- Washing towels correctly is crucial for hygiene, but do you know what temperature is most effective?
- Find out whether higher temperatures are always necessary or whether modern detergents save energy.
- See how vinegar can help fight bacteria and soften towels while protecting fabrics.
At what degrees Celsius should you wash towels? Are you sure you’re doing it right?
has always raised many questions. Towels belong to a group of fabrics that require special treatment when washing. On a daily basis, towels are most often stored in the bathroom, where the humidity level can be high. Many people still do not air the bathroom after taking a bath, which makes the air in it very humid. The main task of towels is to absorb excess moisture from our body and hair. This means that the towels are often wet and come into regular contact with our epidermis. Due to these factors, the surface of towels becomes an ideal environment for the multiplication of bacteria and microorganisms. In the past, towels were thoroughly washed. Boiling the towels ensured that any germs would be eliminated. Today, the recommendations are different. Some experts indicate that it is best to use high temperatures in the range of 60-90 degrees Celsius to wash towels, others indicate that modern washing machines and detergents allow towels to be washed at as low as 40 degrees Celsius. What is it actually like?
. Dust mites die at temperatures ranging from 60 to 90 degrees Celsius. Hospital textiles are often subjected to chemical processes and washing at high temperatures. According to the website decooria.pl, according to research published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (University of Arizona, 2021), washing at 60 degrees Celsius kills bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus. At temperatures above 55 degrees Celsius, mites die. So can towels be washed at lower temperatures?
High washing temperatures have an impact on the quality of fabrics. They discolor materials and make them stiff and unpleasant to the touch. Experts indicate that allergy sufferers should wash towels and bedding at higher temperatures. Otherwise, washing programs set to 40 degrees Celsius are sufficient. However, it is important to follow a few rules in this case. First of all, the washing cycle should last longer than 1 hour. Longer washing allows for more effective dissolution of dirt and mechanical removal of bacteria. Detergents are also a very important factor. They are largely responsible for the possibility of washing at lower temperatures. When washing towels, choose powders and liquids with antibacterial properties. Thanks to this, the detergent itself will kill bacteria and there will be no need to use high temperatures.
Can towels be washed with vinegar?
One of the most frequently recommended methods for washing towels at home is vinegar. Is it really that effective? The answer to this question is not that simple. Vinegar actually has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which effectively removes germs from fabrics. Additionally, vinegar softens the water, which prevents the washed materials from becoming stiff. However, it is worth knowing that vinegar itself is not a laundry detergent. It will not remove stains and dirt. If you want to be sure that your towels will be perfectly clean after washing, you can mix vinegar with detergents. In this case, it is best to pour vinegar directly into the washing machine drum. During the wash cycle, it will mix with water and be effective on fabrics, but safe on the rubber parts of the washing machine.
