How To Wash Bathroom Rugs In Washer

How To Wash Bathroom Rugs In Washer

Tips and Tricks for Washing Towels and Bath Mats

Created: Tuesday, 26 November 2019 17:01

When you use towels and bath mats in your home and business, you end up with quite a lot of laundry. You want your bathroom linens looking clean and new, so proper maintenance is a necessity. Fresh towels and bath mats will add luxury and comfort to a guest's experience at your gym, spa, resort or hotel, but you need to know the best way to wash your bathroom linens.

With our tips and tricks for washing towels and bath mats, you can give yourself and your guests clean and luxurious linens. Read on to learn how to clean moldy bath mats, how often you should wash these linens and other helpful washing tips for towels and bath mats.

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 How to Clean Moldy Bath Mats

Bath mats absorb a lot of water and may not get to dry out between uses, especially in a humid bathroom. Mold thrives in dark and damp environments, so a damp bath mat can become a home to mold if you aren't careful.

Luckily, you can clean and prevent moldy bath mats with proper care. After checking the tag for care instructions, you can choose to hand or machine wash a moldy bath mat. If you can wash your bath mats in the washing machine, follow these steps:

1. Put your bath mats in the washing machine and set it to a gentle cycle.
2. Choose a warm or hot setting, as long as the mats can handle it.
3. Add laundry detergent and a capful of white vinegar.
4. Wash other mats or towels with the mat to avoid off-balancing the machine.
5. Put the mats in the dryer on a low-heat setting.

Warmer temperatures and the addition of white vinegar will help kill bacteria and mold. Vinegar is known to treat over 80% of mold species, and it can prevent mold from growing again on certain surfaces.

If you cannot machine wash and dry your mats or if you prefer to hand wash them, you can still treat mold with these steps:

1. Fill a sink or large bucket with warm water.
2. Wear rubber gloves and add a bit of laundry detergent to the water.
3. Use a scrub brush on the front and back of the mat as it is submerged in the water.
4. Inspect for remaining mold or other stains.
5. Continue scrubbing until clean.
6. Sanitize and clean off any remaining mold with white vinegar.
7. Rinse with clean, warm water.
8. Shake the mat, hang to dry and shake again once it's dry.

Certain varieties of cork, wood or bamboo mats may resist mold, but they won't be as beneficial as other materials, like cotton. Cotton is more absorbent, making it a more efficient bath mat material, but you will have to maintain it properly to avoid mold.

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How Often Should Bath Mats Be Washed?

Even if your bath mats aren't growing mold, you still need to wash them to keep them fresh and sanitized. In a gym, resort, hotel, spa or other business, you should wash bath mats after every use for sanitation purposes. For home and personal use, how often you should wash bath mats depends on how often you use them.

If you have a lot of individuals in your home, your bath mats will see frequent use. You should wash these mats weekly to prevent mold and bacteria. If you are the only one using a bath mat, you could wait to wash it every two weeks as long as you don't notice mold, stains or other problems like an unfresh scent.

To help your bath mat dry off between uses and stay fresher between washes, you can take some steps to help maintain it:

• Have adequate ventilation in your bathroom when you shower.
• Dry excess water off yourself before stepping onto the bath mat.
• Be careful not to splash water out of the tub or shower onto the bath mat.
• Drape a used bath mat over the tub or a shower railing to help it air out.

If you start with a high-quality bath mat and wash it regularly, you should be left with a soft and absorbent linen that lasts about two years.

How Often Should Towels Be Washed?

In a hotel, resort or other public business, you should wash towels after every use, no matter what type of bath linen they are. Laundering these linens keeps them fresh and sanitary between guests.

For personal use, you do not have to wash towels after every use, though that depends on the type of towel you're using. Some linens you most likely have to launder include:

• Hand towels: With frequent use, you should wash hand towels every one to two days. Everyone from household members to visitors uses your hand towels, so it's important to launder them often.
• Bath towels: You can use bath towels a couple of times before washing them. Try not to use it more than three times without a wash because it may not completely dry between uses. When damp towels hang around, they can develop a musty smell or grow bacteria.
• Washcloths: How often you should launder your washcloths depends on how you use them. For beauty and self-care or whenever you use a washcloth on your face, wash the linen after every use. You should do the same if you use washcloths for cleaning.
• Fitness or sports towels: Since these towels come in contact with sweat, you should wash them after every use to maintain a clean sports or fitness towel with a fresh scent. Be sure to launder these towels as soon as you can after using them so they do not sit around to grow bacteria.

If someone in your home is sick, be sure to wash their towels after every use and wash hand towels at the end of the day to prevent spreading germs. You can also wash towels more frequently if you notice any musty smells or other problems. While over-washing isn't always a great idea, you can prolong the life of your towels if you use the right settings on the washing machine and dryer.

What Setting Should I Wash Towels On?

One of the keys to keeping your linens lasting a while is laundering them on the right setting. The correct setting varies between different colors and materials, so again the tag is your guide. If your towels don't have a tag or care instructions, you can follow some general guidelines:

• Wash colored towels in cool or warm water, not hot.
• Wash white towels in hot water.
• Put linen material and decorative towels through a gentle wash cycle.

High-quality cotton towels should be able to stand up to higher wash settings, but always follow what's printed on the tag for best results. If you treat your towels right, you may be able to keep them around for up to ten years. When you're keeping towels around that long, though, you may notice they need a refresh after a while.

How Do You Refresh Towels?

When you've had towels for a while or use them frequently, they may be in need of a refresh. Whether they lack a fresh scent or aren't as bright as they were when you first got them, it is possible to spruce them up. Check the tags before refreshing them to ensure they can handle these steps:

1. Wash towels on a warm or hot setting with one cup of vinegar and no detergent.
2. Do a second wash with warm or hot water and a half of a cup of baking soda.
3. Dry on the hottest setting or hang them in the sun to dry.
4. Repeat the process if your towels aren't refreshed, using two cups of vinegar and soaking the towels before washing.

Be sure not to combine the first and second steps since baking soda and vinegar bubble up when combined. You risk creating excess bubbles in your washing machine, which may cause it to overflow. If you still notice a lingering smell after you refresh your towels, try hanging them out to dry and only using the dryer to fluff them quick.

How Many Towels Can You Wash at Once?

The amount of towels you can wash at once varies based on your washing machine and the size of your towels. You should be careful with how much you wash and dry at a time because:

• Too many towels will strain your washing machine or dryer. Your towels won't come out as clean if they don't have room in the washing machine to rinse off or room in the dryer to fluff up and dry.
• Too few towels will make your washing machine loud during operation. The noise could be a sign that your washing machine is off-balance, which washing one or a couple of items at a time causes.

Try to get a feel for what you can fit in your washing machine or dryer without cramming too many towels into them. It should look like the towels have enough room to move around and get clean without being bunched together. There is no set number for how many towels you can wash at once because all machines and towels are different, so use your best judgment and get to know your machine.

Can You Wash Towels and Bath Mats Together?

If your towels and bath mats are similar colors and made of similar materials, you may be able to wash the linens together. As always, check the tags of the towels and bath mats you'd like to wash together and be sure not to cram the washing machine or dryer. Also make sure that you separate any bath mats with a rubber or plastic backing when it's time to dry since they require air drying rather than a machine treatment.

Washing your towels and bath mats together is a better alternative than washing either type of linen with clothes. Your clothes may require special care that's different from what your towels or mats need, and combining them into one machine could ruin one or the other. Putting linens in the dryer with clothes could also get lint on the garments, so it's best to keep those items separate.

How Do You Wash Towels so They Are Soft?

Wrapping up in a soft, fluffy towel after a shower is such a luxurious feeling. Over time, your towels may lose their plush and soft feel with regular wear and washing. While you could purchase new towels, it's also possible to maintain your towels so they don't lose their softness as quickly. Follow these steps to keep your towels feeling plush and new:

• Use a bit less detergent to avoid build-up.
• Use warm water, which helps dissolve detergent.
• Put a dryer ball or tennis ball in the dryer to help fluff towels.
• Shake towels between the washing machine and dryer to help them fluff up.
• Allow them to air dry on occasion rather than always machine drying.

Everyone loves a soft towel, so it's worth the effort to keep your towels feeling like new. If your linens are on their last leg and the steps above don't revive them, it's time to get some new ones.

Do New Towels and Bath Mats Need to Be Washed?

New bathroom linens often come with a coating that manufacturers put on to affect the texture. This coating can impact a towel or mat's absorbency, so you should wash these linens before using so they can work their best.

When you wash new towels or bath mats, keep them together in the wash rather than combining with other pieces. If you only have a few new linens, you can wash them with your current towels, but be sure that they are the same color and material. Washing new, colorful towels with white towels could cause the colors to bleed onto your white linens. From there, you can wash your new towels and bath mats according to the tag or as you would with other linens.

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Other Washing Tips for Towels and Bath Mats

We've outlined plenty of tips and tricks for washing towels and bath mats above, but there are some general essentials to keep in mind. Here are some final washing tips for towels and bath mats:

• Avoid bleach: If you have stains, treat them with bleach alternatives or other stain removers. If the stains don't come out after washing, use bleach as a last resort.
• Avoid fabric softener: Fabric softener can build up on the fibers of your towels. When that happens, the build-up makes the fibers less absorbent, impacting the efficiency and lifespan of your towels.
• Use dryer sheets only on occasion: Like fabric softener, dryer sheets can contain wax and other ingredients that build up on towels. Use a dryer ball or tennis ball instead to keep your towels fluffy and absorbent.
• Choose cotton: There are a lot of materials out there for bath linens, but cotton may be your best choice. It is more absorbent and releases stains easily. Other materials, like microfiber or chamois, are suitable for other purposes, but in bathrooms and shower areas, cotton will work the best.
• Hang damp towels: If you plan on reusing a bath or hand towel, be sure it is hanging up to dry adequately before your next use. If you have a towel rack, spread the towel out rather than bunching it so it will dry more efficiently.
• Don't pile damp towels in the hamper: When it is time to launder your towels, don't pile up damp towels, especially in a hamper. The moisture won't be able to evaporate if the towels are bunched up, and that could lead to mold or mildew. Launder your damp towels shortly after using them or hang them to air out until you're ready to wash.
• Make sure they are completely dry before putting away: Whether you machine or air dry your linens, check that they are fully dry before you fold them up and put them away. Folded, damp towels could develop mildew or mold along with a less-than-fresh scent. Thoroughly dried towels will be fluffy and warm, perfect for you or a guest to enjoy, but be careful not to over-dry them as that may damage the fibers.

Even with proper care, you need to replace your towels and bath mats after a while. When it's time for new linens, start with high-quality options that will last and pamper your guests with their luxury feel and appearance.

Get New Towels and Bath Mats From Towel Super Center

Now that you know tips and tricks for washing towels and bath mats, use them to maintain new linens. Our selection of wholesale towels and bath mats will give your guests comfort and a luxurious experience. You'll find that our towels and bath mats are a perfect fit for your home or business, so treat yourself or your guests to our entire range of linens.

Browse our selection of towels of all kinds, or order bath linens in bulk today from Towel Super Center and get ready to wow your guests.

How To Wash Bathroom Rugs In Washer

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