After taking a bath or shower, it is always nice to wrap yourself in a soft terry towel. But over time it becomes tough.
There are ways to extend the life of products. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the rules for proper washing and drying of terry.
How to properly wash terry towels in a washing machine so that they are soft and fluffy; do you need to iron them after washing? Find answers to your questions in the article.
Preparation for the process
Washing affects the durability and quality of the laundry, so you need to pay great attention to the process.
Recommendations for cleaning towels:
Before immersion in the drum compartment, all products are shaken, the fluff will straighten out, and things will be washed better;- You cannot wash terry towels together with clothes that have zippers, metal elements or fittings, as they will damage the products;
- Do not wash terry items together with bed linen;
- bleaching of terry is carried out only in extreme cases, when a yellow coating and stubborn stains have formed;
- You cannot use regular powder, but if you cannot do without it, then the product must be rinsed 2 times.
It is not recommended to load terry products together with clothes made from other materials. This is explained by the fact that it can be sewn from fabrics that differ greatly in their properties, so the cleaning requirements are also different.
Washable in a washing machine
In any case, you need to read the tag before washing . It contains information about proper care, acceptable temperature conditions, and ironing.
In what mode, at what temperature?
The shortest time period is chosen, the revolutions should not exceed 400. The “water saving” mode should not be used, because the more thoroughly the towel is rinsed, the softer it will become. The drum is loaded to 2/3 of the volume.
Terry towels should be washed on a delicate cycle, which is intended for wool or silk.
Terry products should be washed at 40℃. In case of heavy pollution, it is allowed to set the mode to 60℃ .
Selecting a detergent
Towels become hard after washing in water with various impurities. This is indicated by a gray coating on the fabric.
To prevent negative consequences, you need to use conditioner and increase the number of rinses. If you save water, you can damage the terry.
When washing towels, do not use powder. The effectiveness of detergents directly depends on their composition. To ensure the softness of the product, powder formulations are replaced with liquid products. Gel preparations can remove grains from the pile.
Can be used:
- balms,
- rinse aids,
- air conditioners.
Experts recommend using conditioner with silicone. The regular one is not suitable for terry products. Silicone must be used in limited quantities, otherwise the towels will not absorb water well.
Don't trust everything that's on the label. The manufacturer writes the maximum dosage that is safe. Experts advise measuring ¼ less. This way the effect will be good and the product will last for a long time.
Softening water at home
The most important condition for keeping products soft and gentle is washing in soft water. Most apartments have bad, hard water.
It needs to be softened, this is done in one of the following ways:
Installing a filter on pipes . This is the most effective way to combat hard water. The filter will rid it of lime, rust, scale, and sand. All substances settle on the towel, making it rough.- Using vinegar . 100 ml of acid is poured into the conditioner compartment. The solution will soften the water and remove odors from things.
- Using extra salt . It is fine and dissolves better in water. If possible, you can buy special salt for the machine. At the same time, washing gel and a solution of 3 tbsp are poured into the compartment. l. salt and 50 ml water.
- Soda. Use calcined or food grade. They soften water equally well. 5 tbsp. l. poured directly into the drum.
- Soda with vinegar . A mixture of soda and acid will give a good effect. Half a glass of table vinegar is poured into the compartment, 100 g of soda is immersed in the drum. Then add detergent and set to delicate mode. This method will not only soften the water, but also whiten things perfectly.
All of the above recipes can also be used when hand washing terry products. But you need to take care of the safety of your hands and don’t forget to wear gloves.
Correct spin
To maintain the softness of terry items, you need to select a spin mode no higher than 400 rpm . Ideally, it will be 300-350 rpm.
If the house is easy to dry, it is recommended to set the wool setting. Hand spinning will leave your towels soft and fluffy.
To iron or not
Some people wonder whether it is necessary to iron terry clothes, and what mode to set on the iron. This procedure should not be ignored, but it is important to do everything correctly.
When exposed to high temperatures, the fibers deteriorate, causing the product to become stiff. If the fabric has been automatically dried, it does not require ironing.
In other cases, the fabric can only be smoothed with steam (all modern irons have this function) by holding the unit at a short distance above the product.
Handwash
Hand washing is preferable to machine processing as terry requires delicate handling. Some people think that when washed by hand, the product suffers, but in fact this is not the case.
Sequencing:
First, the towel is immersed in a basin with warm water and product and left for 40 minutes.- When soaking, do not use powder. Take a special liquid product and pour it. If desired, you can use laundry soap.
- To provide additional softening of the products, add 2 tablespoons of salt to the soap solution and mix.
- The soap mixture penetrates deep into the fibers, so the towel is rinsed at least 3 times.
When cleaning terry items with your hands, it is strictly forbidden to wrinkle them, tug at them, or twist them tightly during spinning. All mechanical manipulations can negatively affect the towel. Movements should be light and smooth.
How to dry, how to prevent odor?
To make towels soft, you need to dry them properly. Before hanging, the product is shaken to straighten the fibers. If possible, it is better to hang it outside; terry does not tolerate dry, stale air. You cannot over-dry your laundry, otherwise it will become hard and uncomfortable .
The ideal way is to use a dryer with a special mode. This will make things soft and fluffy again. Drying in it will help prevent unpleasant odors that sometimes arise in damp material.
Another reason for the appearance of odors is the accumulation of bacteria from the human body. They stick to the fibers and emit a bad odor. To avoid unpleasant moments, it is recommended to change the towel frequently, every 3-4 days.
If there is no dryer, the product is hung on a rope. The main thing is to ensure that things have access to oxygen from all sides. When drying in an apartment, you need to open the window .
Drying rules
Even if the terry towels were washed in compliance with all recommendations, the efforts will be in vain if they are not dried properly. How to properly dry items:
- Don't squeeze too hard. It is better to hang them over the bathtub and let the water drain on their own.
- Do not dry in sunlight. Things will not only become tough, but also lose their original color. There is no way to fix this.
- Choose a shaded, well-ventilated place.
- Do not use drying devices, they negatively affect the structure of the fabric.
- Keep away from heating devices.
Textiles can be dried in a washing machine on a special cycle. If it is absent, this is done outdoors or in a room. The ideal option would be a special electric dryer with a flow of warm air.
Attention! You cannot iron the products, they will become hard. To prevent the towel from becoming wrinkled, it must be periodically shaken and straightened with your hands while drying. When using an iron, the towel can be steamed (no more than 150°C). This should be done in a vertical position, that is, the product should be suspended. Keep the iron at a distance of 15-20 cm.
After the towels have dried, they must be put on a shelf in the closet, separate from other things. Before doing this, you need to make sure that the material is completely dry. If you put the products half-baked, mold and an unpleasant odor will appear, which are almost impossible to get rid of.
What to do if the product becomes hard?
If the product has lost its former softness and fluffiness, there is no need to rush to get rid of it. It can be restored by first soaking the item in salted water and then washing it.
Sequencing:
- 5 liters of water are poured into a basin, 2 tbsp. l. salt and stir;
- A terry towel is immersed in the solution and left for 45 minutes;
- then wash on a delicate cycle using gel.
General recommendations boil down to using natural water softeners and setting gentle wash cycles.
Why do terry towels become rough?
We love terry towels for their softness, fluffiness and instant moisture absorption. But if you care for the product incorrectly, it will quickly lose its properties.
The main mistakes that lead to loss of softness:
- Wash with classic powder. The best means for washing towels are gels. Abrasive particles in regular powder spoil the pile and gradually thin the product. Be sure to add rinse aids and conditioners when washing.
- Hard water. In many cities, especially in megalopolises, there are a lot of foreign impurities in the water. When washing towels, be sure to add water softener and conditioner.
- Wrong washing temperature. The higher the temperature, the stiffer your towel will become. Terry fabrics cannot be washed in hot water, much less boiled.
- Spin at high speeds. For terry towels, it is optimal to choose no more than 400 revolutions or not to use a spin cycle at all.
- Bleaching with products containing chlorine.
- Staying in the laundry basket for a long time.
- Ironing.
Important!
Even if you follow all the care instructions, they can still become stiff and thin if they were originally made from poor quality material. We recommend that you choose towels with a pile of medium length and good density.
Tips and prohibitions
To raise the pile, use special balls . If you don't have them, you can take tennis balls. Spinning with the drum, they bounce off the walls and hit the fabric. The fibers of the terry product will not be crushed.
There are few secrets - choose a gentle washing mode, do not expose the product to high temperatures. You only need to wash with gels, avoid powders and bleaches.
Some tips for restoring softness and fluffiness to stiff textiles:
Soak in warm water and leave overnight. During this time, the remaining washing gel will dissolve; in the morning you need to rinse the towel and dry it.- Wash with sea salt. You need to take 1 tablespoon per 2.5 kg of laundry.
- Wash in a solution with laundry soap.
This method will restore freshness, softness and airiness to towels. A bar of soap is grated on a coarse grater and a handful is dissolved in warm water. Immerse the product and leave for 1 hour. Rinse in vinegar solution.
Soaking a terry towel in snow is a great way to restore softness. They collect snow in a bucket, put the product in it and leave it for a couple of hours. Then you need to wash and dry properly.
