- Towels are an ideal environment for bacteria and microorganisms, which can lead to skin problems and allergies.
- Modern washing machines and detergents allow you to wash towels at lower temperatures, maintaining their softness and absorbency.
- Find out what temperature is optimal for different types of towels and how to care for them to make them last longer.
Why is washing towels so important?
Towels are quite specific “pieces of material”. Although they seem inconspicuous, they perform very important functions. They wipe the skin and absorb excess moisture. Towels are in regular contact with water and skin. This makes towel fabrics an ideal environment for the multiplication of bacteria and microorganisms. Dirty or unwashed towels can cause unpleasant skin problems and even allergies and diseases.
Formerly . The housewives boiled water in large pots and washed towels this way. High temperatures killed all bacteria and germs. however, this method was unforgiving to fabrics. They were damaged and stiffened very quickly this way. Today’s technologies allow you to wash towels at slightly lower temperatures. Thanks to modern detergents and washing machine functions, the same results can be achieved without the need to boil water. In this way, the fabrics remain soft for a long time and the fibers do not lose their shape and do not delaminate.
At what temperature should you wash towels? Here are the new guidelines
The temperature for washing towels depends on the type of material, the degree of dirt and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Washing at 40–60 °C is most often recommended.
For cotton or terry towels, 60 °C is considered the “golden mean” – it effectively removes bacteria and dirt, with moderate material consumption. In the case of more delicate fabrics (microfiber, bamboo, etc.), it is better to avoid high temperatures – 30-40 ° C is a safer option, so as not to damage the fibers and lose their absorbent properties.
Do home remedies affect the recommended temperature for washing towels?
. They are great at removing bacteria, minimizing bad odors and can be an alternative to washing powders. It is worth knowing that adding them will not replace high temperature when it comes to disinfection. Therefore, even if you wash towels with vinegar or baking soda, it does not change the basic temperature recommendation. These agents can be used for standard washing (e.g. 40-60 °C) or as a “refreshing wash” from time to time.
How to properly wash towels in a washing machine?
especially at high temperature or aggressive mode, can gradually weaken the structure of the towel fibers. This results in increased stiffness of the material, loss of softness and lower absorbency. That’s why it’s worth:
- Adapt the washing frequency to actual use (e.g. wash bath towels every 2-3 times, hand towels more often if necessary), but do not overdo daily washing for no reason.
- Avoid overloading the washing machine – towels need space for water and detergent to freely penetrate the fibers.
- Choose programs with moderate spinning (e.g. ≤ 800 rpm), because very intense spinning also strains the fibers.
- Alternate a “standard” wash at 40°C with a refreshing wash at 60°C to reduce wear and tear while maintaining hygiene.
- Clean the washing machine regularly – detergent or limescale deposits may impair washing efficiency and accelerate fabric wear.
- Dry towels properly – do not over-dry, avoid direct, very intense sun (the color may fade), use a moderate temperature in the dryer.
- From time to time, do “washing without towels” with vinegar or baking soda to remove detergent remnants and dirt from the inside of the washing machine and the towels themselves.
