It’s a question we’re asked time and time again: how can you keep towels softer and fresher for longer?
With regular use and washing, it’s only natural for fibres to gradually break down, causing towels to lose some of their original softness over time. However, by following a few simple care tips, you can help preserve their plush feel and cleanliness for far longer.
Not only will this keep your towels feeling luxurious day after day, but it can also help you save money by extending their lifespan - meaning fewer replacements and more value from the towels you already love.
How often should you wash your towels?
As a general rule, towels should be washed after every 3–4 uses, which usually means every three to five days for most households.
Towels absorb moisture, skin cells and everyday bacteria each time they’re used, so even if they look clean, leaving them too long between washes can cause them to lose freshness and develop odours.
If you’re looking for new bathroom towels, bamboo towels are well worth considering. Naturally soft, breathable and highly absorbent, bamboo fibres offer a smooth, luxurious feel that’s gentle on the skin. They’re also durable, naturally antibacterial, and anti-odour, helping towels stay fresher for longer and making them a thoughtful, long-lasting investment for everyday use.
For best hygiene:
- Hand towels: every 1–2 days
- Bath towels: every 3–4 uses
- Gym or guest towels: after each use
Hanging towels out fully between uses allows them to dry properly, helping them stay fresher and last longer between washes.
Simple tips for washing towels
There are a few simple things that we can all try to remember to try and help keep our towels as soft as possible.
Try not to put too many towels in your washing machine in one go. Keep your load as light as possible. The larger the amount of laundry, the less room your washing machine has to remove all the detergent and those pesky bits of dirt from your towels.
The same applies when you put your towels in the tumble dryer. If you put fewer towels into your tumble dryer, the will be more air available to properly dry out the fabric and give your towels a fluffier and softer feel.
Many of us have the urge to use fabric softener on our towels to try and get them feeling silky smooth against our skin. Fabric softeners are able to reduce friction and static, which will in turn give your towels a much fluffier feel. But beware, fabric softeners contain silicon which will coat the towels exterior and hinder its absorbency levels. This coating will also mean that you will find yourself washing your towels even more frequently, which is inconvenient for you and not good for the environment.
This ties in with the fact that you should try and wash colours separately where possible, to try and avoid any colour running from dark to light fabrics. If you have just ran a wash of darker items, we would advise you to run a short 15 minute cycle with nothing in your machine. This will help your machine wash away and remaining loose fibres, and eliminate the chance of any colour run if you want to wash some lighter colours next.
Can you use bleach on white towels?
Bleach can be used to bring the brightness back from old white towels, but it should be done sparingly and carefully.
When bleach is OK
- Only use chlorine bleach on 100% white towels
- It can help remove deep stains, greying, and yellowing
- Best used occasionally, not as part of your regular wash routine
Important things to know
- Overuse damages fibres: Bleach weakens cotton over time, which can make towels feel rough, thin, or prone to tearing.
- Too much can cause yellowing: Excess bleach or hard water reactions can actually leave towels looking dull or yellow rather than bright white.
- Never mix with fabric conditioner This can reduce absorbency and affect the effectiveness of the wash.
How to use bleach safely on towels
- Dilute it properly (never pour directly onto fabric)
- Use the smallest recommended amount
- Wash on a warm or hot cycle, following care labels
- Rinse thoroughly to remove residue
Gentler alternatives (often better long-term)
If your towels are looking dull rather than stained, gentler alternatives such as white vinegar to remove build-up and odours, bicarbonate of soda to boost freshness and brightness, or a colour-safe oxygen bleach can help revive them while being kinder to the fibres.
Different types of laundry detergent
We use detergents because of the speed and effectiveness when cleaning our laundry.
They are synthetic products whereas soap is made from natural ingredients such as plant oils and animal fats.
The supermarket shelves are often stacked with a wide range of different detergents, and it can often be confusing which is the best option for you.
Here we will outline some of the pros and cons to the different detergents you can choose from, helping you pick out what's best for you and your family.
Biological detergent
Biological detergents contain protein-digesting enzymes and are powerful stain and dirt removers. These enzymes help to break down stains such as blood and sweat which are, you guessed it, proteins, making your towels look almost as good as new.
They are also effective when used at relatively low temperatures (even in quick wash at 30 degrees!), helping to remove stains which would otherwise need higher temperature washes.
That means that using biological detergent is a good way of saving time and also energy, and in turn, helping the environment. Make sure to use sparingly on coloured towels though, as regular and excessive use may eventually lead to the colour fading.
Non-biological detergent
This is the perfect option for families, people with sensitive skin, allergies or eczema.
Non-biological detergent doesn't contain any man-made enzymes so is much less likely to irritate your skin. Instead, they use more conventional ingredients but they will still be successful removing those pesky stains and dirt.
However, you may need to use a slightly higher temperatures when using non-bio detergents, particularly if you are taking on particularly tough and large stains.
Colour-safe detergent
You may notice on of many of our towels that we urge you to use detergent recommended for colours.
These detergents have a special formula that is created to preserve colour brightness and help to prevent colours from fading prematurely.
Colour-safe detergents typically still contain enzymes, so they should perform well when trying to remove stains and dirt from your towels.
Too much detergent
Do you find that your towels are coming out of the wash feeling hard or stiff rather than soft and fluffy?
This is often caused by using too much detergent. When excess soap isn’t fully rinsed away, it builds up on the fibres, leaving a residue that coats the towel and reduces softness.
By slightly reducing the amount of detergent you use, your washing machine can rinse more effectively, helping to remove leftover soap and restore a softer, more comfortable feel.
Cons of using too much detergent on towels:
- Leaves a soapy residue that makes towels feel stiff and rough
- Reduces absorbency by coating the fibres
- Can trap odours rather than removing them
- Causes faster fibre breakdown over time
- Makes towels look dull or flat instead of fluffy
Best ways to dry your towels
Many people ask what the best way is to dry your towels to maintain the soft feeling. The truth is, it may be a combination of both line drying and tumble drying.
Try to wash all of your towels together. This will make it easier to dry them properly, as they will all dry at the same rate.
Once your towels have finished washing, remove them from the machine promptly and give them a good shake. This helps loosen the fibres, release any lint shed during the wash, and prevents creasing from setting in.
You then have two drying options: line drying or tumble drying - or a combination of both.
For best results, we recommend line drying your towels in the shade until they are almost completely dry. This reduces electricity use and helps prevent colours from fading in direct sunlight.
Once nearly dry, pop them into the tumble dryer on a short, low-heat cycle to soften the fibres and restore that fluffy finish. Excessive heat and over-tumbling can weaken the fabric over time, so gentler settings are always best.
Why this method works:
- Helps towels dry naturally while protecting fibres
- Reduces energy usage and running costs
- Minimises colour fading caused by direct sun
- Short tumble drying lifts fibres for a softer, fluffier feel
- Low heat extends the life of your towels
Towel Care, Simplified
Caring for your towels doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple changes - from using less detergent to drying more gently - you can help preserve their softness, absorbency and appearance for longer.
Thoughtful care not only keeps your towels feeling fresh and comfortable day after day, but also extends their lifespan, helping you get more value from pieces you use every day.