You know that wonderful sensation of standing under a warm shower or taking a hot bath. Maybe you have even pampered yourself with an extra long one? But the feeling of being clean and fresh can easily be destroyed if you reach for a sheet of sandpaper or a musty, smelly towel when you want to get dry. Read on and find out how to keep your towels fresh as a daisy.
How often should you wash your towels?
You don't need to wash your towel every time you have used it. As a general rule, it is advisable to wash your towels after they have been used three times. That way, you will avoid smelly towels and at the same time your towel will stay hygienic and avoid attracting germs.
Towels do not get any cleaner by using more than the recommended dose of washing powder. On the contrary. They will simply absorb the surplus amount of soap, and this can result in them attracting germs. The best way to remove germs from towels is to wash them in hot water – preferably at 60°, because most bacteria dies at 60°. But always be sure to follow the instructions on the care label.
If your towels are new, make sure that you wash new towels correctly. 
Washing towels to keep them soft
The number one tip for getting soft towels is to tumble-dry them. If you want them extra soft you can use dryer balls in the tumble dryer. This makes towels fluffy and reduces the drying time, so you also get to save money on electricity. It’s a win-win situation! It is important to empty the washing machine as soon as the cycle is finished. If you allow towels to lie wet in the machine they can get smelly and develop mildew.
If you don't have a tumble dryer it is a good idea to give them a shake before drying them. This will help them stay soft longer.
Give your towels plenty of space to dry
If there is a lack of space in your bathroom you can easily be tempted to hang several towels on top of each other. But this is a terrible idea! If towels are not given sufficient space to dry the dampness on them could attract bacteria. 
How to stop towels smelling?
If your towels are smelly, don’t despair as help is available! Chuck the smelly towels in the washing machine and add one cup of baking powder and one decilitre of transparent vinegar. Do not use fabric conditioner the first time round, and then select a 60º wash programme.
Once the cycle is up and running, stop the machine and let the towels soak in the baking powder for about an hour. When the hour is up, re-start the washing machine and let the cycle finish. Then start all over again. But this time add a normal dose of fabric conditioner and another decilitre of transparent vinegar. Once the extra wash is complete, immediately transfer the towels to the tumble dryer. Start it on the highest possible setting and let it run until the towels are completely dry.
If you are not satisfied with the result, you can try soaking the towels. Place the smelly towels in a large bucket with hot water and detergent for 48 hours, and then allow them to dry. If this method does not help either, this indicates that you are in serious need of some new towels 
Do you have any other household tips, to keep your towels as good as new? Please feel free to share any suggestions in the comments box below.
