When should you dispose of used towels?

As a towel manufacturer, we are naturally keen for our products to appeal to our customers and ultimately to be purchased. Nevertheless, our answer to this question is perfectly clear: as early as necessary, but as late as possible!

High-quality versus low-quality towels

At MÖVE, particular attention is paid to environmental sustainability during the manufacture of our products. Cotton cultivation has become significantly more sustainable in recent years. However, producing this valuable fibre still requires a great deal of water. The use of crop protection products cannot always be avoided, nor can transport distances.

High-quality products are always more sustainable than low-quality ones. The careful processing of selected materials makes it possible to use MÖVE products over a long period of time. Customers appreciate this and, by purchasing durable textiles, they protect not only their wallets but also valuable natural resources. But even the best towel shows its age eventually: colours fade and quality declines.

The material towels are made from: cotton or cotton terry towelling

Let us take a closer look at the material. MÖVE towels are made from terry fabric. Terry is not simply a supposedly better spelling of terry cloth or terry towelling, but in fact a high-quality fabric with loops on both sides. It is durable, absorbent and soft. The many loops on the surface are created during a complex weaving process in which the yarn is raised. Most MÖVE products are made from pure cotton, although some collections also incorporate additional materials. Just as the weaving process is (almost) a miracle of technology, the cotton fibre is a miracle of nature. It is obtained from the long hairs of the cotton plant’s seed and consists predominantly of cellulose – a compound responsible for the stability of plant cells. The long fibres are hollow inside and surrounded by several layers. Each layer has a different structure, fulfils a different function and interacts with the other layers.

What exactly causes towels to wear out?

A towel has to put up with quite a lot over time. It is not enough that we rub it all over our bodies. We put it in the washing machine or tumble dryer, where it is whirled around and comes into contact with heat, water and chemicals. Cotton is extremely hard-wearing, but in the long run even the best fibre cannot withstand this indefinitely.

Flattened, damaged and matted fibres eventually become the inevitable result of this treatment, which we notice, for example, when towels become stiff.
Especially when wet, cotton is very durable compared with other fibres, but it is not indestructible. Constant abrasion causes tiny fluff fibres to come loose. As a result, the large surface area the towel has thanks to its many loops gradually decreases, and over time it becomes thinner and no longer dries properly.

But wear and tear is not caused only by old age; incorrect care can also play its part. To enjoy your towels for as long as possible, you should always follow the care instructions on the label or in the product description. Our last blog post contains many valuable tips on this subject.

When should a towel be disposed of?

In general, it is difficult to give a precise indication of how long towels last, as many different factors can have an influence. However, a good-quality towel that is used regularly should provide good service for around three to five years. Why older towels do not necessarily have to be thrown away straight away is explained in our blog post on how to give towels a second chance.