It’s 2024, and people all over the world are talking about the same thing: How do you make your towels feel as soft and silky as the ones you encounter in hotels? The search is over – let us show you how to transform your towels into plush, luxurious hotel-quality ones!
Benefits of Soft Towels
They bring big benefits to your shower experience, particularly for those suffering from skin-related conditions. Soft towel fibers allow for greater absorption and increased comfort, so you don’t have to worry about friction from harsh terry cloth towels irritating delicate areas of your body. Additionally, they can help reduce the drying time after a shower as well as manage heat better, which is great in the summertime or if you’re in a humid climate. To know how do hotels keep towels soft make sure to read through the whole guide we prepared for you!
To achieve that hotel-style softness, it’s important to pay attention to how you wash your towels. Here are some useful tips:
First, use the right detergent when washing your towels – go for detergents with natural enzymes or those specifically made for use on sensitive skin and fabrics. Make sure to separate colored items and any synthetic fibers when washing as these may cause fading over time. For extra care, opt for a low-temperature wash cycle with no fillers added – this helps preserve color and ensures your detergent will circulate better throughout the wash load.
Second, select the correct spin cycle speed on your washing machine – again, lower speeds in order to preserve fabric quality longer. This also helps avoid tearing or shredding during a high speed spin cycle.
Types of Towels
Most people stick with what’s tried and true — cotton. But not all types of cotton are created equal, and the kind you choose can have a big impact on how soft or durable it will be. Here are some of the most common types of towels used in homes and hotels.
- Egyptian Cotton: Egyptian cotton is a luxuriously soft and absorbent fabric that can withstand daily wear and tear without losing its shape or appearance. The long-staple fibers used in Egyptian cotton make it highly durable as well as breathable, so it regulates temperature while remaining lightweight.
- Pima Cotton: Pima cotton is similar to Egyptian, but with shorter fibers that aren’t quite as strong. While still luxuriously soft, this kind of towel may not last as long or be quite as absorbent as its Egyptian counterpart. It is, however, more affordable than other kinds of towels.
- Organic Cotton: Organic cotton is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, making it a popular choice for those looking for an environmentally friendly option when buying towels. It’s made from short staple fibers which makes it thicker and more absorbent than regular varieties.
Fabric Softener and Conditioner
Fabric softeners help reduce static cling and can also give your towels a softer, more luxurious feel like the ones you get in hotels. However, it is important to use fabric softener and conditioner properly, so that you don’t end up doing more harm than good.
To use fabric softener properly, you should pour the two parts of the product — the liquid part and the softener conditioner (or additive) — into a washing machine according to package directions. Make sure that all of the fabric softener reaches all of your fabrics by shaking out towels before adding them to your washer.
Regularly using fabric softener on towels will help reduce static electricity which can cause clinginess in some fabrics. It can also decrease set-in wrinkles, leading to fluffier towels that look newer for longer periods of time. In addition, treating them with a softening agent regularly will help preserve their absorbency so they’ll be able to soak up water without drying coarse or stiff afterwards.
The chemical additives found in most fabric softeners may contain allergens or irritants as well as potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so it is important to read labels carefully when selecting and using these products. Many popular brands offer versions free from such chemicals or made from natural ingredients instead which are safer for both you and the environment alike.
Natural Alternatives
Natural alternatives are a great way to make your towels feel as soft and luxurious as they do in some hotels. There are several easy tricks you can try, such as increasing the amount of vinegar you put in the wash, adding essential oils to your detergent, or using a fabric softener ball during the drying cycle.
If you don’t want to use commercial fabric softeners and conditioners, there are some options that involve common household ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar and baking powder. Here is a quick guide on how to use natural products to give your towels that hotel-like look and feel:
- Increase the amount of white vinegar you add to each load of laundry. White vinegar helps break down built-up detergent residue in laundered materials, making them feel softer against your skin. Add around 1/2 cup of white vinegar per five gallons of hot water during a normal wash cycle for best results.
- Add essential oils like lavender oil or tea tree oil to your laundry detergent for extra softness and pleasant scents. Essential oils also offer added benefits like antibacterial protection and moisture fighting abilities. You can even find essential oils specially formulated for laundry care!
- If you have an electric dryer, consider using a fabric softening ball filled with natural ingredients such as quartz crystals or epsom salts for added softness without chemicals during drying cycles. These balls help absorb static electricity from fabrics which can cause them to cling together when dry; this is what causes them to be stiff after washing in some cases!
Conclusion
After reading through this guide, you should now have a better understanding of how towels are washed in hotels to achieve that luxurious softness. Taking all the above mentioned tips into account will help you replicate their process and make sure your towels feel like you’ve just stepped out of a five-star hotel every time you dry off.
