How to Wash Towels For Your Hotel or B&B

It’s important to know the best way to wash towels for your hotel or B&B as they’ll have to withstand the test of time and get used by many different guests, meaning more washes than what they would go through in a private home. As we spend a lot of time in contact with bath towels they tend to become soiled quickly. Add in the fact that they become wet and dry multiple times and you’ve got a breeding ground for bacteria and mould.

What temperature should I wash towels at?

Typically the best temperature to wash your bath linen at is between 40 and 60 degrees. Washing at 40 degrees will ensure your towels stay feeling and looking their best for longer, whilst removing most of the germs that breed there. Upping the temperature to 60 ensures you kill even more bacteria and potential mould. We’d recommend usually washing at 40 degrees and occasionally washing at 60.

What’s the best way to dry towels after washing?

The best way to dry your towels after washing is to firstly remove from the washing machine as soon as the cycle has finished. This eliminates the opportunity for mildew to set in. Towels should be put on a clothesline or maiden to dry, without doubling the material over. If the weather permits, hang towels to dry outside. It can often speed up the drying time, keeps them fresh, helps to sanitise the towels and doesn’t cost a thing.

Should I use fabric softener on my towels?

In short, no. It may seem like the best way to keep towels soft and snuggly but it doesn’t really work that great in practice. Fabric softeners work by depositing a thin layer of wax on the fibres of the material. In turn, this will decrease the absorbency levels of the towel.

Find out how many times bath towels should be used before washing.