How to Keep White Towels White

Created: Friday, 01 March 2019 15:11

Keeping white towels looking and feeling their best requires some extra time and attention. Whether you are running a household or business, following some best practices will help you maintain your white linens so they are bright and hygienic for longer.

To make the maintenance process easier for you, we are breaking down how to keep white towels white and fluffy.

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6 Tips for Professionally Whitening Towels

Many hotels keep white towels because they provide a classic, clean look. Over time, however, the towels can lose their pure white look. Instead of replacing perfectly good towels just because of the slightly changing color, there are some simple steps you can take to keep them looking their best. The following will help you learn how to keep towels white.

1. Only Wash Whites With Whites

Whites have their own wash settings to keep them in the best condition. Washing white clothes and other items, including towels, in warm water is the best way to launder them. You can't put other colors in with them on this setting, or you might end up with that stereotypical red sock that turns everything pink. 

Washing whites together has another benefit — keeping your towels bright. White towels can't exactly fade, but they can become dull-looking over time. Washing whites together keeps them in better shape.

2. Spot-Clean Before Washing

Spot-cleaning your white towels before they go into the washing machine keeps them looking their best. If you overlook a stain, it probably has to be thrown away. 

Staff should always check over white towels to find any stains. Guests would not like to find a stained towel, even if it was clean.

Spot-cleaning your towels will help get those stains out, making it look like they were never there at all.

3. Add Baking Soda to the Wash Cycle

You can also help keep your towels in the best condition by adding baking soda to the wash cycle. You can use the normal laundry detergent amount and introduce about half a cup of baking soda when washing white towels.

The water in the machine will activate the baking soda and help make your towels look brighter. Baking soda can be tough on other materials, but towels tend to be more durable than other fabrics.

4. Don't Overfill the Washing Machine

If you're backed up on laundry, it can be tempting to fill your washing machines to the max to catch up again. This puts extra stress on your washing machines and doesn't provide a very thorough clean.

When you overfill your washing machine, there's not enough room for your clothes to move around during the wash cycle. Your towels need to be agitated enough to get that deep clean you need.

5. Learn the Proper Way to Bleach White Towels

Chlorine bleach is one of the key ingredients to achieving a bright, white look for your towels. It's vital to use it correctly, though.

Remember that bleach is a chemical that will permanently remove all pigments from fabrics. Therefore, only use bleach with your white towels. 

Start by sorting out all your white towels. Make sure they are all made from similar fabric, such as cotton. Why? You're going to be laundering them in the hottest water possible. Some fabrics can only be washed in warm or cool water, so you want to make sure your towels can all handle the same level of heat.

Set your washing machine on the highest heat setting your towels can accept. Then, adjust the load size so that your towels will agitate in the tub.

Toss your white towels into the machine. Add an appropriate amount of detergent as normal. Close the lid or door and start the wash cycle. After five minutes, your towels will be nicely soaked and ready to accept the bleach. At this point, stop the machine and add a solution of about a cup of bleach and a cup of warm water. Pour the bleach mixture directly into the machine, close the lid and resume the cycle.

You may want to rinse your towels twice after the bleaching process to remove any lingering odors. Afterward, put your towels in your dryer as you typically would.

6. Fold Right After the Dry Cycle

After your towels have dried completely in the dryer, it's important to fold them right away. A towel looks much better when it's folded immediately and sits overnight. The fabric has time to settle and won't wrinkle. This gives a much more professional and inviting look to your towels.

How to Make White Towels Last Longer

Whether you are investing in new white towels for your household or business, you'll want them to be absorbent and look fantastic for as long as possible.

With some extra care and attention during the washing and drying processes, you can keep your towels in the best condition so they maintain their white appearance and soft texture.

Explore how to wash white towels so they last longer and keep their fluffiness:

Wash White Towels Routinely

No matter what you use your white towels for, keeping them clean plays a key role in extending their useful life. Waiting too long to launder them can spell trouble. 

If you have a yoga studio or fitness center, damp, used towels may end up tossed in a hamper somewhere. When used towels are piled together, they're folded and wrinkled. Wrinkled, damp towels are a prime breeding ground for mildew. Besides being smelly, mildew can mess with your towel's appearance. Keeping damp towels from building up in a pile can be a challenge, especially for gym and hotel owners, since laundry can't be done several times a day. 

The best way to protect against damaging mildew is to make sure your towels are being washed regularly. Creating a weekly laundry routine will help minimize how long your white towels stay dirty and help prohibit them from developing unwanted mildew and spots.

Avoid Using Too Much Detergent or Fabric Softener

When washing dirty towels, you may assume they require extra detergent for deeper and more effective cleaning. However, adding extra detergent can damage your towels. Using too much detergent can result in stiff, uncomfortable textures.

If you're looking for ways to get your white towels clean without going overboard on detergent, try this — use half of the detergent manufacturer's suggested amount of detergent in a load of towels. After you've added the detergent, before you start the washing machine, add 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar into the washer tub with the white towels. The vinegar will help repel any extra detergent residue that may attempt to hang on to the towel fibers.

Using too much fabric softener in your laundry can also impact how your white towels feel and absorb water. It can leave behind a waxy residue that blocks out moisture and makes your towels less effective.

Rather than using fabric softener, place a few dryer balls — or clean tennis balls — into the dryer to fluff towels as they dry. Besides being better for your white towels, this will save money since dryer balls and tennis balls are both reusable.

Don't Over-Dry White Towels

Yes, damp towels can grow mildew, but extending the dryer cycle to over-dry your towels isn't the solution. Neither is increasing the heat setting on the dryer. When you don't follow the manufacturer's instructions for washing your white towels, you risk destroying the integrity of its fibers with overexposure to heat.

In addition to not over-drying your towel, you'll also want to remove them from the dryer promptly. It can be tempting to put off folding towels, especially during a busy day, but if you leave towels in the dryer after the drying cycle is complete, then the fabric of your towels becomes wrinkled and flat. 

Instead of a fluffy white towel, you'll end up with a flat, wrinkled piece of fabric — and no one wants to dry off with that. Pay careful attention to your dryer and remove towels as soon as possible. 

Taking them out of the dryer right away will also allow you to ensure that they are entirely dry. You'll never want to fold damp towels, as this can cause mildew growth. If your towels need extra drying time, set a timer and use the dryer for a few extra minutes.

Avoid Using White Towels for Makeup

Avoid using white towels for removing or cleaning makeup products like foundation or mascara. The chemicals and pigment in the makeup can leave hard-to-get-out and permanent stains on towels.

You can preserve your white towels and keep them looking their best by keeping them far away from makeup. Consider investing in darker towels to use solely for washing your face instead. You could also use reusable, machine-washable makeup removal pads that will help you protect the environment and preserve your white towels.

For businesses, there's no good solution to this one — if your patrons wipe their faces with a white towel, their makeup is going to leave stains. When you can, attempt to identify and spot-clean these stains before throwing the towel into the washing machine. However, that still may not be enough to salvage the towel.

Wash White Towels in Hot Water

When washing a load of white towels, it is always best to use the hot water settings on your washing machine. The higher temperature water kills germs and bacteria while helping to lift stains so white towels look brighter.

Hot water can actually ruin colored towels, but it's an excellent way to maintain the pristine color of a white towel. While it is best to wash white linens in hot water, ensure your washing machine's water temperature settings are not too high. Washing towels in water that is too hot can cause shrinkage and damage to the towel's fibers. 

Take Steps to Maintain Towel Fluffiness

There are a few things you can do to help your white towels feel their best and fluffiest.

It's tempting to drag wet towels into the dryer in one big lump, but this can spell disaster if you're looking to keep towels soft and plush. When you pull towels from the washing machine, shake each one to remove wrinkles and excess water before placing it in the dryer. Shaking them out in between cycles will ensure luxurious, fluffy towels and prevent them from coming out of the dryer flat and wrinkled.

Laundering your towels too frequently can also cause them to lose some of their fluffiness. Experts recommend that home towels only be washed after three uses. Obviously, if you're using towels in a hotel, spa or gym, then this just isn't going to be possible. 

So how do you keep from washing the same towels over and over again? Many hotels have started inviting their guests to reuse their towels if they're staying for more than one night. Besides being an outstanding way to be more environmentally friendly, this also cuts down on how frequently towels are being washed.

If you don't have the option for customers or guests to reuse towels, then keep enough towels on hand that you can switch between sets and avoid washing the same towels every single day. A great way to make sure you have enough towels on hand is to purchase white towels in bulk.

When to Replace White Towels

Experts say you should replace towels every two to five years. After this period, maintaining the brightness and fluffiness of white towels can become more challenging.

The following are some additional telltale signs that you should replace your towels:

• Scratchiness: Towels can become stiff and scratchy over the years. Scratchiness can also be a result of washing or drying your laundry on too high of a setting. If you notice that the fabric still feels rough after proper care and your white towels are less soft than they used to be, it may be time for a replacement.
• Less absorbent: After a long shower, everyone wants a soft towel that soaks up the excess water and helps us dry off quickly. However, the material can start to lose its absorbency after a few years and cause the towel to be less effective. As towels are used over and over, they can slowly accumulate buildup from things like hard water, detergents and fabric softeners, which can block out moisture and impact the towel's absorbency.
• Fraying or rips: Another telltale sign you should invest in new white towels is fraying or holes. This is essential for businesses. You wouldn't want to give your customers overly worn towels with any damage.
• Lingering odor: After washing your towels, they should smell fresh and clean. When towels have a persistent odor, it is time to replace them with something new. A musty smell is typically a sign that the material has trapped soap residue, mildew or germs.
• Permanent stains: If your white towels have permanent marks and stains from makeup or other applications, it is likely time to replace them. Hotels and spas should always provide patrons with spotless towels or washcloths. 
• Yellowing: As white towels get older and endure a lot of use, their aging fibers can start to yellow. If you notice your towels are still looking dingy after washing with bleach, then you may want to swap them out with newer options. 
• Thinning: When your white towels start feeling less fluffy and their material gets thinner, it might be time to replace them. Towel thinning can negatively impact absorbency and appearance.

The best way to elongate the life span of your white towels is to take proper care of them. Follow the care instructions on the tag and always stick with maintenance best practices to keep your towels looking and feeling their best for longer.

Buy High-Quality White Towels in Bulk From Towel Super Center

If you are looking for high-quality white towels for your home or business, turn to the wide selection of options from Towel Super Center. Buying in bulk allows you to rotate your towels and keep them in the best shape possible for longer.

As the country's leading online towel wholesaler, we understand the importance of durable towels at lower price points. We offer various sizes and colors for your unique wants and requirements.

Are you interested in seeing more? Browse our selection of white towels from Towel Super Center today!