How to wash towels properly: seven tips for keeping them soft and fluffy
Practical washer and dryer advice for Vernon and Okanagan households, from the team at Genier's Appliances.
Bath towels are one of the most frequently washed items in a home, and they also tend to degrade faster than they should. Scratchy texture, reduced absorbency, and musty odour are almost always the result of how they are being washed and dried, not the quality of the towel itself. Getting the care routine right makes a genuine difference, and having a washer and dryer with the right settings makes it easier. Genier's carries washers and dryers from Whirlpool, Miele, Bosch, Samsung, AEG, Speed Queen, and others at our Vernon showroom.
Quick Answer: Towels last longer and stay softer when washed separately in warm water with less detergent than you think you need, without fabric softener every cycle, and dried to just-done rather than over-dried. A dryer with moisture sensing takes the guesswork out of that last step.
- What it is: A care routine that keeps bath towels absorbent, fluffy, and free of mildew
- Why it matters: Detergent buildup, fabric softener residue, and over-drying are the three most common reasons towels lose their texture and absorbency
- What you can do now: Wash your next load of towels separately, cut the detergent amount in half, and skip the fabric softener
- When to call a professional: If your dryer is not drying evenly or the drum smells musty, it may need a vent clean or service check before it can do its job properly
- Cost notes: Most of these changes cost nothing; a dryer with moisture sensing reduces energy use and extends towel life over time
1. Use less detergent than you think
This is the most common mistake. Excess detergent does not rinse out fully in a single cycle, and the residue left in the fibres is what makes towels feel stiff and scratchy over time. Powder and liquid detergents both cause this.
Wash towels separately from the rest of your laundry and use roughly half the amount of detergent you would normally reach for. If your towels have already gone stiff from buildup, run them through a wash cycle with no detergent at all and half a cup of white vinegar in the drum to break down the residue.
2. Wash in warm water
Towels pick up bacteria, skin cells, and moisture every time they are used. Warm water at around 40°C is effective at killing bacteria and preventing mould without being hard on the fabric. Cold water is fine for lightly soiled loads, but towels benefit from the occasional warm cycle to stay hygienic.
Wash towels regularly. A bath towel used daily should be washed every three to four uses at most.
3. Skip fabric softener most of the time
Fabric softener works by coating fibres with a thin layer of lubricant, which is what creates that soft feel and fresh scent. The problem with towels is that the same coating that makes them feel soft reduces their ability to absorb water. Over time, regular use of fabric softener on towels makes them noticeably less effective at drying you off.
If you prefer the scent or feel, use fabric softener every third or fourth wash rather than every cycle. That gives the coating time to wash out between applications before it builds up.
4. Avoid bleach
Bleach causes discolouration on coloured towels and breaks down cotton fibres over time, shortening the lifespan of the towel regardless of colour. White towels may hold up longer, but regular bleaching still degrades the fabric.
The same applies to toothpaste, acne medications, and some cleaning products. If these come into contact with towels, they can cause permanent staining. Keep a separate set of older towels for situations where contact with these products is likely.
5. Shake them out before and after drying
After the spin cycle, towels come out of the washer compressed and tangled. Giving each one a firm shake before loading the dryer loosens the fibres and helps them dry evenly without creasing. Do the same when taking them out of the dryer before folding. It takes a few extra seconds and makes a noticeable difference in texture.
6. Use dryer balls instead of dryer sheets
Dryer sheets, like fabric softener, leave a residue on fibres that reduces absorbency over repeated use. Wool dryer balls, or even a couple of clean tennis balls, achieve the same effect of separating towels in the drum to speed drying and soften fabric without leaving any coating on the fibres. They also reduce drying time, which saves energy.
7. Dry to just-done, not over-done
Under-dried towels develop mildew quickly, which is what causes that sour smell that won't wash out. Over-dried towels lose their softness and the cotton fibres become brittle over time.
As a general guide, six standard bath towels take around 40 to 50 minutes to dry thoroughly at a medium-high heat setting, including a brief cool-down period. The variables are towel weight, drum size, and how much moisture the spin cycle removed. A dryer with moisture sensing takes the guesswork out of this entirely: it monitors actual moisture levels in the drum and stops when the load is done rather than running on a fixed timer.
On warm, sunny Okanagan days, line drying is also a genuine option. It saves energy, and the UV light from the sun has a mild natural sanitizing effect on fabric.
| Mistake | What it causes | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too much detergent | Stiff, scratchy texture; residue buildup | Use half the recommended amount; wash separately |
| Fabric softener every wash | Reduced absorbency over time | Use every third or fourth wash only |
| Bleach on coloured towels | Discolouration; fibre breakdown | Avoid bleach; use warm water and correct detergent amount |
| Skipping the shake | Creasing; uneven drying | Shake each towel before loading the dryer |
| Dryer sheets | Residue buildup; reduced absorbency | Switch to wool or rubber dryer balls |
| Over or under-drying | Mildew odour or brittle fibres | Use moisture sensing; aim for just-dry, not bone-dry |
Featured at Genier's: Whirlpool 7.4 cu. ft. Electric Dryer with Touch Controls
Whirlpool 7.4 cu. ft. Electric Dryer YWED5620HW
Advanced Moisture Sensing continuously monitors heat and moisture levels and automatically ends the cycle when the load is done, helping prevent the over-drying that shortens towel life. Wrinkle Shield keeps clothes and towels tumbling after the cycle ends so they don't sit and crease. ENERGY STAR qualified. Available at Genier's in Vernon. Contact us with any questions.
FAQ
> Why do my towels smell musty even after washing?
Musty odour in towels is almost always caused by mildew, which develops when towels are left damp in the washer too long, not dried thoroughly, or stored folded before they have fully cooled and aired out. Run the affected towels through a hot wash cycle with half a cup of white vinegar, then again with a small amount of detergent. Dry completely before folding. Going forward, move towels from the washer to the dryer promptly and make sure they are fully dry before storage.
> How often should I wash bath towels?
A bath towel used daily should be washed every three to four uses. Towels used after workouts or that come into contact with open skin conditions should be washed after every use. Hand towels in shared bathrooms should be washed every one to two days.
> Does Genier's carry dryers in Vernon?
Yes. Genier's Vernon showroom carries dryers from Whirlpool, Miele, Bosch, Samsung, AEG, Speed Queen, and others, in electric and gas configurations. The team can walk you through moisture sensing, heat pump dryers, and capacity options to match your household's laundry volume.
> Is a heat pump dryer worth it for an Okanagan home?
Heat pump dryers use significantly less energy than conventional electric dryers and operate at lower temperatures, which is gentler on fabrics over the long term. They cost more upfront but the energy savings add up over years of regular use. They are a good fit for households that do a high volume of laundry or want to reduce utility costs. Genier's carries heat pump dryer options at the Vernon showroom.
Browse laundry appliances at our Vernon showroom
Genier's has been helping Vernon and Okanagan households find the right laundry appliances since 1957. Whether you are replacing an aging dryer, setting up a new home, or comparing configurations for a renovation, the team at our Vernon showroom can help. We deliver to Kelowna, Kamloops, and communities across the Okanagan.
Contact our Vernon team with any questions
Genier's Appliances helps Okanagan homeowners choose durable, premium appliances with confidence. Visit our Vernon showroom or contact us for help.
Sources: Natural Resources Canada, Make laundry day more energy efficient