Hotel towels have a feel that’s hard to replicate at home: They’re white, soft, smell clean, and seem to stay the same even after many washes. The secret lies in a more careful process than a simple trip to the machine, with pre-washing, hot water, controlled drying and frequent renewal of the pieces.
After a day of traveling, few things are as pleasant as showering and using a fluffy white towel in a hotel room.
But this feeling of comfort does not happen by chance. According to , the maintenance of towels in hotels follows rigorous routines, designed to ensure cleanliness, impeccable appearance and durability.
The secret starts before the machine
One of the most important steps is pre-washing. Instead of putting towels directly into the machine, many hotels do a treatment phase first.
Towels can be soaked in water with active oxygen-based solutions or white vinegar, which helps loosen body oils, product residues and stains.
This process allows the detergent to work better during the main wash and prevents dirt from accumulating in the fibers.
Hot water and suitable detergent
When washing, hotels normally use stronger detergents suitable for large volumes of clothing.
Hot water also makes a difference because it helps remove grease, residue and bacteria more effectively.
Still, the process has to be balanced. Washing too aggressively can damage the fibers and reduce the life of the towel.
Machines are not overcrowded
Another important detail is the quantity of clothes placed in each wash.
In hotel laundry rooms, the machines are large and allow towels to have enough space to move around.
When the machine is too full, the water and detergent do not circulate well, washing becomes less effective and the towels may come out stiffer or poorly rinsed.
Drying makes all the difference
After washing, drying also influences softness.
Hotels avoid temperatures that are too high, because excessive heat can make the fibers stiff and rough.
Drying at a moderate temperature helps keep towels fluffy and more pleasant to the touch.
Best quality towels
There is another factor that explains the difference: the quality of the towels themselves.
Many hotel towels are made with higher quality cotton, have a higher density and are designed to withstand many washes.
They also tend to have reinforced seams, which increases resistance to frequent use.
Rotation prevents rapid wear
Hotels don’t always use the same towels every day.
There is constant rotation, which allows wear to be distributed over several parts and extends the useful life of the set.
When a towel starts to become rough, stained or shows signs of wear, it is removed from circulation.
Why do they get rough at home?
At home, towels can lose softness for a variety of reasons: too much detergent, frequent use of fabric softener, too full of machines or drying at high temperatures.
The fabric softener, despite leaving a scent, can create a layer on the fibers and reduce the towel’s absorption capacity.
Also the accumulation of limescale in the water can contribute to a rougher sensation.
How to approximate the result at home
To improve your towels, use less detergent, avoid excess fabric softener and don’t overfill the machine.
From time to time, you can wash with white vinegar, without exaggeration, to help remove accumulated residue.
The ideal is to dry the towels well, without excessive heat, and only store them when they are completely dry.
The trick is in the routine
Hotel towels aren’t just prettier because they’re new or expensive. They are treated methodically, washed carefully and replaced when they no longer meet the expected standard.
At home, it can be difficult to achieve exactly the same result, but small habits make a difference.
With pre-washing, less excess product and good drying, towels can become whiter, softer and with a feeling much closer to that of a hotel.
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