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Glenna Morton
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How to Care for Towels

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Glenna Morton
 
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Try the vinegar trick

Purchasing Towels

  • Better quality towels are made in larger sizes up to 30" wide and over 50" long.
  • Quality towels are made from combed long staple 100% cotton which generally exhibit less lint shedding that less expensive towels.
  • Buy extra towels in sizes that are most frequently laundered such as washcloths and hand towels.
  • Washing towels will cause them to fade eventually and they may lose or change color. If you've found the "perfect towels" to match your wallpaper, be sure to buy extras and replace worn pieces as needed.

    Laundering Towels

  • Always launder towels before using them for the first time.
  • During this first wash, add one half to 1 cup of white vinegar to the wash water. This will help set the dyes and result in increased colorfastness.
  • Use less detergent than is normally recommended -- about half is generally sufficient.
  • Avoid using bleach.
  • Never use fabric softeners as they will decrease the towel's ability to absorb water.

    Decorating

  • If you decorate your towels with sewn trim or ribbon bands, be sure to launder both the towel and the trim before applying, to avoid different rates of shrinkage.

    NEXT
    Learn more on these tip pages for household linens:

    Sheets - Towels - Duvets - Pillows

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