How To Wash Towels By Hand

This article is part of the laundry information main page.

How to Wash Towels by Hand

Here is a guide on how to wash towels by hand so that they come out clean and smelling fresh. Not to mention it’s also a great way to save money on laundry!

Items You Will Need

There are only a few items needed to get started:

• A mild laundry detergent
• Warm water
• A hanger

Steps to Hand Washing Towels

Washing a bunch of towels by hand may seem like a big deal at first. However, getting clean, fresh, and fragrant towels is just a few easy steps away. here are the steps for hand washing towels:

1. Fill the sink or basin with warm water and add a small amount of detergent.
2. Leave the towels in the bathtub to soak for a while to loosen the stains.
3. Submerge the towels in hot water and squeeze them to work up a lather.
4. Rinse the towels thoroughly in clean, lukewarm water. Add a cup of white vinegar to the rinsing water as it will make the towels soft and fluffy while removing excess detergent residue
5. Thoroughly squeeze excess water from the washed towels gently. It will help you get rid of damp towel problems. A microfiber towel is the best option as it does not take much time to dry afterward.
6. Hang the towel flat on a hanger to air dry. Repeat these steps for each towel you wish to wash by hand.

Tips on Hand Washing Towels To Make Them Softer

Fed up with stiff towels upon washing? Here are some helpful tips that will prevent those fluffy fibers from becoming hard and starchy after a wash:

1. Don’t Overdo It With Detergent

When washing towels by hand, be sure not to use too much detergent. Excessive detergent use can cause towels to become stiff and less absorbent.

2. Use Vinegar

White vinegar comes in handy in several hacks, and hand-washing towels is not an exception. A great way to make your towels softer is to add a cup of vinegar to the wash cycle.

It will help to break down the fabric and make it smoother. Plus, it works better than any fabric softener that makes the fabric of the towels rough over time.

3. Shake Them Out After Washing

After washing the towels, be sure to shake them out before drying. Doing this will help remove excess water and prevent them from becoming too wrinkled.

It will also keep the damp towel smell away.

4. Don’t Dry Them Excessively

Towels take time to get dry, so instead of rushing or over-drying them, air dry towels or dry them on a low heat setting if using a dryer.

What Are the Advantages of Hand Washing Towels?

Hand washing towels sounds like a trivial, arduous task, but it certainly has some advantages. These include:

• It saves power and reduces electric bills as washing machines use electricity to heat the water and run the cycle.
• It helps to preserve their delicate fibers.
• Hand washing towels allows one to control the amount of water and detergent used, saving both resources and money.
• They are less likely to shrink.
• Hand-washing can also help remove tough stains that the washing machine may miss.
• Washing towels by hand can extend their lifespan and prevent them from wearing out too quickly.
• It can be quicker, as washing machines often have long cycles
• Finally, many people prefer the feel of a towel washed by hand – they tend to be softer and more absorbent.

How Often Should You Wash Bathroom Towels and Hand Towels

You might not find any hard and fast rules for how often to wash bath towels and hand towels, but a good rule of thumb is to wash them every three or four days.

Of course, if someone in the household is sick, you’ll want to wash them more often to prevent the illness from spreading. And if there are children or pets in the household, washing towels more frequently may be needed since they are likely to be messier and attract more germs.

Towels are made of absorbent materials which means they can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria. In addition, towel fabric is often rough, making it easy for bacteria to hide in the fibers.

However, washing towels every three or four days should be fine. Just shake them out after each use so they don’t develop a musty odor.

How Can I Dry My Towels Without a Dryer

For someone who does not have a tumble dryer or perhaps looking for a way to save some electricity, drying your towels naturally works just as well.

It may take some time but it’s well worth it! The steps include:

• Roll up the wet towels inside a dry towel and twist it from each end so the dry towel absorbs the water from them.
• Place wet towels in a sunny spot inside your home. If you do not have access to an outdoor clothesline, take advantage of bright spots inside your home.
• Use a ceiling fan to dry wet towels. If there is a ceiling fan in your bathroom, turn it on after showering to help circulate air. It will speed up the drying process.
• Use a dehumidifier to dry wet towels. A dehumidifier helps remove moisture from the air and speeds up the drying process for wet towels.
• Spread out the wet towel and put a dry tea towel on it. Put the iron on high and give a nice press on the top! Repeat on the other side.
• Hang wet towels, unfolded, over a shower curtain rod. Doing this helps wet towels dry more quickly by hanging them in a location with good air circulation.
• Switch to microfiber towels as they are significantly more absorbent than the cotton ones and dry much quicker.