7 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Washing Bath Towels
If you’re wondering why your bath linens aren’t lasting as long as you’d like, look to the laundry room. The culprit might just be improper towel washing and care techniques, which can degrade the quality of your bath linens and diminish their longevity. We’re debunking top towel care myths to help you avoid big mistakes people make when washing towels, so your top-quality towels stay softer—and last longer.
Mistake #1: You Use Fabric Softener on Bath Towels
Fabric softener is promoted as the perfect product for everything from bath towels to blankets and bed sheets to clothing. While it may make your linens feel softer at first, the softener slowly damages towels’ fibers, impeding their absorbency and making them less soft. To keep your towels plush and soft without using softener, always wash your towels according to the label’s instructions.
Mistake #2: You Wash Bath Towels in Hot Water
Hot water can help destroy the germs and bacteria that breed in damp towels, but it can also damage the towels’ fibers, which reduces their ability to absorb water and shortens their lifespan. Always wash towels according to their care instructions—often, cold water is the best option—and use the recommended amount of detergent indicated by your washer. The best way to deal with towel germs is preventative: Hang your towels on a towel bar so they don’t trap excess moisture, allowing them to dry properly between uses.
Mistake #3: You Dry Towel On the Wrong Temperature Setting
Just like you don’t want to wash towels in hot water because it will damage the fibers, you want to avoid drying towels and other bath linens on a high-heat setting. Instead, tumble dry towels on low. Add a few dryer balls or clean tennis balls to help them dry more quickly—and to recapture that cozy fluffiness you love, especially from thick, plush towels with a higher GSM.
Mistake #4: You Associate Towel Cost With Quality
Towel cost does not always indicate quality. When choosing bath towels, you should look past the price and consider other signs of quality, including the material and weight. Cotton bath towels are always a good bet because of their durable, absorbent nature—but not all cotton is created equal. Supima®, Egyptian, and Turkish cotton towels will be softer and more absorbent than standard cotton, thanks to their long and extra-long staple fibers.
What Does GSM Mean for Towels?
Towel weight is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). Towels with a lower GSM are less fluffy and less absorbent, but plusher towels with a higher GSM take longer to dry. While higher-GSM towels will often be more expensive, neither is inherently better: the best towel weight comes down to personal preference, not cost.
Mistake #5: You Use Vinegar to Make Bath Towels Softer
Some people say that you should wash bath towels with vinegar to make them softer and remove build-up and stains, but the benefits of this popular cleaning hack hardly outweigh its risks. Adding vinegar to a laundry load can damage the towels’ fibers and lessen their absorbency. Plus, using vinegar will likely void the warranty of your washer, as the acid can damage rubber seals and hoses to the point of causing leaks.
Mistake #6: You Don't Re-Use Towels Between Washes
Washing towels too often can damage their fibers and cause them to wear out more quickly. For best results, we recommend washing towels every three to four uses to reduce the presence of germs and bacteria while preserving towel longevity. Instead of washing wet towels between each use, hang your bath linens properly to dry to prevent mildew or odors from taking hold. Other tips for helping towels dry more quickly are to choose thinner or quick-dry linens and to keep your bathroom fan on or use a towel-heating rack.
Mistake #7: You Add Too Much Detergent
Always wash bath towels using a gentle detergent in the amount recommended for your washer and the load size. While it may seem that adding more soap to your laundry would mean that towels get cleaner, the opposite is true: Too much soap can build up in towel fibers to the point that they become less absorbent, stiffer, and scratchier. When this happens, towels are also less durable and are more likely to unravel or tear.
Avoid these common towel care mistakes to keep your top-quality bath linens looking and feeling like new. For best results, always follow the care instructions printed on your product’s label. Explore our Guides for more tips and ideas for choosing the best linens and decor to enhance your home.