There’s something lovely about bringing home a fresh set of towels. Whether you’ve chosen fluffy bath sheets, colourful hand towels or a complete matching set, it can be tempting to put them straight on the towel rail. But before you step out of the shower and reach for one, you might be wondering: should you wash new towels before using them?
Yes, we recommend washing your towels before their first use. A first wash helps remove loose fibres, gives you a freshly laundered towel and can help prepare the fabric to absorb water. It only takes one wash to get your new towels ready for the bathroom.
Here’s why it’s worth doing, how to wash new towels for the first time and what to expect afterwards.
Why should you wash new towels before use?
New towels may look ready to use as soon as you unpack them, but washing them first has a few practical benefits.
A first wash can help with absorbency
The most important job of a bath towel is to dry you. Although a new towel might feel wonderfully soft in your hands, it may not be at its most absorbent straight from the packaging.
Washing your towels before use helps prepare the fibres for their first proper outing. You may also notice that your towels become more absorbent after a few washes. So, if your new bath towel feels a little different from the well-loved one you’re replacing, don’t judge it on its first use alone.
This applies whether you’ve bought a hand towel for the downstairs loo, a bath towel for everyday showers or a generous bath sheet to wrap up in after a long soak.
For Freshness and Peace of Mind
Whether you buy towels online or pick them up in a shop, they’ve usually been through several stages of manufacturing, packing, storage and delivery before reaching your bathroom. During that time, they may collect dust or come into contact with hands and surfaces.
Towels displayed on a shop floor may also have been touched and handled by other customers. That doesn’t mean your new towels are visibly dirty, but a wash before their first use will help remove anything that may have settled on the fabric and leave them feeling fresh, clean and ready to use.
It helps remove loose fluff
Have you ever dried yourself with a brand-new towel and found little bits of fluff on your skin? New towels can release loose fibres, especially during their first few washes. This is often more noticeable with plush, deep-pile towels or darker colours, where stray fibres are easier to see.
A wash before use helps remove some of that loose fluff. Shaking the towel before and after washing can help too. A small amount of shedding at first is common, but it should generally lessen with subsequent washes.
How to wash new towels for the first time
The best way to wash fresh towels is to start with the care label. Cotton towels, bamboo-blend towels and decorative towels may have different washing or drying instructions. The label should always take priority over general laundry advice.
Once you’ve checked it, follow these simple first-wash steps.
1. Sort towels by colour
Keep white towels separate from dark or brightly coloured towels, particularly for their first wash. If you’ve bought several towels in the same colour, you can wash them together as long as their care instructions match and the machine isn’t overloaded.
It’s also sensible to wash your towels away from clothing. This keeps any loose towel fluff off your clothes and avoids zips, hooks or Velcro catching on the towel’s loops.
2. Shake them before putting them in the machine
Give each towel a good shake as you unpack it. This can help loosen stray fibres before the wash begins and stops the towel going into the drum tightly folded.
3. Choose the temperature shown on the label
There isn’t one ideal first-wash temperature for every towel. Check the care label and select a suitable cycle for that particular fabric and colour. There’s no need to choose the hottest setting available simply because the towels are new.
4. Use the recommended amount of laundry detergent
More laundry detergent doesn’t mean a better wash. Too much can be difficult to rinse away and may leave residue in the towel fibres - in result, your plush fluffy towels will turn into scratchy towels. Follow the detergent instructions for your load size and washing machine.
Make sure you leave enough space in the drum for the towels to move. An overfilled machine makes it harder for water to circulate and for the towels to rinse properly.
5. Skip the fabric softener
It might seem like the obvious way to make new towels extra soft, but fabric conditioner can leave a coating on the fibres that affects absorbency. If you want your bath towels to dry you well, it’s best to leave any fabric softener out of the first wash.
6. Dry your towels completely
Once the wash finishes, take the towels out promptly and give them another shake. Check the care label before tumble drying. If you’re air drying, spread each towel out with room for air to circulate rather than leaving it folded over itself.
Wait until the towels are completely dry before folding them away or hanging them in the bathroom. Storing a towel while it’s still damp can leave it smelling less than fresh.
Do you need to wash new towels separately?
You don’t have to wash towels separately on their first spin. Similar colours can usually be washed together if their labels allow the same settings. The important thing is to avoid overcrowding the machine and to take extra care with whites, dark shades and bright colours on their first wash.
If you’ve bought a mix of towels for the whole household, sorting them into sensible loads will help keep their colours looking their best.
Do new towels need more than one wash before use?
Usually, one wash is enough before you start using your fresh towels. There’s no need to wash them several times before they’re allowed on the towel rail.
You might find that a towel’s feel and absorbency continue to improve with regular washing and use. Some initial fluff can also take more than one wash to settle. Just follow the care label each time and avoid adding extra detergent or fabric conditioner in an attempt to speed things up.
Will washing new towels make them less soft?
Proper washing should help you enjoy your new towels, but the way you wash and dry them can affect how they feel. Overloading the machine, using too much detergent or leaving damp towels bunched up can all work against that soft, fresh finish.
Give towels space in the wash, rinse them properly and shake them out before drying. If you’re air drying a thick bath sheet, allow plenty of time for it to dry all the way through before putting it away.
Frequently asked questions about washing new towels
Should I wash new bath towels before using them?
Yes. Washing new bath towels before use helps remove loose fibres and gives you a freshly laundered towel. Always check the care label before choosing your cycle.
Should I wash new hand towels before using them?
Yes, the same advice applies to hand towels and face cloths. These are used against your hands and face regularly, so it makes sense to wash them before putting them into use.
Should I use fabric conditioner on new towels?
We recommend skipping fabric conditioner, particularly on the first wash. It can reduce how effectively towels absorb water.
Why is my new towel leaving fluff on me?
New towels can shed loose fibres during their first few uses and washes. Washing before use and shaking the towel out can help remove some of this fluff. If the shedding continues, check that you’re washing the towel according to its care label.
Can I use new towels without washing?
If you need to use one straight away, it’s fine to do so - just bear in mind it may shed a little or feel less absorbent at first.
The simple answer
So, should you wash new towels before using them? Yes. A first wash is a small step that helps remove loose fluff, prepares your towels for everyday use and means they’re freshly laundered when you reach for them.
Check the care label, separate your colours, use the right amount of detergent and let each towel dry fully. Then you can enjoy that fresh-towel feeling after your next bath or shower.