Laundry and garment care
How to Wash and Dry Towels Properly
Sort, load loosely, follow the label and dry fully before storage
Overview
Towels hold a lot of moisture. Check each care label, group compatible colours and materials, use a suitable wash cycle, and dry the load promptly and completely to reduce colour transfer, residue and musty odours.
Tools needed
- Laundry basket or clean sorting area
- Towel care labels
- Detergent used according to its label
- Washing machine and user manual
- Ventilated drying area or suitable dryer
Cleaning steps
Check labels and sort
Read the wash, bleach and drying instructions on every towel. Separate lights, darks, possible colour bleeders and towels with trims; keep them away from lightweight garments.
Deal with wetness and stains
Spread damp towels out instead of sealing them in a hamper. Pretreat visible stains only as permitted by both the towel and stain-product labels; do not mix products.
Load the washer loosely
Do not pack the towels down or exceed the machine manual’s capacity. They need room for water and detergent solution to circulate.
Measure the detergent
Follow the product label for load size and soil level. Too much detergent, or an unsuitable softener, can leave residue and reduce absorbency.
Choose a label-safe cycle
Use the water temperature, cycle and spin permitted by the care label. A towel cycle still has to agree with the towel labels and machine manual.
Dry promptly and completely
Remove towels as soon as washing ends. Spread them in moving air or use a label-approved dryer setting, then store only when thick hems and folds are fully dry.
Common mistakes
Leaving wet towels sealed in a hamper
✓ Correct actionSpread them out to air until it is time to wash.
Packing towels with lightweight clothes
✓ Correct actionSort by colour and weight and leave the drum loosely loaded.
Guessing a large detergent or softener dose
✓ Correct actionMeasure from the product label; omit softener when absorbency compatibility is unclear.
Folding towels that only feel dry on the surface
✓ Correct actionCheck thick hems and folds and store only when fully dry.
Practical tips
Tips for helpers
- Leave space between thick towels and turn them during air drying if needed.
- Keep towels away from snag-prone or lint-attracting garments.
Tips for employers
- Identify towels with trims, special fibres or household colour groups.
- Provide the washer manual and approved laundry products.
Completion checklist
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