Tips for washing and deodorizing towels despite the drizzly and humid weather

A bath towel is something we use almost every day. If it is not washed and hung to dry somewhere airy, it easily stays damp and grows mould and bacteria that can make you and your family ill. Since a towel is always damp and used constantly, do you know how to wash and care for one properly? Read on and let Vilaco show you how.

Wash towels separately from clothes

Sorting laundry before washing is one of the best ways to keep clothes and towels from being damaged or discoloured, and to avoid unnecessary odours. The clothes we wear during the day usually carry a lot of perspiration and dust from outside, and their fabric is considerably stiffer than a towel's. So it is better to wash towels and clothes separately, particularly stiff fabrics such as jeans or chinos.

Do not wash face towels and bath towels with everyday clothes

Pay attention to how often you wash towels

On an average day we use a bath towel at least 2 to 3 times, so it absorbs a fair amount of moisture and bacteria and gradually starts to smell. With that in mind it is best to wash bath towels twice a week, or to be safe after around 3 to 5 uses. 

Wash towels in hot water and think about how you dry them

Washing at around 60 degrees is an effective way to remove odours from a bath towel, particularly in unsettled weather like the drizzly, humid days we get now. The heat of the water not only kills the bacteria causing the unpleasant smell but also helps the washing dry faster. Once washed, use a dryer or hang the towel on a line with plenty of space around it so it dries more quickly.

Lord Morning Sun fabric softener — a laundry secret for the modern mother

This is an extremely useful method you can use to remove odours from a bath towel. Instead of throwing out towels that smell or constantly buying new ones, Lord fabric softener saves you that expensive outlay. 

It also makes the whole business of laundry easier and more comfortable. Here are some of the outstanding features that have made Lord fabric softener so trusted by women over recent years:

Lord Morning Sun fabric softener 3kg with a fresh European fragrance

Lord Morning Sun fabric softener 3kg brings a fresh European fragrance that clears away unpleasant odours and settles into every fibre, so you feel more confident every time you step out.

Thanks to the scent-retention technology in Lord Morning Sun concentrated fabric softener, your clothes release their fragrance with every movement all day long. One rinse is all it takes for clothes to come out free of detergent and surprisingly fragrant.

Lord fabric softener protects the surface of your fabric from fading, sun damage and stiffness after drying. Better still, it does not cause redness or irritation and can be used for children and sensitive skin.

• A fabric softener with outstanding results in a single product, leaving clothes clean, fragrant and as colourfast as new.

• It reaches every fibre and lifts soiling thanks to an intensive fabric-care formula. What is more, your clothes are protected against colour loss from the very first wash, so you no longer have to worry about fading. 

• Lord fabric softener keeps clothes looking fresh and holds their fragrance, which makes laundry day easier for women everywhere.

• Two distinctive fragrances — "Contemporary" and "Elegant" — let you choose what you like without worrying about odours on your clothes and towels.

• A reasonable, everyday price.

Lord fabric softener keeps clothes looking fresh and holds their fragrance.

Tips for keeping bath and face towels clean, fresh and soft as new

1. Use white vinegar

Do not keep using soap and fabric softener as you usually would — that only makes a hotel-style cotton towel stiffer, because the soap keeps building up in the fibres. It also leaves the towel discoloured. White vinegar is the saviour here, and the most suitable way to soften the towel.

It is very simple: before washing, add a little white vinegar to warm water and soak the towel in it, applying it directly to any yellowed patches. Leave for about 30 minutes, then wash as usual. If you use a machine you can add the vinegar directly, as you would soap. Note, though, that vinegar contains acid and may affect the life of the drum.

After washing with vinegar, soak the towel in fabric softener, wring it out and hang it in the shade or somewhere with gentle sun and good air. Do not hang it in harsh direct sunlight, as that makes the towel stiffer still.

Lord fabric softener protects the surface of your fabric from fading, sun damage and stiffness after drying

2. Use baking soda

Like vinegar, baking soda whitens and softens a hotel-style cotton towel very effectively. More than that, it removes the odours lingering in the towel altogether.

With baking soda you need only half a cup, added during the machine's rinse cycle. If you have already soaked the towel in vinegar, you can go straight on to wash it with baking soda instead of detergent.

3. A few things to know when using bath towels

The best way to stop a bath towel turning stiff and discoloured is to be careful and attentive from the moment you choose it and as you use it, following a few rules:

+ Only buy towels made from soft, natural fibres such as cotton

+ Buy from reputable places that guarantee quality. Do not go for cheap products of unclear origin and quality, because those towels stiffen and wear out quickly and cost you more in constant replacements.

+ When a towel is new, soak or wash it with white vinegar to hold the colour, keep it soft and remove odours better.

+ After use, hang the towel up rather than throwing it in a basket or dropping it on the floor. Otherwise it stays damp and grows mould, which causes unpleasant odours along with stains and black marks. 

>>See also:  Lord lime dishwashing liquid, fresh and clean — a real help for mothers.