01Why towels need washing more than you think
It is easy to think of a bath towel as almost clean. You step out of the shower, freshly washed, and dry yourself. What could be dirty about that? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Every time you use a towel, it picks up dead skin cells, natural body oils, traces of soap and shower gel and bacteria that live harmlessly on skin. Then it hangs in a warm, damp bathroom, which is exactly the environment bacteria and mould like best.
For the first use or two, none of this is noticeable. After several uses, especially if the towel never dries properly between showers, it starts to smell faintly musty and feels less fresh against the skin. Leave it long enough, and the smell can become hard to wash out. Hand towels, used by everyone in the household many times a day, often with not-quite-clean hands, get dirty even faster.
This guide sets out a practical washing schedule for bath towels, hand towels, face cloths and the other towels in a home, explains why towels lose their softness and how to bring it back, and covers the small habits that keep towels fresh between washes.
02A practical washing schedule
| Towel | Wash after | Wash sooner if |
|---|---|---|
| Bath towel or bath sheet | 3–4 uses | It smells, stays damp, used after exercise |
| Hand towel | Every 1–2 days | Several people use it, someone is ill |
| Face cloth or flannel | Every use | Always; it stays damp longest |
| Kitchen hand towel | Every 1–2 days | Used near raw food |
| Gym or sports towel | Every use | Always; sweat and bacteria |
| Beach or pool towel | Every use | Sand, sun cream, chlorine |
| Guest towels | After each guest | Always |
| Bath mat | Weekly | Wet floors, children, pets |
Why three or four uses
If a bath towel dries fully between uses, three or four uses is a sensible guide. If it never dries properly, because it hangs scrunched on a hook in a steamy bathroom, it should be washed sooner.
Face cloths
Face cloths stay damp longer than any other towel and are used on the face, so washing them after every use is the safest option. Many people keep a stack and use a fresh one daily.
03Drying between uses
How a towel dries between showers is as important as how often it is washed.
- Hang towels spread out on a rail, not bunched on a hook.
- Do not leave towels on the floor or in a heap on the bed.
- Open the bathroom window or run the extractor fan after showers.
- Heated towel rails help towels dry fully and quickly.
- Give each person their own towel so towels are not reused before drying.
Hooks versus rails
Hooks are convenient, but a towel hung on a hook stays folded and damp in the middle. A rail lets the whole towel dry. If you only have hooks, hang towels by a corner rather than the middle.
04The bathroom and towel freshness
The bathroom is where towels live, and it is usually the dampest room in the home.
Ventilation
Run the extractor fan during and after every shower or bath, for long enough to clear the steam. Open the window if there is one. A bathroom that stays steamy for an hour after a shower leaves towels damp.
Heated towel rails
Heated towel rails are excellent for drying towels between uses. Hang towels spread out over the rail rather than folded thickly. Some rails run on the central heating and only warm when the heating is on; electric or dual-fuel rails can run independently.
Space
In small London bathrooms, there may be room for only one rail. Hang the most-used towels there and keep spares in a dry cupboard outside the bathroom.
Storage
Do not store clean towels in the bathroom if it is very steamy; they absorb moisture and can smell. A hallway cupboard is often better.
05Why towels go hard
New towels feel soft and fluffy. Months later, many feel stiff, scratchy and thin. Several things cause this.
Too much detergent
More detergent does not mean cleaner towels. Excess detergent that is not rinsed out stays in the loops and makes towels stiff. Pods and measured doses designed for a full load can be too much for a small towel load.
Fabric softener
Softener feels like it should help, but it coats the fibres with a waxy layer. Over time, that layer builds up, reduces absorbency and eventually makes towels feel slick and then stiff.
Hard water
Most of London has hard water. Minerals in the water build up in towel loops, making them rough. This is often the main reason towels in London homes feel scratchy.
Over-drying
Drying towels on the hottest setting for too long, or leaving them on a hot radiator for hours, makes the fibres brittle.
Line drying without movement
Towels dried on a line or airer on a still day can dry stiff because the loops set flat. Shaking them before and after drying helps.
06Keeping towels soft
- Use less detergent than you would for clothes, and measure it.
- Skip fabric softener, or use it only occasionally and lightly.
- Do not overload the machine; towels need room to move and rinse.
- Use an extra rinse if your machine has one.
- Shake towels hard before hanging or tumbling to lift the loops.
- Tumble dry on medium heat until just dry, or finish air-dried towels with a short tumble.
- Remove towels from the dryer promptly.
Dryer balls
Wool or rubber dryer balls help separate towels in the dryer, so air circulates and loops are lifted. They can make towels feel fluffier without softener.
07When towels smell
Musty smell after one use
A towel that smells musty after one use was probably not fully dry when it was put away, or carries bacteria from previous uses that the wash did not remove.
Smell when damp but not when dry
If a clean towel smells fine dry but sour when wet, bacteria or residue are still in the fibres. A hotter wash, within the label, and no softener usually help.
Fixing smelly towels
- Wash at 60°C if the label allows, with a measured dose of detergent.
- Skip softener.
- Add an extra rinse.
- Dry fully and quickly.
- If the smell persists, a stripping wash or a laundry reset may help.
08What temperature to wash towels at
Towels are one of the household items that benefit most from warmer washes. Cotton towels can usually be washed at 40–60°C. 60°C helps remove body oils and bacteria and is often recommended for towels, especially if they smell or someone has been unwell. Check the label; coloured towels may be limited to 40°C to keep their colour.
09Giving tired towels a reset
If your towels have been washed with softener and too much detergent for a long time, they may need a reset to strip out the build-up.
- Wash towels on their own at the hottest temperature their label allows.
- Use a small dose of detergent, or none, for one wash to let excess residue rinse out.
- Run an extra rinse.
- Dry on medium heat with a good shake before and after.
- Repeat once if needed.
After the reset, keep to measured detergent and no softener. Many towels feel noticeably softer and absorb better after a reset.
10How many towels each person needs
A simple guide is two to three sets per person: one in use, one in the wash and one spare. A set usually means a bath towel and a hand towel, plus a face cloth if you use them.
| Household | Bath towels | Hand towels | Face cloths |
|---|---|---|---|
| One person | 3 | 2 | 4–7 |
| Couple | 6 | 3–4 | 8–14 |
| Family of four | 10–12 | 4–6 | 14+ |
Guest towels
Keep at least one or two spare sets for guests, washed and stored separately.
11Types of towel at home
Most homes have a mix of towels, and each has its own job and care.
| Towel | Typical size | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath sheet | Large | Wrapping after a bath or shower | Heavy when wet; dries slowly |
| Bath towel | Medium-large | Everyday drying | Most common |
| Hand towel | Small | Bathroom and kitchen hands | Changed most often |
| Face cloth | Very small | Face washing | Wash after every use |
| Guest towel | Small | Visitors' hands | Fresh for each guest |
| Beach towel | Large, often thin | Beach, pool, park | Sand and sun cream |
| Microfibre towel | Various | Travel, gym | No softener, low heat |
| Hair towel or turban | Small | Wrapping wet hair | Hair products build up |
Bath sheets
Bath sheets are lovely to wrap in but hold a lot of water and take a long time to dry, especially in a flat. They need washing as often as bath towels, and good drying space.
Hair towels
Towels used to wrap wet hair pick up conditioner, oils and styling products. They can become slick and stiff faster than body towels. Wash them often and without softener.
12Towel fabrics and weaves
Cotton terry
The classic towel: loops of cotton that absorb well and feel soft. Most bath and hand towels are terry.
Waffle
Waffle towels have a honeycomb weave. They are light, dry quickly and suit small bathrooms, travel and people who prefer a less bulky towel.
Turkish or flat-woven
Flat-woven towels, often called Turkish or hammam towels, are thin, absorbent and very quick-drying. They work well in small flats and as beach towels.
Bamboo-derived and blends
Some towels use fibres made from bamboo or blends. They can feel very soft but may need cooler washes. Check labels.
Microfibre
Microfibre towels are very light and quick-drying, popular for gym and travel. They need cool washes, no softener and low dryer heat.
13Choosing towels that last
- Cotton towels are absorbent and soft; longer cotton fibres shed less.
- Medium-weight towels dry faster than very heavy ones, which matters in a flat.
- Check that hems are double-stitched.
- Buy in sets so towels match and wear evenly.
- Wash new towels once or twice before use to remove finishes and improve absorbency.
14White or coloured towels
White towels
White towels look fresh and can usually be washed hot, which helps keep them clean and soft. They show make-up and other marks clearly.
Coloured towels
Coloured towels hide marks but can fade with hot washes and may need 40°C. Wash new coloured towels separately for the first few washes, because they can release dye.
Washing them apart
Wash white and coloured towels in separate loads. Also keep towels apart from dark clothes, since towels shed lint that clings to dark fabrics.
15Make-up, fake tan and skincare on towels
Towels at home take make-up, fake tan, hair dye, acne creams and other skincare products.
- Make-up: oil and pigment; pre-treat before washing.
- Fake tan: can leave brown marks; treat early.
- Hair dye: often permanent; keep an old dark towel for dyeing.
- Acne and skin creams: some contain ingredients that can bleach or discolour towels, especially coloured ones. Using white towels for skincare, or a dedicated face towel, avoids patchy colour loss.
Dedicated towels
Keeping an older dark towel for hair dye and fake tan, and a separate small towel for removing make-up, protects your main towels.
16Hand towels in detail
Hand towels by the basin and in the kitchen are used many times a day by everyone in the household and by guests. They are also used with hands that may not be perfectly clean.
- Change bathroom hand towels every one or two days, and daily if several people use them.
- Change kitchen hand towels daily; they pick up food and grease.
- Never use the kitchen hand towel to dry dishes or wipe surfaces.
- Consider paper towels or individual small towels when someone in the house is ill.
17When someone is ill
Towels can spread germs between people.
- Give the person who is ill their own towels, kept separate.
- Wash their towels separately, at the highest temperature the labels allow, often 60°C.
- Replace shared hand towels with individual towels or paper towels for a while.
- Wash your hands after handling their towels.
18Children's towels
Children's towels get used, dropped, sat on, left on the floor and sometimes used as capes. They need washing often.
- Give each child their own towel, in a different colour or with a name.
- Wash bath towels after a few uses, sooner if they are left on the floor.
- Wash hooded towels and bath ponchos regularly.
- Check children's towels for smells; they often end up damp in heaps.
19Beach, pool and gym towels
These towels carry sand, sun cream, chlorine and sweat.
- Shake out sand before washing.
- Rinse pool towels in cool water if you cannot wash them straight away.
- Wash beach and gym towels after every use.
- Sun cream can leave marks; pre-treat greasy patches before washing.
- Microfibre travel and gym towels should be washed without softener and dried on low heat.
20Towels for guests
Guest towels are a small courtesy that makes visitors feel welcome.
- Put out a fresh bath towel, hand towel and face cloth for each guest.
- Wash guest towels after every guest, even if they look unused.
- Store guest towels clean and dry, ideally outside the bathroom.
- Keep them in a different colour or style so they do not get mixed into everyday use.
21Drying towels after washing
Tumble drying
Tumble drying on medium heat gives the softest, fluffiest result, because the tumbling action lifts the loops. Remove towels as soon as they are dry, and shake them before folding.
Air drying indoors
Indoors, spread towels out on an airer with space between them, in a ventilated room. Shake them hard before hanging and after drying. A short tumble at the end, if you have a dryer, softens them.
Air drying outdoors
Outdoor drying on a breezy day leaves towels smelling fresh, but they can feel stiff. A good shake, or a few minutes in a dryer afterwards, helps.
On radiators
Drying towels directly on radiators adds moisture to the room and tends to make them stiff. A heated towel rail is better.
22Storing clean towels
Clean towels can lose their freshness in storage.
- Make sure towels are completely dry before folding, including hems.
- Store them in a dry cupboard, ideally outside the bathroom.
- Do not pack them too tightly; let air circulate.
- Fold them loosely or roll them to avoid crushing the loops.
- Rotate them so all towels get used and washed evenly.
The airing cupboard
A warm airing cupboard is a traditional place to store towels and keeps them dry. Make sure towels are fully dry before they go in, since warmth with damp can encourage smells.
23Folding towels neatly
A neat fold keeps towels looking fresh in the cupboard and makes them easier to stack.
The classic thirds fold
Lay the towel flat, fold it in thirds lengthways, then fold it in half or in thirds again from the short end. Stack with the folded edges facing outward for a tidy, hotel-style look.
Rolling
Rolling towels saves space in small cupboards and drawers and makes it easy to see each towel. Fold the towel in half lengthways, then roll it tightly from one short end.
Hand towels and face cloths
Fold hand towels in thirds and then in half. Face cloths can be folded into squares or rolled and kept in a basket near the basin.
Whatever method you choose, fold towels only when they are completely dry and cool, and keep the stacks loose enough for air to circulate.
24Bath mats
Bath mats are often forgotten in towel routines, yet they sit on the bathroom floor soaking up water from wet feet every day.
- Wash bath mats weekly, more often in busy households.
- Hang them over the side of the bath or on a rail between uses so they dry.
- Wash them separately from towels, or with towels if they are similar in colour and fabric.
- Check the label: mats with rubber backing often need cool washes and no tumble drying, and the backing breaks down over time.
- Replace mats that stay damp, smell or have crumbling backing.
25New towels
New towels often feel soft in the shop but do not absorb well at first, because of finishes added in manufacturing.
- Wash new towels once or twice before using them.
- Use a measured dose of detergent and no softener.
- Expect lint in the first few washes; clean the dryer filter often.
- Wash coloured towels separately until they stop releasing dye.
After a few washes, the loops open up and absorbency improves.
26Towels in a small London flat
Small flats make towels harder to look after. Bathrooms are tiny and often windowless, there may be no dryer, and drying space is shared with clothes.
Fewer, faster-drying towels
Lighter towels, waffle weaves or flat-woven towels dry much faster than thick bath sheets, which helps in a flat where every damp item adds to condensation.
Rotate between rooms
If the bathroom stays steamy, take damp towels out after showering and hang them in a drier room on a rail or the back of a chair, then bring them back.
Stagger washing
Rather than washing every towel on the same day and filling the flat with damp, wash two or three towels at a time with other loads, or send towels out with the rest of the laundry.
Watch for mould
Towels hung in steamy, unventilated bathrooms can develop small black mould spots. If you see them, wash the towel hot and improve ventilation; persistent spots mean the towel may need replacing.
27When to replace towels
- They stay hard or scratchy after washing without softener.
- They smell soon after washing.
- They are thin, frayed or have holes.
- They no longer absorb water well.
Old towels can be cut into cleaning cloths or donated to animal shelters, many of which welcome them.
How ArkLaundry helps
Towels go in our wash & fold with everything else, washed and fully dried so they come back soft. Wash & fold is £18.50 for up to 6 kg, including VAT.
