Luxury Linen Care: Bath Towel Care

Towels are one of the first things we grab for in the morning and one of the last things we touch at night. Yet, despite the thrill of fresh, new, plush towels, there is the fear and impending disappointment that they’ll get ruined.

You may be asking yourself, “How do I preserve the softness and quality of my towels?” and “How can I avoid the frayed edges, makeup stains, washed out colors that I’ve experienced in the past?”. We’ve seen and heard it all and are sharing our tips for keeping those new towels feeling and looking fresh, wash after wash.

Selecting the Right Bath Towels

As you shop for the perfect towel, keep in mind the important quality measures: origin, fiber type, and weave. A high-quality towel may come with a higher price tag, but it will also come with a longer life span. Towels that are 100% cotton, labeled as “zero-twist”, will be super soft, plush and absorbent. Read more of our tips on how to select high-quality bath linens here.

At Home Treasures, we offer multiple 100% cotton towel styles that allow you to beautifully style your bath without compromising on quality. Antalya offers a wavy scallop finish for playful touch; Bodrum has a contrasting piping for a pop of color; Ribbons creates a clean tailored look with a pair of ribbons and straight edge finish; and our two most popular collections of Turkish terry towels – Izmir and Riviera - can both be added for a contemporary yet minimalist finish.

Caring for Your Bath Towels

Getting Started

When you purchase a new set of bath towels, we advise you wash and dry them before use. This first wash cycle will remove any residue that may still be on the towel from the factory’s finishing process. Luxury towels will get softer and more absorbent with use, whereas lower quality towels will lose their softness and absorbency as the surface residues wash off. In your initial drying cycle, if you see a lot of lint in the dryer – there’s no reason for alarm; this is completely normal and a sign that extra fibers stuck in the towel have been released.

Washing Luxury Towels

To prevent frayed edges and abrasions when washing your towels, never overload the washing machine. It’s best to launder your towels separately from your clothing, particularly those made from polyester and denim, as well as those that have heavy zippers and hardware that can damage the fabric. Never leave towels soaking after a wash cycle for a long period of time, as this may distort the natural feel.  

To prevent discoloration, remember to wash light and dark-colored towels separately. Also, we also highly discourage using fabric softeners, brightening agents or bleach as these chemicals can cause your towels to discolor and will break down the fibers. The use of bleach can actually turn pristine white towels yellow over time. To keep your towels soft and vibrant, we recommend washing on warm and using a natural oxidizing agent, such as Oxyclean.

Drying Your Bath Towels

When it comes to drying your towels, shake them prior to loading them into the dryer. This shaking opens up the weave, allows air to pass through freely, and helps avoid fiber abrasion caused by twisting and tangling during the drying cycle. To avoid excessive shrinkage, tumble dry on a warm heat setting. Never use high heat to speed up the drying process as this will expedite the aging process for your towels.

Do not use dryer sheets as these artificially coat the fabric with chemicals that can alter the natural softness of the fibers. Instead, consider using reusable wool dryer balls that help prevent static build-up and increase the drying speed.

Storing Your Towels

Never iron your bath towels; instead smooth them by hand before folding and storing. If storing your towels in the linen closet before their next use, folding towels neatly and stacking them on shelves helps keep the wrinkles at bay. By arranging same-sized towels into equal width stacks from top to bottom, you can maximize your shelf space by packing them closer together. Alternatively, for a spa-style method of storing towels, you can roll your towels and washcloths into tubes and then stack them. This method of storing and displaying towels is not only a chic alternative to the traditional stacking method, it’s also known to save more space in your linen closet.

Stain Removal

What is the best way to remove makeup or other pesky stains from towels? Try mixing equal parts baking soda and vinegar to form a paste. Generously apply the paste on the stained area, and scrub gently with a soft bristle brush. Let it sit for up to 15 minutes before immediately tossing the towel into the wash with the rest of your linens.


Home Treasures Bath Linens

With a myriad of choices, we provide you the opportunity to create a space you daydream to return to each day. If you’re interested in updating your bathroom, we invite you to explore our extensive collection of towel options. And don’t forget, if you want to design something of your own, we’d be happy to customize something just for you and your preferences!