How to wash terry towels so that they are soft and fluffy: how to do it in the washing machine, at what temperature, on what washing mode?

After taking a bath or shower, it is always nice to wrap yourself in a soft terry towel. But over time it becomes tough.

There are ways to extend the life of products. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the rules for proper washing and drying of terry.

How to properly wash terry towels in a washing machine so that they are soft and fluffy; do you need to iron them after washing? Find answers to your questions in the article.

Preparation for the process

Washing affects the durability and quality of the laundry, so you need to pay great attention to the process.

Recommendations for cleaning towels:

Before immersion in the drum compartment, all products are shaken, the fluff will straighten out, and things will be washed better;
You cannot wash terry towels together with clothes that have zippers, metal elements or fittings, as they will damage the products;
Do not wash terry items together with bed linen;
bleaching of terry is carried out only in extreme cases, when a yellow coating and stubborn stains have formed;
You cannot use regular powder, but if you cannot do without it, then the product must be rinsed 2 times.

It is not recommended to load terry products together with clothes made from other materials. This is explained by the fact that it can be sewn from fabrics that differ greatly in their properties, so the cleaning requirements are also different.

Choosing a detergent

The main mistake when washing terry towels is the wrong choice of product. Many people use powders or washing mixtures for cleaning, which causes the fibers of the fabric to become clogged with hard particles and it loses its softness. Therefore, it is better to wash any terry towels in a washing machine using gel products. They are completely washed out of the fabric threads and do not cause clogging, so you will end up with soft, fluffy towels in the washing machine.

For expensive towels, you can choose a specialized gel with a softening effect, which contains substances that neutralize water hardness, which has a positive effect on the quality of washing. At the final stage - rinsing, it is worth turning on the air conditioner, which will be an additional guarantee of gentle care. Give preference to a silicone-containing rinse aid, but control the amount. When highly concentrated, it envelops every fiber of the fabric, causing it to lose its absorbency.

If you don't have a gel product on hand, you can use baby powder or wool powder and then run the towels through a double rinse. It is worth noting that it is strictly forbidden to use abrasive or chlorine-containing products for cleaning, even if you wash a white towel.

When considering these recommendations, it is worth noting the main points. When caring for terry towels, you should avoid aggressive cleaning: they should not be washed or used for long periods in the washing machine, or exposed to high temperatures. The more careful you are in cleaning them, the longer they will retain their original appearance and softness.

Washable in a washing machine

In any case, you need to read the tag before washing . It contains information about proper care, acceptable temperature conditions, and ironing.

In what mode, at what temperature?

The shortest time period is chosen, the revolutions should not exceed 400. The “water saving” mode should not be used, because the more thoroughly the towel is rinsed, the softer it will become. The drum is loaded to 2/3 of the volume.

Terry towels should be washed on a delicate cycle, which is intended for wool or silk.

Terry products should be washed at 40℃. In case of heavy pollution, it is allowed to set the mode to 60℃ .

Selecting a detergent

Towels become hard after washing in water with various impurities. This is indicated by a gray coating on the fabric.

To prevent negative consequences, you need to use conditioner and increase the number of rinses. If you save water, you can damage the terry.

When washing towels, do not use powder. The effectiveness of detergents directly depends on their composition. To ensure the softness of the product, powder formulations are replaced with liquid products. Gel preparations can remove grains from the pile.

Can be used:

balms,
rinse aids,
air conditioners.

Experts recommend using conditioner with silicone. The regular one is not suitable for terry products. Silicone must be used in limited quantities, otherwise the towels will not absorb water well.

Don't trust everything that's on the label. The manufacturer writes the maximum dosage that is safe. Experts advise measuring ¼ less. This way the effect will be good and the product will last for a long time.

Softening water at home

The most important condition for keeping products soft and gentle is washing in soft water. Most apartments have bad, hard water.

It needs to be softened, this is done in one of the following ways:

Installing a filter on pipes . This is the most effective way to combat hard water. The filter will rid it of lime, rust, scale, and sand. All substances settle on the towel, making it rough.
Using vinegar . 100 ml of acid is poured into the conditioner compartment. The solution will soften the water and remove odors from things.
Using extra salt . It is fine and dissolves better in water. If possible, you can buy special salt for the machine. At the same time, washing gel and a solution of 3 tbsp are poured into the compartment. l. salt and 50 ml water.
Soda. Use calcined or food grade. They soften water equally well. 5 tbsp. l. poured directly into the drum.
Soda with vinegar . A mixture of soda and acid will give a good effect. Half a glass of table vinegar is poured into the compartment, 100 g of soda is immersed in the drum. Then add detergent and set to delicate mode. This method will not only soften the water, but also whiten things perfectly.

All of the above recipes can also be used when hand washing terry products. But you need to take care of the safety of your hands and don’t forget to wear gloves.

Correct spin

To maintain the softness of terry items, you need to select a spin mode no higher than 400 rpm . Ideally, it will be 300-350 rpm.

If the house is easy to dry, it is recommended to set the wool setting. Hand spinning will leave your towels soft and fluffy.

How to soften towels at home?

If the towels have already been washed without following the rules and have become hard, you can restore their softness with the help of folk and special means.

Soap

To return products to their properties, you must:

Take any type of solid soap: toilet, laundry or baby soap. The latter is most preferable, as it does not cause allergies, has a pleasant aroma and gently cleans the fabric.
Cut a bar of soap with a knife or grate it on a coarse grater, pour it into very warm water, and stir.
When the solution has cooled down, it becomes slightly warm, you can place towels there. It is important to remember that you should not put too much laundry in the basin; it is better to take 5-10 small items per 5 liters of water.
After half an hour, things should be washed in an automatic machine or by hand.

Soda

Baking soda has long been known for its softening properties. If you want to have only soft towels in the house, pour 4 tbsp into the washing powder compartment along with the cleaning agent itself. l. baking soda and wash on the appropriate cycle.

You can also use baking soda and vinegar; the combination of the two components will only enhance their effectiveness. To do this, pour 100 ml of acid into the rinse aid compartment, pour 100 g of soda into the drum, pour gel detergent into the compartment or inside the machine. Wash at 30-60°C.

Salt

Salt is one of the most accessible substances that can give the pile incredible softness. There are several ways to wash towels using this seasoning:

After washing, soak the items in a salt solution (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) for 30-60 minutes. Afterwards they need to dry, preferably in the fresh air. Don't forget that you can't leave things outside for a long time.
Place 1-2 tbsp in the conditioner compartment. l. salt before washing, this will help soften the material.
3 tbsp. l. Mix sea salt with the same amount of washing powder, then wash the towels, preferably by hand.

Attention! Extra class salt dissolves faster, so it is more effective than regular coarse salt.

Vinegar

Vinegar will help restore softness to terry towels and eliminate unpleasant odors.

The 9% solution must be poured into the conditioner compartment in a volume of 100 ml, and run the wash at a temperature of 40°C.

Attention! The vinegar should be white, in no case apple vinegar, as it is darker and may stain the white terry.

Cold water

Soaking in ice water helps to restore the softness and fluffiness of towels. This method is suitable for those who do not want to spend a lot of time and effort:

Wash items in a washing machine at 30°C or by hand.
Soak terry towels in ice liquid and wait 5-6 hours.
Dry.

Ammonia + salt

Ammonia and salt must be placed in water at the rate of: 2 tsp. first component, 2 tbsp. l. the second for 2 liters of water. Soak the towels for 10-12 hours, then rinse thoroughly in clean water, using conditioner, which will give things a scent. This method will give terry products amazing tenderness and make them soft after washing.

Important! Ammonia has a rather unpleasant, pungent odor, so you need to wash things using this substance in a well-ventilated room.

Special rinses

Nowadays, in any home appliance store, the shelves are lined with products that can soften hard terry.

The best way to make textiles soft after washing is to use rinse aids for children's clothes or products that contain silicone. You should be careful with the concentration of the latter; if you overdo it, the towels will no longer absorb moisture well.

Laundry balls

The balls fluff up the pile during washing and prevent it from matting. With their help, you can wash terry without adding conditioners and rinse aids. The towels will be soft anyway.

The balls can be replaced with tennis balls, which are also advisable for washing down jackets and woolen items.

Handwash

Hand washing is preferable to machine processing as terry requires delicate handling. Some people think that when washed by hand, the product suffers, but in fact this is not the case.

Sequencing:

First, the towel is immersed in a basin with warm water and product and left for 40 minutes.
When soaking, do not use powder. Take a special liquid product and pour it. If desired, you can use laundry soap.
To provide additional softening of the products, add 2 tablespoons of salt to the soap solution and mix.
The soap mixture penetrates deep into the fibers, so the towel is rinsed at least 3 times.

When cleaning terry items with your hands, it is strictly forbidden to wrinkle them, tug at them, or twist them tightly during spinning. All mechanical manipulations can negatively affect the towel. Movements should be light and smooth.

Preparing towels for washing

Before washing, you must carry out the standard procedure. First, sort your laundry by color - whites should be washed separately from colored ones. If some towels have significant dirt on them, you need to soak them in a mild soapy solution of water and washing gel. We will consider further which gel is better to choose.

Carefully study the composition of the towels; most terry materials have the same requirements for temperature and type of washing, but there are exceptions. For example, manufacturers add synthetic bases to inexpensive terry fabrics, which changes their washing conditions. It is also necessary to take into account the length of the pile if a small towel is prepared for washing; if the pile is more than 3 cm, then the fabric must be placed in a special textile bag, which will protect the machine drum from damage, and the towel from deformation of the fabric.

How to dry, how to prevent odor?

To make towels soft, you need to dry them properly. Before hanging, the product is shaken to straighten the fibers. If possible, it is better to hang it outside; terry does not tolerate dry, stale air. You cannot over-dry your laundry, otherwise it will become hard and uncomfortable .

The ideal way is to use a dryer with a special mode. This will make things soft and fluffy again. Drying in it will help prevent unpleasant odors that sometimes arise in damp material.

Another reason for the appearance of odors is the accumulation of bacteria from the human body. They stick to the fibers and emit a bad odor. To avoid unpleasant moments, it is recommended to change the towel frequently, every 3-4 days.

If there is no dryer, the product is hung on a rope. The main thing is to ensure that things have access to oxygen from all sides. When drying in an apartment, you need to open the window .

How to properly dry towels after washing

Towels can be washed at different temperatures depending on the material, but spinning them at high speeds is not recommended.
It is optimal to set the double rinse mode without spin or gentle spin to no more than 500 rpm. If you wring the towel too hard, the pile will become deformed and it will become rough and hard to the touch. To get the water to drain, you can leave it in the bathroom for a while or gently blot it with your hands several times. It is best to dry towels in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated place, away from radiators and other heating devices. Don't hang them in the sun - they will become stiff and fade.

Make sure the towel is completely dry before folding it. Even a small percentage of remaining moisture will lead to mold and a moldy smell that will be impossible to get rid of.

Important!

Do not iron towels if you want to maintain their softness.

To prevent the towel from becoming wrinkled, smooth it evenly with your hands. The product can be treated with steam at a temperature not exceeding 150 degrees at a distance of 20 cm. Then it must be allowed to dry.

So, we found out that washing terry towels, velor, bamboo and others plays a significant role in maintaining their appearance, softness and other consumer properties. Read even more useful and interesting articles on our website.

What to do if the product becomes hard?

If the product has lost its former softness and fluffiness, there is no need to rush to get rid of it. It can be restored by first soaking the item in salted water and then washing it.

Sequencing:

5 liters of water are poured into a basin, 2 tbsp. l. salt and stir;
A terry towel is immersed in the solution and left for 45 minutes;
then wash on a delicate cycle using gel.

General recommendations boil down to using natural water softeners and setting gentle wash cycles.

Useful tips

If you have sets of colored towels (for face, hands, feet and bath), try to wash them at the same time. All products inevitably lose brightness and color saturation; it is better if this process is more uniform for all parts of the set.
Do not place wet towels in the laundry basket as they may become moldy.
Don't forget terry products in the drum of the machine. If they lie there for even an hour, an unpleasant musty smell will appear, which will be very difficult to get rid of.
If terry products already have an unpleasant odor, they can be boiled or disinfected with chlorine. A chlorine tablet can be placed in the drum of the washing machine, and the water temperature can be set to maximum (up to 90 degrees). Be careful with colored items and control the concentration of chlorine, as this substance can discolor.
Do not overload the washing machine, as terry clothes absorb a lot of water. Consider the weight of the products when wet.
Never dry towels on radiators, this will make them hard.
If “puffs” appear on them, the elongated threads can be cut off.

Following these simple rules will help keep terry towels soft and fresh for a long time.

Tips and prohibitions

To raise the pile, use special balls . If you don't have them, you can take tennis balls. Spinning with the drum, they bounce off the walls and hit the fabric. The fibers of the terry product will not be crushed.

There are few secrets - choose a gentle washing mode, do not expose the product to high temperatures. You only need to wash with gels, avoid powders and bleaches.

Some tips for restoring softness and fluffiness to stiff textiles:

Soak in warm water and leave overnight. During this time, the remaining washing gel will dissolve; in the morning you need to rinse the towel and dry it.
Wash with sea salt. You need to take 1 tablespoon per 2.5 kg of laundry.
Wash in a solution with laundry soap.
This method will restore freshness, softness and airiness to towels. A bar of soap is grated on a coarse grater and a handful is dissolved in warm water. Immerse the product and leave for 1 hour. Rinse in vinegar solution.

Soaking a terry towel in snow is a great way to restore softness. They collect snow in a bucket, put the product in it and leave it for a couple of hours. Then you need to wash and dry properly.

Washing velor towels

Velor towels can be washed either by hand or in a washing machine, but without pre-soaking. The temperature should be set no higher than 40 degrees; the velor fabric should not be twisted too much, but only gently squeezed. When washing in an automatic machine, you should select the “Delicate spin” or “Easy ironing” mode.