How Should You Wash Towels?
Towels are easy to machine wash, but a few habits keep them soft and absorbent instead of stiff and scratchy. The big secrets are: don’t overload, don’t overdose on detergent, and skip the fabric softener. Wash towels separately from clothes so the lint and the heavier weight don’t affect your everyday garments.
What You Need
- Mild liquid detergent
- White vinegar (optional, for softness and odour)
- Warm or hot water setting
Step-by-Step
- Separate towels by colour — wash darks and lights apart.
- Load the drum no more than three-quarters full so towels can tumble freely.
- Use a moderate amount of liquid detergent; too much leaves residue that stiffens the pile.
- Select a warm or hot wash (check the label) for good cleaning and hygiene.
- For extra softness, add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse instead of softener.
- Run an extra rinse to clear all detergent.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t use fabric softener — it coats the fibres and kills absorbency.
- Don’t overload the drum; cramped towels don’t rinse clean.
- Don’t use too much detergent.
- Don’t leave wet towels sitting in the drum — they turn musty fast.
Drying Tips
Tumble dry on medium heat and remove towels while just dry — over-drying makes them rough. A couple of dryer balls help fluff the pile. If line drying, give towels a good shake before and after to lift the loops, and finish them in the dryer for a few minutes if you want that fluffy feel.
Useful Reads & Where to Shop
Towels are heavy when wet, so it pays to know your machine’s capacity before loading. The same wash routine works well for washing bedsheets.