9 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR TOWELS FLUFFY AND FRESH

1 Washing new towels? Add half a cup of white spirit vinegar to the wash to keep colours from fading. 2 Opt for bars instead of hooks for hanging your towels. The folds of a damp towel are an ideal breeding place for mildew and bacteria. Bath mats should also be hung out to dry. 3 Do a towels-only load to prevent pilling. Also, keep the load light – overloading strains the machine and doesn’t allow enough room to rinse out all the dirt and detergent. 4 Wash your towels on a slightly warmer setting than your clothes to kill off germs and clean out soap. (Check the tags first, though!) 5 Skip the softener, or water it down – it can inhibit the absorbency of the towels. 6 Odds are you’re not washing your towels enough: experts recommend that you wash them every three or four days and have at least four sets to alternate, so each set is only used about every other week.

7 Towels feeling stiff and crunchy? It might be a sign you’re using too much washing powder, and that they’ve started to build up a soapy residue. Every six weeks or so, add a cup of white spirit vinegar to the wash instead of detergent, let it run through a normal cycle, then wash again as usual. 8 Steer clear of the tumble dryer, if possible – the heat can damage the fibres. Air-dry towels if you can, and ensure they’re 100% dry before you put them away to prevent that damp, musty smell. 9 Avoid contact with household cleaners or beauty products containing ingredients that might weaken fibres or cause stains, like face washes containing benzoyl peroxide.