How Do You Properly Clean Towels?

　　With frequent washing and proper care, it’s possible to keep your household or business towels sanitary and clean.

　　Separate your towels and do a towel-specific load of laundry so you can practice the proper, more intense deep-cleaning measures without harming your other items, such as your clothing.

　　As you wash your towels, try applying these deep-cleaning methods to help kill any harmful bacteria.

　　1. Two Back-to-Back Loads

　　One of the best ways to kill bacteria is battling them with twice the amount of detergent. But, your washer can only handle so much detergent at one time, which is why we recommend washing your towels in two back-to-back loads with a moderate amount of detergent.

　　If your towels are white, we recommend using the hottest water setting on your washer. However, if your towels are colored, opt for a medium-temperature setting. This rule doesn’t apply to businesses with fade-resistant or bleach-resistant towels, designed to withstand hotter temperatures.

　　After your second load, promptly move your towels into the dryer and allow them to dry completely. Once dried, fold your towels and store them in a well ventilated space until you’re ready to use them.

　　2. White Vinegar

　　Sometimes, even the strongest detergent and multiple loads can’t get rid of the musty smell or harmful bacteria inhibiting your towels. For these scenarios, use white vinegar as a reliable deep-cleaning measure.

　　White vinegar has acidic properties that can deeply penetrate your towel’s fibers, dissolving any bacteria or unwanted particles that detergent alone can’t.

　　When washing your towels with white vinegar, it’s preferred you put a smaller load — about four or so towels — into your washer for the best results. Place your towels in the washer with a cup of white vinegar, then run your washer using a high-temperature setting. For colored towels that aren’t fade or bleach-resistant, it’s okay to use hot water in this infrequent deep-cleaning method.

　　Directly after the washing cycle, wash your towels again using a normal setting with a moderate amount of detergent. Once the second cycle finishes, promptly move your towels into the drier and allow them to dry completely.

　　Once dried, follow the same folding and storage methods outlined in the previous cleaning method to prevent bacteria or mildew growth.

　　3. Baking Soda and White Vinegar

　　If white vinegar alone doesn’t do the trick, strengthen its effects by pairing it with baking soda. But, if you remember your high school chemistry class, then you might remember what happens if you mix the two ingredients. It foams and expands, which you don’t want to happen in your washer.

　　For this reason, this deep-cleaning method has two washing cycles — the first with baking soda, and the second with white vinegar.

　　During your first load, put four or so towels into your washing machine, along with a quarter cup of baking soda. Start your washer on a hot setting. The baking soda will loosen any deep-rooted bacteria and particles, allowing the white vinegar to more easily dissolve them during the second load.

　　After the first wash is complete, keep your towels in the washer and add a cup of white vinegar. Start this load on the same temperature setting. Then, once the second cycle is complete, dry and store your towels following the same practices previously outlined.