How to Wash Bath Towels
What You'll Need
- Machine wash
- Half the usual amount
- 1 cup (monthly)
- 1/2 cup (monthly)
Step-by-Step Method
Wash towels in hot water on a normal cycle. Use HALF the detergent you normally use. Excess detergent builds up in towel fibers, making them stiff and reducing absorbency.
Once a month, run towels through a hot wash with 1 cup white vinegar and NO detergent. This strips out detergent and fabric softener residue.
After the vinegar cycle, run the same towels again with 1/2 cup baking soda and NO detergent. This neutralizes any remaining odors.
Tumble dry towels completely on medium-high heat. Towels that are even slightly damp when folded will develop musty smell within 24 hours.
- NEVER use fabric softener on towels (coats fibers with a waxy layer that destroys absorbency)
- Do not use too much detergent (causes buildup)
- Do not fold towels while still damp (musty smell guaranteed)
- Hang towels spread out (not folded over a hook) between uses so they dry completely.
- If towels smell musty even after washing, they need the vinegar + baking soda strip treatment.
- White towels can be washed with a small amount of bleach every few weeks to maintain brightness and kill bacteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three causes: not drying completely between uses, folding/storing while still damp, and detergent/softener buildup trapping bacteria in the fibers. The fix: hang to dry fully between uses, never use fabric softener, and do the monthly vinegar + baking soda strip cycle.
Quality towels last 2-3 years of regular use. Replace when they become thin, threadbare, or permanently stiff despite stripping treatments. Towels that perpetually smell despite proper care have bacterial colonies embedded too deep to remove.
Sources & Methodology
Fabric softener reduces towel absorbency by depositing quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) that coat fibers with a hydrophobic layer. Vinegar (acetic acid) dissolves these deposits.
Last reviewed: March 20, 2026