing to your laundry that are affecting the fluff-factor on your towels, such as using too much detergent, using fabric softeners (seems counter-intuitive, right?) or, unfortunately, using water-efficient cycles on your washing machine.
Some accommodation providers have tried to prevent possible mischief by removing 420 as a room number entirely. Over the years other hotel guests have noticed other attempts by hotels to circumvent the enthusiasm of stoners for the number 420.
If you do see her there, please say hello. Ever wonder why you've never stayed in a hotel room on the 13th floor? The answer is simple: The floor doesn't exist. It all comes down to triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13.
The Bethesda, Md. -based hospitality giant has partnered with Standard Textile, which has factories in Thomaston, Ga., and Union, S.C., to produce the towels and bath mats with 100% cotton fiber grown in the USA.
Enter: Cozy Earth, the home brand that's beloved by both our team and Oprah Winfrey (NBD). They sent me a set of their Waffle Bath Towel Set, which manages to strike the perfect balance of luxe and lightweight.
Nothing beats the soft and welcoming touch of the Marriott Pool Towel after a swim. Weaved from super absorbent cotton and adorned with a classic navy trim, this towel is a timeless poolside necessity waiting to be welcomed home.
Hydrogen peroxide
Time for a little science lesson. OxiClean contains several ingredients, but the important one for boosting and brightening laundry is sodium percarbonate — basically, dry hydrogen peroxide plus washing soda (also called sodium carbonate, which is very similar to but not exactly baking soda).
Mixing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda causes a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide and certain other chemicals which can cut through soap scum and hard water stains.
Don't mix it with vinegar.
Mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar creates peracetic acid, a corrosive acid that can harm the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. While it's okay to use the two in succession on a surface, don't ever mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in the same bottle.