Towel Wash Tips: Most of us consider towels as a very common thing. The same towel is hung after bathing, the towel used for wiping utensils in the kitchen remains the same throughout the day and the towel used for wiping hands is used by many people, but have you ever thought how clean these towels actually remain? Towel is a cloth which easily catches moisture, sweat, dirt and bacteria coming from the skin. Moreover, if it is not dried properly, it does not take much time for odor and mold to develop. Many people think that unless a towel is visibly dirty, there is no need to wash it. Whereas some people consider it right to wash the towel after every use. The truth lies somewhere between these two. It is not necessary to wash every towel every time, but there are some towels which are better to wash frequently. It completely depends on where and for what purpose the towel is being used. Professionals working in the laundry and cleaning field say that washing towels at wrong intervals can lead to skin problems, allergies and even bacterial infections. Therefore, it is important to know how often which towel should be washed and how to keep it clean properly.
How often should towels be washed?
The same rules do not apply to all towels. The use of every towel is different, hence the time for washing it should also be different.
beach or pool towel
It is best to wash the towel used in the beach or swimming pool every time. It contains sand, sweat, sunscreen, chlorine and salt water. Even though it looks clean, there is a lot of dirt hidden in it.
kitchen towel
Kitchen towels get dirty the fastest. It comes in contact with food crumbs, oil, grease and counter dirt. It is better to wash it every day or at most after leaving it for a day.
bath towel
If you spread and dry the towel properly after bathing, it can be used three to five times. Folding a wet towel and hanging it is like inviting bacteria.
hand towel
Hand towels are often used by many people. It is best to wash it every two to three days, especially when there is less air in the bathroom.
These signs indicate that the towel will now have to be washed.
Many times the towel looks fine, but in reality it is not clean. There are some clear signs by which it can be understood that now is the time to wash.
-Silly or moldy smell coming from the towel
-Takes a long time to dry properly
-Feeling moist even after hours
-Sticky feeling while wiping the skin
If any of these things are seen, do not delay. Change the towel, even if it is not very old.
How to wash towels correctly?
It is not enough to just wash, it is also important to wash properly.
wash different towels separately
Never wash kitchen and bathroom towels together. This can spread bacteria from one towel to another.
sort by color
Washing light and dark colored towels separately prevents color loss, especially in new towels.
water temperature
Lukewarm or hot water is suitable for most towels. Hot water is more effective for kitchen towels.
Choice of detergent
Use mild but effective detergent. Soap with very strong chemicals can make the towel hard.
home remedy for bad smell
If the towel smells, you can add a scoop of baking soda while washing.
distance from fabric softener
Fabric softener causes a layer to form in the towel fibers, which makes it absorb less water. It is better to add half a cup of white vinegar instead.
correct way to dry
Dry the towel in the dryer on medium or slightly high flame. Take care not to dry them more than necessary. As soon as the dryer stops, take out the towels and give them a gentle shake to keep them soft.
