When it comes to doing laundry, certain items can be a bit tricky, and towels are one of them. It’s pretty pointless to take the time to wash your towels properly with white vinegar or soda crystals to soften them if you’re not going to dry them correctly.
Many families might find it easy to toss their towels into the tumble dryer, but this convenience could hike up your energy costs and “ruin” your towels, transforming them from soft and fluffy to “stiff and scratchy” items.
Kerry Hale, a cleaning and laundry guru at Mira Showers, has divulged some top tips for drying towels “correctly” to ensure they stay “soft, fluffy towels”. She said: “Drying your towels in the tumble dryer alone won’t achieve the best results and can ruin the fibres. This can even leave them stiff and scratchy.”
Hale suggests the ideal solution is to air-dry towels when the weather is mild and dry because this is the “best method”. She said: “The sunlight will bleach white towels to keep them bright while the UV rays kill any remaining bacteria.”
However, if the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s also fine to dry towels indoors in a room with good airflow; just remember to shake them out now and again. For those without access to the great outdoors, employing a dehumidifier is a “better than the tumble dryer for softening towels and prevents moisture build-up”, reports the Express.
If you still want to use the tumble dryer, try to limit the drying time to 20 minutes and throw in some dryer balls or tennis balls to aid in the process. Dryer balls will help puff up your towels, and the warmth from the dryer will dispatch any remaining germs.
Avoid ironing your towels as the heat can damage and flatten the fabric fibres, making them less plush than desired. Once completely dry, roll or fold the towels to maintain their fluffiness before using them again.
Finally, store clean and dry towels in a linen closet, bathroom rack or drawer, depending on the available space in your home.
Households must avoid storing damp towels. Always ensure towels are thoroughly dried before stashing them in a linen closet or drawer, as this can lead to mould and mildew.