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Right now, as Christmas approaches quickly, we look at our home to see what needs a refresh for hosting our guests.  Many people focus on carpet, furniture, etc. However, very often overlooked are the worn and dilapidated towels we’ve used for goodness knows how long!  Towel preservation is important and yet we frequently neglect them even while we hold onto them much longer than we should.

Did you know, you should replace your towels every two years?! Most of us keep them for years! Even with the best care, towels will wear down and become less absorbent.  Yet they are so expensive.  So, what that means is we have to somehow stretch the longevity of our towels.  Use these towel preservation tricks to keep your towels lasting longer.

Towel Preservation Tricks

Don’t use too much detergent

Overuse of detergent wears down the towels, makes them less absorbent and feel less than. Detergent never fully rinses and grips onto the towel fibers. Worse, the towels can actually develop mold over time. Check out these 8 Laundry Hacks That Save You Time & Money.

 

Wash towels in hot water

While I use cold water for all of my clothes, I use the hottest setting for my towels. This helps to get the detergent rinsed as best as possible, and most importantly, kill germs. Just be sure to check your towels tags first. Anything with embellishments should not use hot water. Find out The Laundry Graphs That Will Change Your Life.

 

Don’t wash too often

Since you are drying off a clean body, it isn’t necessary to wash after every use and isn’t good for the towels. Washing once a week should be good.  

 

Let them dry fully

Be sure to let the towels dry fully before folding or folding and hanging over the towel rod after using to dry your body. Not letting them dry can lead to mold and a breeding ground for bacteria.  

 

Buy lighter colors

Darker towels use more dye which ultimately has an effect on absorbancy. Lighter colors also last longer as far as fading.

 

Use Dryer Balls

Dryer balls help keep towels separated while drying, therefore not overdrying which is hard on them.

 

Separate Towels

Separate towels by colors just like you would your clothes and never wash and dry with your clothes.

 

Avoid Fabric Softener & Dryer Sheets

Fabric softener and dryer sheets will ultimately make your towels less absorbent because they coat the towels.

 

Replace your towels every two years

Even if you follow all of the above to protect your towels, towels wear down and become less absorbent. Towels should be replaced about every two years if you want maximum absorbency and softness.

 

Buy quality towels

Don’t skimp on quality towels. A quality towel will last longer, be more absorbent and soft. I personally love SaaSoh, who makes washcloths, hand towels, bath towels and even quality laundry accessories like detergent and fabric conditioner for longer life of your towels.

 

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