Do I need to iron terry towels after washing and in what cases?

If your towels feel more like sandpaper, then it's time to take the right approach when caring for your home textiles.

Proper drying, ironing, careful storage and, most importantly, careful washing will keep things in their original condition.

To do this, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules for caring for fleecy fabrics. In this article you will learn how to properly wash terry towels so that they are soft, how to wring out, dry and iron. How to restore the former softness of an old, seemingly hopeless towel.

Why do towels spoil?


Quick washability is one of the main problems. During use and improper care, terry pile becomes thicker. Due to this, the fibers settle and deform, and the towel loses its fluffiness. Mistakes that lead to “tightening” of textiles:
– washing with regular powder, not a gentle detergent; – neglect of softening agents if you have hard water; – insufficient rinsing of the powder if washed with economical water consumption or in a clogged drum. Particles of detergent settle on the product, negatively affecting the condition of the fibers; – ironing towels with a hot iron instead of using hot steam; – neglect of the manufacturer’s advice regarding the rules of care and operation.

In addition, towels become stiff due to...

  • Low-quality cheap washing powder , which is difficult to rinse out of fabric fibers. Phosphate-based powders spoil terry towels especially quickly.
  • Increased water hardness . The more calcium and magnesium in the water, the faster the terry towel becomes unusable.
  • Incorrect washing mode . Usually, softness disappears when the temperature is set incorrectly (too high) and the spin power is high.
  • Too dry air . At low humidity (approx. - below 20 percent), towels dry out and lose their fluffiness.
  • Regular ironing. Alas, ironing terry towels in the classic way is not recommended.
  • Low quality fabric. The lower the quality, the faster the towel loses its attractiveness.

How to wash in an automatic machine correctly


Choose a delicate cycle for machine washing Snow-white towels require delicate care. Even by regularly washing them in a machine, you can preserve the original properties of the products for a long time. 1. The use of liquid products ensures the splendor of the terry. 2. The temperature for washing white towels should not exceed 60°C. Select the standard mode, the tank must be completely filled with water. Upon completion of washing, you can additionally rinse the items again. 3. Life hack: put balls/balls in the drum that are used for washing winter clothes. The products will help fluff up terry fibers, avoiding crushing.


Balls for washing down jackets are also suitable for towels 4. It is better to put aside bleaching agents and conditioners. They further change the structure of the villi and are difficult to wash out. 5. Do not iron the towels, but walk over them with hot steam, holding them suspended.

The following rules for washing and drying towels will help maintain fluffiness:

  • We use only soft gel products for washing terry towels , and be sure to add a softening agent - salt, soda or vinegar. Don't forget about water softeners! We buy detergent without sophosphate and without chlorine in the composition. When choosing a conditioner, pay attention to a product with silicone, which helps maintain the fluffiness of towels.
  • We always turn on an extra rinse so that not a trace of detergent remains in the fabric. For manual rinsing, change the water 3-4 times.
  • We do not dry towels in rooms with dry air - this fabric needs high humidity when drying! It is recommended to hang it to dry horizontally.
  • Towel washing mode : set the temperature to no more than 40 degrees.
  • Spin speed – no more than 400 rpm. When manually squeezing, don’t get carried away!
  • We do not push towels into the drum - we leave 1/3 of the space of the drum free from things. And add tennis balls before washing to “fluff up the lint.”

How to soften hard water?


You can soften hard water using traditional methods. Hard water negatively affects the condition of towels. One of the softening options is to install a purifying filter that will remove harmful impurities from the water. Also, improvised means that every housewife has will come to the rescue: soda, salt and vinegar. The substances will ensure the lushness of terry pile and preserve the shade of towels, both colored and snow-white. Soda


Soda delicately softens textiles. Both calcined and edible substances are suitable.
It is enough to pour 3-4 tbsp into the drum. soda The water will soften and the towels will be washed without damage. Salt


Add salt when washing white towels. Regular table salt or an equivalent for automatic washing machines will do.
First option: add 3 tbsp. to the detergent. Second: dissolve the food product in a glass of warm water and pour directly into the tank. Vinegar


In addition, vinegar gets rid of unpleasant odors. Pour ½ cup of a 9% vinegar solution into the conditioner container and start the wash.
Another useful property of vinegar is the elimination of unpleasant odors. Vinegar-soda solution


The tandem of vinegar and salt works wonders. There are several options for simultaneous use of these products. In the first case, pour ½ cup of vinegar into the conditioner container, and pour ½ cup of soda into the drum of the machine. The second option is to make your own conditioner. Mix 1 glass of water, 6 glasses of vinegar 9% and 1 glass of soda. The resulting substance will foam, and then add another 6 glasses of water. If desired, you can add a few drops of essential oil to give the product a pleasant aroma. Pour the solution into a container, use at the rate of ½ cup of liquid per wash. Wash terry items every 3-4 days separately from other items.

Second life for old towels

Our life hacks will help not only extend the “shelf life” of new towels, but also restore the original appearance of old ones. Hard fibers


It’s possible to restore the former softness of old towels. Several washes with pre-soaking will help restore the towels to their former lushness.
First you need to make a saline soak solution. Based on 5 liters of warm water, add 2-3 tbsp. salt. Leave the towels in the solution for 30-40 minutes. Next, wash the items with softening agents. Faded textiles


Tarnished towels can be returned to their original color. Getting rid of old stains and a gray-yellow tint is quite possible. A saline-ammonia solution will help with this. You will need: 1 liter of water at room temperature, 1 tbsp. salt and 1 tsp. ammonia. Soak textiles for 8-10 hours and then wash. Caring for snow-white products is easier than it seems. Use delicate detergents and soften the water if necessary. Avoid intensive spinning and powders, and then your towels will remain soft and fresh for a long time.


Follow the rules of care and your towels will be white and soft 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:

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.

Do terry towels need to be ironed?

Hot steam has a negative effect on the condition of the villi. Terry towels become hard and rough, absorb water worse, and are unpleasant to use. Housewives are especially worried if towels for a child’s delicate skin become like sandpaper.

But it is worth noting that it is not only the iron that makes the item less pleasant and functional. This is also aggressive and frequent washing at high temperatures, bad powders that do not rinse out of fabric fibers, quick spinning, drying on a radiator, ignoring special softening conditioners.

Small lint loops deteriorate not only from a hot iron, but also from increased pressure. When you press them hard with an iron, the fabric loses its airiness.

In what cases can and should you iron a terry towel:

  1. If it's a child's item.
  2. If the product is old.
  3. If you visited public places, the beach.

Carry out the procedure to disinfect the product. To prevent it from becoming wrinkled, straighten it after washing and dry it in a horizontal position, do not use clothespins or ropes.

How to wash terry clothes to keep them soft

To ensure that terry towels do not become hard, but remain soft and fluffy, they must be washed correctly. In order not to lose the softness and fluffiness of towels after washing by hand or in an automatic machine, you need to follow some rules:

  • Instead of washing powder, you should use liquid laundry detergents. They wash out better from fabrics, as they were originally created for washing delicate fabrics made from wool, silk, cotton and linen. The gels do not damage the terry fibers and maintain the fluffiness of the fabric. In addition, they cope well with any dirt, and after washing the fabric does not become rough. If you still have to wash with powder, you should set the additional rinse mode. It is better to rinse two or three times. The better the detergent particles are washed out, the softer the towels will be after drying.
  • You can wash terry clothes on standard cycles, but it is better to use delicate cycles designed for wool or silk. The washing temperature is selected from 30 to 40 °C. In case of heavy contamination, a temperature of 60 °C may be used.
  • Along with towels, you can put special balls in the machine for washing down jackets. Rotating with the drum, they will bounce off its walls and hit the fabric, thereby preventing the terry fibers from being crushed. To get the whipping effect, there must be at least four balls.
  • Do not use fabric bleaches or fabric softeners. They are not completely washed out of the laundry, they remain in the terry fibers and it becomes rough.
  • If possible, it is better to dry towels in the fresh air. The wind, moving the laundry, will stretch the fabric and raise the terry fibers. They will become softer.
  • Do not iron terry cloth. You can use a steamer or just carefully fold the towels, smooth them with your palms and put them in the closet.

Towels should not be brought to such a state that you have to thoroughly wash dirty stains and bleach yellowed fabric. This is still a hygiene item, so after use you need to wash the towel on a delicate cycle in a washing machine or by hand with minimal use of household chemicals.

Another important condition for ensuring that the terry is tender and soft after washing is the softness of the water. Unfortunately, water with increased hardness flows from the tap almost everywhere. Therefore, when washing it needs to be softened. You can do this at home using several methods:

  1. 1. Filter. The most effective way to deal with hard water is to install a filter on the pipes. It purifies water from impurities of lime, scale, sand, and rust. All this, settling on the fabric, makes it rough.
  2. 2. Salt. It is better to use “extra” brand salt. It is fine and dissolves better in water. If possible, it is better to purchase special salt for vending machines. It is found in household chemical stores. Pour 3 tbsp into the powder compartment. spoons of salt along with washing gel or first dissolve it in 50 ml of water and pour it into the conditioner compartment or directly into the drum of the washing machine.
  3. 3. Vinegar. Pour 100 ml of 9% table vinegar into the conditioner compartment and wash the towels. Vinegar will soften the water and remove all odors from the laundry.
  4. 4. Soda. Use soda ash or baking soda. They both soften water equally effectively. 3-5 tbsp. spoons are poured directly into the drum of the washing machine.
  5. 5. Soda and vinegar. Using baking soda and vinegar has a good effect. Half a glass of 9% vinegar is poured into the conditioner compartment, and 100 g of soda is placed directly into the tank of the washing machine. Then add detergent and turn on the delicate washing program. This method not only softens water, but also perfectly whitens laundry. From soda and vinegar you can prepare conditioner for terry towels according to a folk recipe, which can be stored for a long time. Pour 200 g of water into a plastic bottle, add 200 g of soda and 1 liter of 9% vinegar. After the foam stops appearing, add another 1 liter of water and close the lid tightly. Use 100 ml of liquid per wash.

All these products can be used when rinsing during hand washing. You need to use gloves to avoid damaging the delicate skin of your hands.

When washing terry towels by hand, there are also certain rules. She must be careful. Do not rub the fabric on the washing board, this will deform it. It is better to use pre-soaking. As with machine washing, it is better not to use powders and bleaches; it is better to take gel or liquid soap, they are gentle on the fabric and do not spoil it. You can use laundry soap to remove stains. It is grated, diluted in warm water, and 2 tbsp is added to soften it. spoons of salt or soda, leave the towel in the solution for 1 hour. Then spread the item with gentle beating movements. It is necessary to rinse the towels in plenty of water to remove all the detergent without leaving any residue. In the last basin you need to pour 10 liters of water and add half a glass of 9% table vinegar. It will soften the water and make the fabric very soft and tender.

Effective preventive measures

To avoid many problems with restoring the presentation of your favorite products, you need to take good care of them, without subjecting them to rough cleaning and improper drying. It is important to set the correct temperature in the machine. If stains are easily removed and the contamination is fresh, then the limit should be 40 degrees. If the problem is more widespread, then the maximum can be set to 60 degrees. In addition, the number of revolutions should be minimal. It is better not to boil things, and when rinsing, the water should be changed several times until it becomes clear.

When choosing a detergent, special attention should be paid to its structure. Compositions intended for delicate items have particles of small diameter, and, therefore, are better washed out with water. In addition, they do not damage the fibers of the material. Experienced housewives advise installing a filter for water purification on the tap or in the water supply system itself, which will have a positive effect on the quality of cleaning of any products.

You also need to dry terry towels according to the rules - away from heating devices and on a flat surface so that there are no “creases” left on things. You can dry the product in a special dryer or by selecting the appropriate mode in the machine. To avoid deformation of the fibers, it is better not to iron the linen or twist it when squeezing. It is recommended to purchase a special cover that ensures maximum safety of the product when washing in the machine drum, minimizing friction. If you follow these recommendations, you can enjoy the novelty of towels and their pleasant structure for a long time.

Of course, the hardness of the water flowing from the tap does not depend on us. But there are still several ways to help soften it. For example, vinegar and table salt. But don’t immediately add them to the washing machine. First you should consult with specialists. Unfortunately, not all machines can “painlessly” tolerate contact with vinegar or salt.

If you are unlucky here, then after washing the towels can be rinsed in vinegar or salted water. This method is suitable not only for preserving the effect of new things, but also for making old terry products soft.

There is an easier (but also more expensive) way. Filter for softening (softening) water. It can be installed directly on the pipe from which the washing machine draws water. This filter will reduce the hardness of the water before it even enters the washing machine.

Why does terry become rough?

Some housewives believe that if they wash their towels in the usual way, nothing bad will happen. However, they are deeply mistaken. Products become hard due to the following errors:

  • using conventional powder with large abrasive particles;
  • low quality detergent;
  • regularly wash towels in hard water;
  • boiling and digestion;
  • spin at more than 800 rpm;
  • lying for a long time in a dirty or damp state (in addition, this creates an unpleasant odor, which is difficult to get rid of or mold grows in the terry);
  • Ironing at high temperature.

“Taboo” for terry towels

An invigorating shower or warm bath with aroma oils. Everyone dreams of this, especially after a hard day’s work. Gentle touches, soft movements, a fluffy wave of terry loops after a shower, bath or sauna gives its owner a towel. But this is provided that it is really tender and fluffy. But very often, a new terry cloth ceases to please and relax, but, on the contrary, stresses and irritates.

Why are terry towels hard after washing? A question that worries everyone: both those who take care of their fluffy hair, and those whose bodies are accustomed to the gentle touches of the hair. Housewives, administrators of hotels, hotels, saunas and sports complexes are daily looking for ways (both improvised and professional) to fill personal hygiene items with fluffiness and tenderness. The towels have become hard because the washing and rinsing process is disrupted, inappropriate products are used, and poor quality water is used for washing.

Why do towels become stiff after washing?

Every woman has at least once encountered a situation where terry towels become hard after washing.

Why is this happening? The reason for this is the mistakes of housewives in caring for terry clothes. Such textiles require a special attitude, which includes three stages:

  • careful use of terry and proper handling of it;
  • gentle wash;
  • gentle drying of clothes.

We will consider the rules for each stage separately, thanks to which we will be able to preserve the original appearance of textiles, even after using them for a long time.

Errors in handling terry bath towels may be as follows:

  • Wrong washing mode. It is not recommended to fill the machine drum completely, as this will cause the laundry to be poorly rinsed. Using the economy mode on a machine with a small amount of water also reduces the quality of the wash. Too hot water significantly affects the quality of the terry. Spinning at high speeds also adds harm.
  • Unsuitable detergent. The use of powders has a detrimental effect on soft tissues, drying them out.
  • Hard water. This is a big problem in all regions where there is a central water supply. Such water contains lime salt in excess, which penetrates into the fibers of fabrics and makes them rough.
  • Boiling. Another way to ruin your favorite towels is with boiling water. This is another method of our grandmothers, which is now irrelevant.
  • Ironing without steaming. Again, high temperatures are to blame. In this case, the situation is saved by turning on the steam mode on the iron. But it's better to avoid ironing.

Reasons for rigidity

Why do towels and many terry clothes become hard after washing? There are several reasons for this:

  • Low quality tap water. If it contains various impurities, then during washing they can easily settle in the fibers and make them very hard.
  • Poor quality powder. Its particles can also remain in the fibers and significantly deteriorate their properties.
  • Wrong wash. If you choose a mode with a high number of revolutions, the fibers may be damaged, lose their original properties and become seriously deteriorated. In addition, high water temperatures can also lead to hardness.
  • Poor quality towels. If they are not made from the best materials, they will probably become unpleasant to the touch after the first wash, and, unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it.
  • Incorrect drying. If you dry a terry product near a heating or heating device, or even more so on it, then it will certainly become hard.

How to restore lost softness to towels

  • To soften the water, you can add citric acid or a little vinegar to the water during the penultimate rinse of the laundry; this should be done at the rate of 1-2 tbsp. (30-50g) citric acid or half a glass of vinegar (9%) per 10 liters of water. Citric acid can be dissolved in a glass of water in advance. This is the so-called disincrustation. Used in laundries. It will wash away hardness salts from the fabric.
  • Also a good rinse aid is regular table salt, or better yet sea salt, which can be added directly to the conditioner section of your washing machine to soften the water. You can rinse by hand in a salt solution after washing, but be sure to! Rinse well.
  • Use an additional rinse to thoroughly rinse all detergent components.
  • Use the extra rinse feature. You need to rinse terry products after using the powder three to four times. This will help flush out any chemicals that have settled there from the fibers of the fabric.
  • It is not recommended to over-dry washed terry items; it is better to start ironing when they are still slightly dry. Iron your towels by setting the iron to maximum temperature and adding steam regularly.
  • If you have the opportunity, for example, at the dacha, try washing with river or spring water - and verify from personal experience that washing terry clothes in a river or lake and drying them in the sun will make them fluffy and tender.
  • Load the machine drum to a maximum of 2/3 capacity.
  • To ensure optimal washing conditions, buy special plastic balls in the store. They are loaded into the machine drum along with the laundry, and during the washing process they mechanically break down the terry fibers, making the towel soft and gentle to the touch again.
  • When washing, watch the mode, which should not exceed 40 degrees. Don't overdo it when squeezing. There is no need to set high speeds. In principle, washing terry towels is not picky, but if you follow these simple rules, the towels will be soft and will not lose their original appearance. And also, before hanging it to dry, shake it several times, this will help the loops straighten.

How to properly care for towels: comments from experienced housewives

You can make sure that your towels are soft and fluffy after washing without losing color by using useful advice from both the terry product manufacturer and housewives with extensive experience. In most cases, the labels provide information on how best to clean the product and dry it, but if there is no label or it is not possible to read the recommendations, then you need to choose a washing temperature of no more than 60 degrees, and the most gentle mode. There is no need to worry if the water is stained - the product does not fade, but simply washes out a certain proportion of the dye that is not firmly attached to the fabric.

If, when deciding how to soften towels after washing, the soaking method is chosen, then it is worth considering that the minimum procedure time should be half an hour. You can add cleaning products to hot water, but boiling things is not recommended. It is best not to overuse powders; liquid detergents are ideal for removing stains and are easily washed out of fabrics. If the laundry is washed in a machine, then it is worth using an additional rinse. Fibers are made stiff by products such as bleaches, since their active particles penetrate deeply into the material and remain in it.

In addition to the above-mentioned proven products such as acetic acid, salt and soda, a high-quality conditioner (in a small amount and followed by rinsing the product) and special “tablets” for the automatic machine will help soften terry towels after washing. The latter, like gel capsules for manual laundry cleaning, soften tap water with a high content of magnesium and calcium. All these products fight both unpleasant odors and stubborn stains.

Important!

You only need to dry things in a well-ventilated room. Be sure to shake the towels thoroughly before drying to maintain their shape. All of the above tips help to preserve the original appearance for a long time not only of towels, but also of children's clothes made of soft fabrics, as well as bathrobes.

Pre-soaking terry towels

How to wash a terry towel if it is very dirty? In this case, the pre-soaking step will help. This procedure will help to better remove various stains. And vinegar added to the water will keep the structure of the towel soft and delicate.


The proportions for preparing the solution are as follows: 15-20 milliliters of vinegar per 1 liter of warm water. In addition, soaking towels in this way helps remove even stubborn stains, for example from grease.

Basic rules for washing terry towels

Basic tips for washing terry products are as follows:

  • It is recommended to use special canvas or mesh bags to prevent towels from rubbing against the drum of the washing machine.
  • It is necessary to separate white products from colored ones to avoid shedding. Although modern dyes are durable, sometimes it happens that light-colored towels are accidentally stained.

  • It is not recommended to wash terry towels with products that are decorated with metal or plastic elements. These hard parts can damage the pile.
  • Do not wash a wet towel. It must be dried first. Otherwise, a musty smell may occur. If such an unpleasant odor has already arisen, it is recommended to air the towel in the fresh air for several hours, and then wash it as usual.

Expert recommendations

The rigidity of terry towels is not a death sentence or a reason for their disposal. At least until methods have been tried that make it easy to restore the former softness of these things. Moreover, it is not necessary to purchase any additional and expensive preparations to restore the fluffiness of bath products.

Everything you need is available in any home. In addition, part of the process of returning the pile of your favorite towels to the resemblance to chicken down does not even involve the use of any mandatory products.

Additional tips:

  • When choosing soda ash, they prefer regular baking soda. Because the first one can cause irritation on the skin.
  • Well-treated towels, dried in the fresh air, have their own pleasant smell of impeccable cleanliness. If you want to give them an additional aroma, instead of using a perfumed mouthwash, use empty bottles of your favorite perfume, bars of dry toilet soap, and sachets with aromatic herbs.

Even with little experience in housekeeping, you should not be discouraged if it turns out that terry towels are no longer as pleasant to the touch as before. This incident is common and can happen to anyone. Fortunately, the fix is ​​quite simple. The main thing, as they say, is desire. Well, a little understanding of the essence of the problem.

Video

Selecting the appropriate program for washing terry towels

When choosing a washing machine program, use the following recommendations:

  • The optimal water temperature is 30-40 °C. The permissible maximum is 60 °C. Before washing, be sure to pay attention to the label on which the recommended washing parameters are indicated.

  • It is recommended to wring out terry products at low speeds - from 500 to 700 per minute. You can even refuse this option. This will only extend the life of the towels. If you use intensive spinning, the terry fibers become stretched, stop holding their shape and, accordingly, no longer cope with their functions.
  • It is strictly not recommended to use economical washing modes, because when choosing such programs, the machine uses a limited amount of water throughout the entire operating cycle. Terry products can absorb large amounts of moisture. If there is not enough water, the towels will become stiff and may even shrink in size. For the same reason, you should not load the drum of the machine more than 2/3 full. It is recommended to set at least three rinses. During this process, water must be present in sufficient quantity. It is under these conditions that the remaining detergent will be removed, and terry towels will ultimately remain soft and fluffy.

Vinegar + soda

A fairly simple way to restore softness to cotton bath and kitchen towels. Take 1 glass of table vinegar and pour it into the liquid detergent compartment of the washing machine. Run a wash cycle on high without rinsing or spinning. Now pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the powder compartment and repeat the wash cycle, but this time setting the rinse and spin cycle.

Salt + fresh air

Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of regular salt in a liter of cool water, place old, stiff towels in it and leave for about 30-40 minutes. After this, rinse them thoroughly, gently wring them out with your hands and hang them to dry, preferably on an open balcony (but not in direct sun). Use a steamer when ironing.

Cold water + snow

You can try this unusual method if you are outside the city. To begin, wash a terry towel in very cold spring water, then fill a deep basin or other container with snow and place the towel there. After a few hours, rinse and dry the textiles. It is believed that this procedure significantly softens the texture of the fabric fibers.

Laundry balls

Special pimply plastic balls need to be placed in the drum of the washing machine along with the laundry and run the normal washing cycle. Thanks to this elementary method, terry towels will become softer, and, in addition, due to the additional mechanical action of the fabric, stains will be removed more efficiently.

Ammonia + salt

Dissolve 2 teaspoons of ammonia and 2 tbsp in a couple of liters of cold water. spoons of salt, place a terry towel in the water and leave for 2 hours. Then rinse well and dry.

Reasons not to iron

Try to look at your product under a magnifying glass - you will notice that the pile consists of small fibers that resemble loops. Ironing, which is accompanied not only by exposure to extremely high temperatures, but also by strong pressure on the fabric, leads to the fact that such loops no longer hold their shape. Due to this, the original softness and good moisture absorption are lost. The product begins to resemble hard sandpaper, which is used for polishing various surfaces.

IMPORTANT! If you still need to iron the towel, which is extremely undesirable, then experienced housewives recommend using vertical steaming. Although it is harmful to the terry product, the result will not be as disastrous as in the case of a regular iron.

In addition to the fact that the thing will become hard, it will begin to absorb moisture even worse, and this is the main function of the towel. Therefore, it is important to properly care for the product. Drying and storage also play an important role.

Rating of washing powders

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Baby washing powder

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Washing powder

It is only inexperienced housewives who think that there is no difference between the result of washing with the addition of a granular substance to the water and the use of gel. As practice shows, the final effect varies. And the more sophisticated the manufacturer of the hygienic “sand” is with the composition of the powder, the worse it is for the user’s things. And a lot depends on the water: the harder it is, the worse the result after washing terry towels.

In addition, substances from the powder penetrate deeply into the fibers of fabrics and not only wash out everything that is possible from them, but also actively replace them with themselves, not rushing to leave the vacant places that appear even when rinsing. Why, if there is not enough water at the final stages of washing, the pile of soft towels just yesterday turns into a kind of bristles. Because it is impregnated with additions invisible to the naked eye.

Structure of a terry towel

Proper drying

Cotton, bamboo and any other natural materials lose their inherent softness when exposed to direct sunlight and heat from radiators. Therefore, without a properly organized process of drying washed bath accessories, they quickly turn from objects that caress the skin into ones that harden it through not the most gentle influence.

Expert opinion

Irina. Housewife.

Still, a hard massage, for example, with a linen mitten, is indicated before taking a shower or bath. But not after that.

This is interesting: How to wash jeans in an automatic machine: choosing a product, tips for removing stains

How to maintain softness - prevention

It would be correct to prevent the products from becoming coarser. The long life of terry products largely depends on our daily handling of it.

It is important to initially purchase textiles from quality materials. Such things, by definition, will last longer than cheap ones that are poorly stitched, with protruding threads and damaged fibers.

There are several minor, but still important tips to help preserve the fluffy towels and bathrobes we love:

  • Store clean, dried towels in a closed cabinet.
  • It is enough to fold fluffy products 4 times. You shouldn’t wrinkle things too much, as they will lose volume and softness.
  • Do not place a dirty towel in the laundry basket if it is damp or damp. Dry it first. Otherwise, the pile and texture of the fabric may suffer from excess moisture. A sad outcome can be mold on terry items.

Another important point in caring for home textiles is the frequency of washing.
It is important to know how often to wash your towels. Here you should act without fanaticism and wash strictly when dirty, especially if you use machine wash. Such delicate fabric is subject to wear and tear, so you should not wash towels for prevention or “to refresh.”

Soften and make towels fluffy

Having discovered that terry bath items no longer provide a pleasant sensation when in contact with the skin, they are reconsidering their methods of bringing the products into a clean form.

What is being changed:

  • Temperature by stopping using too hot water. Forty degrees, it can cope with most typical contaminants. In the case of stains, they are treated locally using acceptable preparations, and the entire product is then washed in a gentle cycle.
  • Hardness of water. Soft is not only more gentle on fabric piles, but also better dissolves active ingredients in laundry products. This allows the use of smaller volumes of auxiliary components. Which automatically has a beneficial effect on the appearance of the material and its structure.
  • Conditions for drying wet towels. Intense exposure to direct rays of daylight is no less harmful to terry clothes than the heat from room heating devices when hanging towels.
  • Ironing. It is either canceled altogether or carried out only with a steam iron with the “fog” process support mode activated. If such a unit is not available, use a regular spray bottle, not forgetting to irrigate each area to be ironed.

What to use when washing

Choose liquid laundry detergents that contain balms and silicone. This will make things fluffy.

There is a large selection of household chemicals on sale, designed specifically for soft fabrics.

Regular laundry soap is suitable as a cheap alternative. It can be used for both hand and machine washing.

It is better to give preference to household chemicals that do not contain chlorine and phosphates.

Dry laundry detergent is not the best product for fluffy items. Bleach is also not suitable for them. Try to avoid these remedies.

It is also better to avoid conditioners, although they make the towel softer, but at the same time they have a detrimental effect on it; the towel begins to absorb moisture worse, and this is the main property of terry fabric.

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.

How to wash terry towels in a washing machine

Tips for washing terry towels using an automatic machine and manually are different. First, let's look at the rules for washing towels in a machine:

What mode should I use to wash towels?

You should choose a short wash cycle, with plenty of water and low temperatures.

A setting of 60 degrees is suitable for white items, and 40 degrees for colored items. It is advisable to include a second rinse after the main rinse.

Spin should be set to no more than 400 rpm.

Special balls

To keep towels soft, use special balls. Typically, such balls (balls) are used when washing down jackets.

But they are also perfect for washing terry clothes, preventing lint from becoming tangled and adding fluffiness to the products. You can buy them in any department of household chemicals.

Special balls can be replaced with small foot massagers with spikes.

Traditional washing methods

Observations of natural processes, coupled with ingenuity, give rise to folk washing methods. They are often effective and capable of resuscitating the thing they were planning to get rid of. And the variety of methods is amazing.


Methods for reviving towels are varied.

The most popular, according to Internet users:

  • with vegetable oil;
  • boiling;
  • using a mixture of mustard powder and boric acid and even in the microwave!


You can use traditional methods to make towels soft.
Each of the methods, tested over generations, deserves special attention.

Note! You should not try untested washing methods about which there is no reliable information (at least reviews).


It's always better to use proven methods.

With vegetable oil

An amazing method that has already become popular among people is washing towels with vegetable oil. The main advantage of the method is not only its effectiveness, but also the availability of the main material, vegetable oil. With its help, you can eliminate traces of fat, soot, tea, coffee, etc. In practice, it is implemented as follows:

  1. Heat a bucket of water to a boil. When the liquid boils, you need to place 20 mg of vegetable oil there. Additional elements will be 20 g of bleach, 30 g of soda and 50 g of powder.
  2. After removing the bucket from the stove, you need to pour half a glass of table vinegar into it.
  3. Place dry towels that need washing inside and leave to soak until the water cools.
  4. You need to rinse in clean water.


An unusual way to wash towels is using vegetable oil.
There are many similar methods. The differences between them are minor.

In the microwave

An extraordinary method is to wash towels in the microwave. The auxiliary substances are washing soap and a simple bag. The procedure itself looks like this:

  1. The towel needs to be wetted and soaped properly, and then sent to the bag. There is no need to tie it. Place the bag with the towel in the microwave for 1.5 minutes, selecting medium power.
  2. When you take the towel out of the microwave, you need to rinse it thoroughly.


Kitchen towels are usually washed in the microwave.

Note! The method is really simple. But it is mainly applicable to linen and cotton waffle towels.

With boiling

Exposure to high temperatures does not always benefit fabric materials. If you intend to clean your towels using boiling water, then you need to do it safely. The algorithm looks like this:

  1. we select containers (it can be an enameled or galvanized pan, bucket, container);
  2. an additional effect can be obtained by adding 2-3 tablespoons of persalt per 5 liters of water or a little ammonia;
  3. Having brought the water to a boil over high heat, we continue to boil things for 30 minutes - 2.5 hours (depending on the degree of contamination);
  4. Things need to be stirred periodically (for example, with wooden tongs).


You need to boil towels according to certain rules.
After boiling, the towels should be rinsed thoroughly and hung outside to dry.

IMPORTANT! Synthetics do not tolerate high temperatures well, this destroys the fabric and shrinks.

With mustard powder and boric acid

This method is good for bleaching white waffle towels, such as kitchen towels. To implement it you will need: a basin, warm water, a pack of mustard powder and a little boric acid. The process looks like this:

  1. heat the water to 40-50 degrees;
  2. pour the contents of a pack of mustard powder into it;
  3. Stir thoroughly and strain (so that the sediment does not mix with water);
  4. place towels in a container with the solution and add a little boric acid;
  5. soak for 30 minutes - 2 hours;
  6. wash, rinse.


Mustard powder in combination with boric acid whitens fabric well.
Boric acid in this case can also be used at the rinsing stage.

Proper spinning and features of drying and ironing

To maintain the softness of fabrics, only gentle washing is not enough; careful thermal and physical effects in subsequent stages are also important.

When caring for terry textiles, how we wring, dry and iron things is of great importance.

The following tips apply to caring for your towels after washing:

  • When spinning, do not twist the textile into a rope or tie it in knots. Wring things out using moderate pressure.

Remember: terry fiber is not a fabric that needs to be wrung out to the last drop!

  • Before hanging textiles to dry, it is useful to shake them. This will straighten out all the fibers.
  • It is not recommended to dry products on or near hot radiators, in rooms with very dry air and near switched on electrical appliances. A well-ventilated area with moderate humidity is a suitable location. You can also hang it outside.
  • Textile is not a material that must be perfectly aligned, so ironing can be neglected in this case. This will make the towels last longer. If you still consider it necessary to go over them with an iron, then use vertical steaming.

Do I need to iron baby clothes?

Ironing baby

things to kill excess germs are only really important for children with serious skin conditions where the skin is constantly cracking, inflamed and not performing its protective function properly.

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