With an increase in outdoor activities and an increase in visitors, our towel usage tends to go up a bit during the summer months. Before you literally “throw in the towel” and give up on trying to have soft, fluffy goodness all summer long, try these tips:
Hang Your Towels
Hang wet towels to dry as soon as you are done with them–this goes for right out of the shower as well as right out of the pool. “Hang properly, which means in as thin a layer as possible,” suggests Modern Mrs. Darcy. “The towels need to dry quickly so mildew and mold don’t have the opportunity to form.”
Grab the Vinegar
Here’s the the truth about smelly towels: accumulation of detergent and fabric softeners in the fibers makes it harder for towels to absorb water and to dry effectively. Add 1 cup of vinegar to your next load of towels–no detergent, just vinegar. If your towels are still not as fresh as you would like, do a follow up wash using 1/2 cup of baking soda instead of the vinegar. The vinegar and baking soda will get rid of detergent residue and keep your towels absorbent.
Give them a Shake
As soon as you take your towels out of the washer, give them a shake. “This will help fluff the terry loops that aid absorbency,” suggests Better Homes and Gardens. After giving them a good shake, toss towels immediately into the dryer and make sure they are completely dry before folding them. Try to avoid “over drying” your towels by making sure your dryer’s moisture sensor is clean and working properly–click here for tips.
Throw in Some Tennis Balls
Avoid using fabric softener and instead toss in some clean tennis balls to bounce around with your towels in the dryer. “As the balls bounce around, they’ll beat out any lumps and fluff your towels,” says author Donna Smallin Kuper. In addition, many believe adding the tennis balls makes items in the dryer dry faster.
Talk to us: What do you do to keep your towels fresh and clean all summer long?
image courtesy of flickr CC/Michael Coghlan