Here at Fine Linen and Bath, we believe investing in high-quality towels is always a great decision. With proper care, your towels will perform well, remain beautiful, and serve you well for years to come.
The first wash - Caring for your brand new towels
As you unbox your towels, read and follow the instructions on the care label. You'll want to launder your towels before using them for the first time. Carefully remove any plastic tags using scissors prior to laundering to avoid snags. Do not pull tags to remove as this can cause them to catch on fibers and damage the fabric. Sort and wash by color, and use a small amount of gentle detergent, preferably one formulated for fine linens. Wash your towels in cold water; give them a gentle shake to fluff after removing from the machine; and tumble dry on low heat.
Do's and Don'ts of caring for your luxury towels
DO sort and wash towels by color. Divide them into three general categories -- white, light colors, and dark colors -- to prolong their life and avoid color bleeding.
DON'T use brightening detergents, which will affect the color; chlorine bleach, which will weaken fibers, fade colors, and create a rough texture; or fabric softeners, which will harm the fibers and diminish absorbency.
DO use detergent sparingly. Residue can make the cloth rough and most bath linens don't really get all that dirty. Consider using about 1/2 the recommended amount, which will get the towels clean and keep them soft, or opt for a product specially formulated to wash fine linens such as our line of Heritage Park Laundry Essentials.
DON'T overstuff the washer or wash towels with other clothing items. Rough and abrasive objects - buttons, zippers, embellishments, etc. can pull at the pile and fray the towels. Bath rugs can also wear down towels, so wash them separately.
DO wash your towels in cold water to help colors stay bright and extend the life of the fibers. Excessive heat will damage fibers and increase the shrinkage of the towel.
DO shake out your towels when changing over from the washer to the dryer. This will ‘fluff' the fibers and speed up the drying period.
DON'T dry your towels on hot or over-dry them, as heat from the dryer can damage fibers. After they've gone through the wash cycle, remove them from the washing machine immediately and give them a shake to fluff the terry loops that aid absorbency. Tumble dry on low heat, ideally with wool dryer balls which will reduce drying time and leave your towels soft and fluffy.
DON'T iron your towels, as this will reduce absorbency. Tumble dry on low heat. Do not over-dry. The heat from the dryer will damage fibers.
DO hang your towels after using them instead of putting them in a hamper where they can cause mildew.
DO take care of any stray pulled loops by cutting them off with a pair of sharp scissors. This won't cause any damage the towel and will help avoid further snagging and pulls down the line.
DON'T allow your towels to come in contact with bathroom cleansers and beauty products that may contain bleaching agents that could cause permanent discoloration.
NEVER dry clean your towels!
Reviving and restoring your luxury bath towels: 3 simple steps
Over time, repeat laundering can affect even the finest towels. They may become scratchy and stiff or even have a mildly unpleasant smell. Many factors can cause this; most notably, it's the result of hard water.
You can restore your luxury bath towels with three simple steps using just baking soda and white vinegar.
- Wash your towels in warm to hot water -- not scalding -- with one cup of white distilled vinegar. This will strip towels of any built-up residue and help restore absorbency. DON'T USE DETERGENT, only white vinegar.
- Run the load a second time using only a half-cup of baking soda. This will help freshen and remove any lingering smells. AGAIN, DON'T USE DETERGENT, only baking soda.
- Dry according to instructions WITHOUT fabric softener sheets.
You can repeat this process when needed to keep your towels soft, fluffy, and smelling fresh.
Choosing the right detergent - towels last longer, perform better
Choosing the proper detergent can dramatically extend the life and performance of your bath towels. Harsh detergents can weaken fabric thread fibers, causing them to look dull and lose absorbency. At Fine Linen and Bath, we recommend using a detergent specially made for linens such as Heritage Park Fine Fabric Wash or Le Blanc Linen Wash. These products are formulated to remove tough stains; gently clean and preserve delicate thread fibers; and keep your towels looking and feeling beautiful.
