Waxy buildup from softeners can deteriorate the towel fibers over time and reduce their absorbency. No one wants a towel that's not fluffy, so be careful when using fabric softener with towels.
Drying Techniques: Hotels may use specialized drying techniques to ensure towels remain fluffy and soft. Tumble drying on low heat or using a lower heat setting prevents overheating and excessive shrinkage. Some hotels also use dryer balls or tennis balls to fluff up towels during the drying process.
Chemical Ingredients: Many fabric softeners contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals, which can irritate sensitive skin or trigger allergies in some individuals. Build-Up on Fabrics: Fabric softeners can leave a residue on clothing over time, which may reduce the absorbency of towels and other fabrics.
Synthetic and water-resistant materials.
Fabric softener can wear down the effectiveness of water-resistant materials and synthetic fabrics such as polyester. A garment made with elastane, like spandex, can lose its ability to stretch and reshape itself.
If your clothes are made of cotton and natural fibers, you should use fabric softener. You'll get the benefits of minimal wrinkles and pilling without worrying about whether your clothes are ruined. But the key is not to overuse fabric softener — less is more in this case!
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.
Lavender, lemon, orange, lemongrass, and eucalyptus are excellent options for a homemade laundry scent. Combine a quart of white vinegar with 30 – 40 drops of the essential oil you've selected.
Vinegar Soak: Place your towels in the washing machine and add one cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. The vinegar will break down mineral buildup and soap residue that can contribute to fabric stiffness.
Fabric softener shouldn't be used on towels, sportswear, athleisure apparel, or other garments known for wicking moisture. “The fabric softener can break down the fibers in these materials,” warns Laurie Fulford, a laundry expert with Poplin.
Subtle fragrance enhancements: Some hotels add subtle fragrance enhancements to elevate the pleasant scent of their towels. For example, they may use scented sachets or keep natural essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus in their storage area.
Minerals like calcium and magnesium in hard water can make towels rough and scratchy. These minerals build up on the towel fibers, causing them to lose their softness over time. The mineral buildup also leads to a dull color and overall fabric deterioration.
“Oxygen bleach and other shop-bought laundry whitening products can restore white towels,” advises Paterson. “Oxygen bleach is a powdered product (sodium percarbonate) that can be used to remove stains and disinfect. It's considered gentler and eco-friendlier than chlorine bleaches.
Most towel experts would agree that it's a bad idea to use fabric softener on towels regularly, as it will decrease their absorbency over time.
How often should I wash my bath 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.
So, to get started, load your towels into the washing machine and forget about detergent entirely. If you're not sure where to put vinegar in the washing machine, laundry pro Balanzat advises, 'Pour one cup of white vinegar directly into the fabric softener dispenser or, if there isn't one, directly into the drum.
For super soft towels, add fabric conditioner to your load of laundry. Pouring a bit of liquid fabric conditioner like Lenor into your machine's dispenser drawer will prevent your towels from fading, stretching and bobbling during the wash, acting as a lubricant and helping to make them feel soft.
Using vinegar in laundry is simple. You can add it to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine or pour it in during the final rinse cycle. When adding vinegar towards the end of the cycle, manually pause your machine right before the final rinse cycle and add a 1/2 cup of diluted white vinegar to the load.
It's easy to freshen up your towels. Start with a hot water cycle (for whites) or warm cycle (colors) and add about half the detergent you'd use for clothes. To clean musty towels or strip old fabric softener away, add 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle.
Using Fabric Softener:
Fabric softeners are specially designed to add a soft, pleasant scent to your clothes while reducing static and making them feel cozy. Simply add fabric softener to your laundry during the rinse cycle and let it work its magic.
Simply add half a cup of baking soda to your laundry during the wash cycle, and your clothes will come out smelling clean and feeling soft. Wool dryer balls are a natural alternative to fabric softener that can help to eliminate static, reduce wrinkles, and speed up drying time.
Vinegar leaves clothes scent-free: While vinegar has a distinctive odor when added to the rinse cycle the scent is not transferred to your laundry. Most commercial fabric softeners have fragrances added that may not be pleasant to everyone.
Waxy buildup from softeners can deteriorate the towel fibers over time and reduce their absorbency. No one wants a towel that's not fluffy, so be careful when using fabric softener with towels.
The Reason Why Towels Can Smell Bad
Mildew smells tend to intensify in warm, moist environments, so a bunched-up, wet towel left in the washing machine drum or at the bottom of your laundry basket provides just the right circumstances for that mildew smell to develop.
Towels should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric according to the care label. Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle.