How should towels be cared for properly?

White towels

White towels in particular are quite demanding when it comes to care. They are usually washed on a hot cotton cycle with a bleaching detergent. Fabric conditioner is also often used.
As a general rule, white towels should only be washed with other white items so that they do not become discoloured. Good-quality heavy-duty powder detergents deliver the best results, as they contain bleach and optical brighteners. However, these do place a burden on wastewater.
For good washing results, modern washing machines can and should be fully loaded (except when washing delicates). Please pay close attention to the detergent dosage instructions. If too little detergent is used, dirt particles cannot be absorbed by the wash liquor and will settle into the textiles. Once this greyish dullness appears, it is very difficult to remove. In most cases, only chlorine will help, and toxic substances are released into the environment during its production. As well as attacking dirt, chlorine also damages parts of the washing machine and the fibres of textiles. Oxygen-based bleaches are somewhat less aggressive.
Using too much detergent does not make laundry any cleaner. Visible soap residues may remain, and these are not something you want on your skin. In addition, towels can become stiff. Some washing machines can now detect excess detergent and keep rinsing until the water runs clear. That is practical, but wasteful of water.

Coloured towels

Coloured towels are easier to care for than white ones. Even so, please follow the manufacturer’s care instructions here as well. Some fibres can only tolerate lower temperatures. In fact, when a good detergent is used correctly, washing at 40 °C is often already sufficient for hygienic cleaning. If you want to be completely certain, or in the event of illness, wash at 60 °C. Unfortunately, on eco cycles, most washing machines heat slightly below this selected temperature. As an alternative to hot washing, you can use a laundry sanitiser.
The colour of your towels will stay fresh for longer if you sort your washing by colour. You can use colour detergent or mild detergent. However, these also have an environmental impact and, like laundry sanitisers, often contain substances that can be problematic for allergy sufferers. Nowadays, though, eco detergents that are less harmful to the environment are available almost everywhere.

Washing powder or liquid detergent?

Washing powder or liquid detergent – which is better? Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Powder detergent can be used for towels. It contains fewer preservatives than liquid detergent, which mainly has the advantage of leaving fewer visible detergent residues on smooth fabrics.
A somewhat more labour-intensive option, but one that achieves good washing results, is allergy-friendly and kinder to the environment, is to mix detergent yourself as needed. Unfortunately, the individual ingredients – washing agents, water softener and bleach – are not available separately everywhere.

Fabric conditioner

Fabric conditioner is neither particularly environmentally friendly nor especially useful for towels. It coats the fibres, which means they do not absorb moisture as easily when drying you off. Towels become softer when they dry quickly. A high spin speed and plenty of fresh air help with this. Shaking them out vigorously before hanging them up helps to loosen the fibres.
Quick drying also helps prevent the growth of bacteria. A tumble dryer certainly does an excellent job, but for ecological reasons it should be avoided where possible. When the water hardness is high, towels will always be a little stiff. In that case, it is enough to add only a very small amount of fabric conditioner. Incidentally, drying yourself with very soft towels means missing out on the beneficial exfoliating effect for your skin.

Natural remedies

Laundry can also be washed using entirely natural remedies. Many plants contain saponins. These are natural soap-like substances that can be broken down relatively easily. For example, chestnuts or ivy are suitable for making a washing liquid. The chestnut method takes a little more effort, as the chestnuts need to be chopped up and dried. However, one preparation session can provide enough for the whole year. For one wash, pour a cup of warm water over two to three spoonfuls of chopped chestnuts and, after eight hours, the washing liquid can be used (after straining it through a sieve). Ivy is even easier. You need 10 to 20 dark, roughly chopped leaves to prepare the liquid. As a water softener, you can add soda crystals or a little white vinegar; for bleaching, bicarbonate of soda or baking powder; for stubborn stains, bile soap or curd soap can help. Laundry sanitiser can, for example, be replaced with tea tree oil. A few drops of essential oil will give your washing your favourite scent.
The ideal dosage of ingredients depends on the capacity of the washing machine, the hardness of the water and how heavily soiled the laundry is. But you quickly develop a feel for the right mixture. There are also plenty of instructions available online. Unfortunately, homemade detergent is not suitable for brilliant whites or for woollens and delicate laundry.

But the effort is worth it. Not only do you save money, you also reduce packaging waste. Perhaps in autumn you could encourage your children to make detergent instead of chestnut figures, which later shrivel up sadly. And with the money saved, you can then treat yourself to a few new additions for the bathroom or the home. How about coloured towels, for example, instead of demanding white ones?