What temperature do hotels wash towels at?

Author: Prof. Korbin Douglas  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Hotel Laundry Uses Hot Water at 160°F It's hotter than a washing machine at a laundromat can handle. It is washed at 160°F. When you wash your sheets and towels at home, take a page out of the hotel laundry playbook and use hot water. ‍For true sanitization and aggressive stain removal, hot water is the only way to go.

How do they wash towels in hotels?

They pre-soak their towels in vinegar or oxygen bleach. After soaking, they wash the towels with hot water and a regular detergent. They may also use a fabric conditioner to soften the towels. Similarly, if a towel smells musty, the cleaners at the hotel may use baking soda to deodorize it.

What temp should a towel washer be?

Since most towels are made from cotton, including the ones at Towel Super Center, we suggest setting the wash temperature to at least 40 degrees on the White/Colors cycle. Wash towels separately from the rest of your laundry and check to ensure there are no specific washing instructions on the towel labels.

Why do hotel towels work so well?

Weight and Density: Hotel towels are usually heavier and denser than standard home towels. This density allows them to hold more water, but they also tend to dry faster due to their construction, enabling better airflow.

How do hotels get their white towels so clean?

They use special commercial detergent and bleaches that keep them white. Also, since they are washed almost daily they don't get the chance for dirt and grime to get ground in to the fabric. And in a good hotel they replace them frequently.

How do hotels keep their towels so white and soft?

Is bleach or vinegar better for white towels?

Choose Bleach or Vinegar for Whitening

Bleach can be effective for keeping white towels bright since there's no risk of color fading. However, vinegar is a safer, eco-friendly alternative that effectively whitens and freshens without the harsh effects of bleach.

Why should you put a towel under your hotel door at night?

How a towel under the door enhances your safety. A towel enhances your safety in the event of a fire in the hotel. Although such situations rarely occur, it's worth being prepared for any eventuality. The property guidelines often recommend staying in your rooms until rescue workers arrive in the event of a fire.

What detergent do hotels use for towels?

When washing whites, nothing has the cleaning power of Mikado's Ultra-High Efficiency Laundry Detergent. You may be familiar with traditional detergents, but this formula is a popular choice, especially for hotels that use white towels and linens.

Why put washcloth in hotel lock?

To make her hotel room door even more difficult for intruders to gain entry into, CiCi simply nabs a small washcloth from the bathroom, looping it through the latch before closing it.

What is the best washing machine temp for towels?

If it's too full, there won't be enough space for the cycle to fully clean the clothes and if it's under filled, the linen may break down faster meaning you'll have to buy new towels sooner rather than later. For household washing machines, the best temperature to wash towels at is at around 40 degrees.

At what temperature should you wash bed sheets?

Sheets should be washed at a warm temperature to kill bacteria. A good temperature to wash bed sheets is 40 degrees but a 60-degree wash will be better at killing germs and should be used if someone in the house has been ill. As always, it's best to consult your bedding care labels for guidance on temperature.

What temperature do you wash smelly towels?

What is the Best Temperature & Setting to Wash Towels? You probably wash most clothes on warm or cool to save energy or extend their life, but towels are a notable exception. To help get odor out of towels, it's best to wash them separately and using hot water.

What temperature are hotel towels washed at?

Upping the temperature to 60 ensures you kill even more bacteria and potential mould. We'd recommend usually washing at 40 degrees and occasionally washing at 60.

How do hotels keep towels so fluffy?

Without a tumble dryer, hotels might use drying racks in well-ventilated areas. They sometimes add vinegar to the final rinse cycle as a natural fabric softener. Gentle manual fluffing of the towels once they are dry is also common to preserve their fluffiness.

Do hotels notice if you take towels?

If you take something from your hotel room, you can expect an extra charge on your bill. Robes and towels are so commonly stolen that many hotels now list the charge right on the hanger; they will automatically bill the credit card they have on file for the extra cost of replacing these items.

What is the best setting to wash towels on?

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.

How do hotels get their towels to smell so good?

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.

How to get hotel fluffy towels?

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.

Why put a coin on a hotel door handle?

A woman who shares a lot of travel tips has shared a genius idea that will help you in this regard. She suggests that whenever you stay in a hotel, you put a coin in the doorknob before you go to sleep. Since the coin remains static on the doorknob, the method can help you know if you are safe.

Does the wet towel trick work?

“Placing a wet cloth on Supercharger cable handles does not increase charging rates and interferes with temperature monitors, creating risk of overheating or damage,” the company said in a post on X asking users to refrain from doing so.

How to wash white towels like hotels?

How to Wash White Towels and Linens at Home
  1. Separate Whites: Always wash your white towels and linens separately from colored items. ...
  2. Use Hot Water: For whites, hot water helps to remove dirt and body oils more effectively than cold water. ...
  3. Opt for a Mild Detergent: Choose a detergent that's designed for white fabrics.

Why do my husband's towels turn yellow?

Body Oils and Lotions: Natural oils from your skin, as well as lotions and other personal care products, can transfer to your towels. Over time, these oils can cause discoloration, particularly on white fabrics. Sun Exposure: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause white towels to yellow.

Who makes the best towels?

We've Tested Over 90 Bath Towels. These Are the Best.
  • Best Overall. Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towels. Read more.
  • Best Value. Amazon Basics Quick-Dry Bath Towels, 2-Pack. Read more.
  • Best Quick-Dry. Everplush Diamond Jacquard Bath Towel. Read more.

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