How to Wash Salon Towels

Buying the right types of towels for your salon is the first step. Once you have your salon towels, you'll want to take proper care of them to keep them in better condition and extend their life span. Washing your towels properly and washing them at the correct times will help you get the most out of these salon essentials.

8 Steps for Washing Salon Towels

Washing towels properly isn't just about when you wash them, it's how you wash them. Using these tips as a guide, you can give your salon towels the proper care they need. Here are seven steps for cleaning your salon towels.

1. Treat Stains

Start by treating any stains present on your salon towels. Sometimes, the stain might be easily treatable with water and dish soap. Scrub the stain well under running water until the stain is removed. Other stains might need extra care. Consider helpful cleaning agents like chemical stain removers, white vinegar treatments, baking soda, dish soap or hydrogen peroxide. 

2. Use the Right Detergent

You'll also want to use the right detergent to preserve the integrity of the towel material and keep it thick and soft. Consider detergents with natural ingredients and cleaning agents that won't trigger any allergic reactions in your clients. Avoid detergents with bleach or chemical whiteners, which might strip away the fabric after many washes. 

3. Don't Use Fabric Softener

Avoid fabric softeners and chemicals that might strip away your salon towels' natural softness. While fabric softener might be a quick solution for your towels, it can create buildup on the fabric and in the washing machine, which leads to early fraying and stiffness. Use white vinegar treatments, which act as natural fabric softeners without the added chemicals or buildup. 

4. Wash Towels Separately According to Color and Type

When washing towels, separating loads by color and type is always helpful. For example, if you have white towels and red towels, avoid washing them together, as the red towels could bleed into the white towels, creating an unwanted pink color. It's also essential to separate loads by type. If you have large towels for hair as well as small hand towels, wash them separately to avoid wrinkles.

5. Choose the Right Temperature

It's helpful to wash salon towels in warm water to remove stains and maintain the material. Check the towel tags to see if the material has special washing and temperature requirements. It's essential to follow manufacturing instructions at all times. 

6. Wash Smaller Loads at a Time

When you overstuff your washer, the towels might not get washed properly. Smaller loads help ensure clean towels. Depending on the size of your washing machine and the size of your towels, you can include anywhere from five to seven towels at a time. Make sure there is room for the towels to move around and get thoroughly cleaned in the soap.

7. Fold Your Towels

After washing and drying, fold your towels right away to avoid wrinkling. The more you wait to fold freshly dried towels, the more likely they will become wrinkled and unusable. Quickly fold and put away your towels as soon as the dryer has finished. 

8. Only Wash Towels Together

Some people may assume they can include other clothes or fabrics in the load with salon towels. However, it is better for your towels if you wash them separately from other garments. Wash your towels together to preserve their color and material. 

You may see extra wear and tear on your towels when you don't use these tips. Considering you use your towels every day, following these tips is beneficial, as doing so may lessen the time in between when you need to replace them.

Taking the extra consideration to follow these guidelines means you don't have to replace your towels as often, and they'll be in much better condition for longer. Since your clients see and use the towels, their look is essential.

How to Make Towels for Salons Last Longer

Many salons want their towels to last several years. Here are a few tips for making salon towels last longer:

• Buy quality towels: Invest in quality towels to ensure they last longer. For example, towels from Towel Super Center are made of long-lasting, quality material. 
• Use small loads: Avoid overloading your washing machine, which can restrict water flow and lead to fewer clean towels. 
• Use the delicate cycle: Wash your towels using a delicate setting to reduce the chance of rips or tears.
• Use two dryer sheets: Use two or fewer dryer sheets or invest in quality dryer balls. Too many dryer sheets reduce towel absorbency. 
• Let towels air dry: Let your towels air dry on a clothesline outside or a drying rack indoors. Air drying reduces the chance of mold and keeps them looking and smelling fresh.
• Wash in warm or cold water: Avoid washing your towels in hot water, as it could cause colors to fade and reduce the material's longevity.
• Wash new towels: Always wash new towels before using them for the first time. It rids them of bacteria and excess dye before the first use.

How Often Should You Clean Salon Towels?

Even if you wash your towels correctly, washing them too much or too little can lead to negative results.

Many people recommend washing personal bath towels several times a week, and frequent washing is also recommended for your salon towels. While you can use your towel more than once, more frequent washing is necessary for a salon.

When a towel is used even once in your salon, it's ready for a wash. If you were visiting a salon, hotel or other similar business, you would never want to reuse someone else's towel. Washing your towels after one use helps keep your salon sanitary.

You may even need to wash the towels before they're used. If they're sitting out in the salon for a time, they may accumulate dust and other gunk that gets in the air.

While overwashing towels can be an issue, it may not be something you can avoid. Keeping your towels clean helps you give clients the best experience possible, and frequent washes make that happen. If you are wondering how often to clean salon towels, follow manufacturing instructions and recommendations. 

Be sure to have enough towels on hand for each salon guest. We recommend having twice the amount of towels used for each guest, or around two towels per potential guest. This number may vary depending on the size of your salon and your estimated expected guests every week. 

How to Treat Stains on White Salon Towels

Keeping your white salon towels bright and clean is essential to a thriving business. Explore some helpful tips and tricks for treating stains on white towels:

• Detergent with bleach: While continually washing your towels in bleach might strip away fabric softness, it can be helpful when you want to remove pesky stains like dirt or makeup from your white towels. 
• Bleach and water: Mix bleach and water, and soak your white towels to remove larger and darker stains. After soaking, you can wash the towels in the machine or by hand. 
• Boiling: Boil your white towels in water, soap and baking soda for a half hour. It can quickly remove stains and keep them from losing brightness. 

If the normal processes of detergent, bleaching or boiling don't work, there are a few other options you can explore which might be more effective:

• White vinegar: Vinegar effectively removes smells and stains from your white towels. It is a gentle fabric cleaner and natural softener — perfect for removing yellow stains or mildew.
• Hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is a cheap option for easy stain removal on your white towels. It has a bleaching effect but is safer than other chemicals. Use it to remove makeup, yellow stains or nail polish. 
• Baking soda: Use baking soda to remove pesky stains. Mix it with water and use a scrubber or toothbrush to remove stains. 
• Dish soap: Dish soap can effectively remove oil stains from white towels. Put soap on the stain and let it sit to break down the oil. Scrub it and wash it out in cool water. 

Should You Bleach Salon Towels?

Towels for salons may often benefit from the occasional bleach bath to reduce stains and maintain a bright, clear color. However, bleaching salon towels may often reduce the material of the towel and lead to fraying and an old, worn appearance. Consider alternatives like white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide if you want similar results to bleaching. If you still plan to use bleach, consider investing in high-quality bleach-proof towels to reduce the adverse effects of the chemical on your towel material.

How to Make Your Salon Towels Smell Nice

The smell of your guest towels may positively impact your business experience. To make your towels smell nice, avoid dryer sheets and perfumes that might cause temporary scents but could also lead to allergic skin reactions. Use acidic treatments like vinegar, which help rid your fabrics of musty smells. Many smells are acidic-based, and vinegar compounds help soak up odors.

Tips for Managing Salon Laundry

When managing laundry, you'll want to keep track of your towel usage and washing needs. Here are helpful tips for managing a salon laundry:

• Make a schedule: Create a washing and drying schedule that all employees in your salon follow. Pick a day or several days of the week when running laundry and folding towels are required. 
• Buy extra towels: Buy more towels than you think you'll use. Be prepared with extra towels for every guest and occasion. 
• Color code towels: Some salons color code towels depending on the stylist or chairs. The method helps keep track of towel usage and hold others accountable for keeping up with washing and drying.
• Hire a laundry service: Sometimes, you might need a laundry service to keep up with laundry needs. Hire a reliable service to help you wash and dry your salon towels. 

Get Salon Towels in Bulk From Towel Super Center

When looking for salon towels, you want to find everything you need at an affordable price. Choose Towel Super Center for an exceptional variety at fantastic prices! When you buy wholesale, you save much more by avoiding a traditional retail store. And you never sacrifice quality and selection when you shop with us.

Please browse our salon towel selection today to find everything you need to set up your new business or replace the older towels in your salon.