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Wash your face and bath towels with this water, towels will be clean and odor-free

Cleaning your face and body towels in this way ensures that they are clean without becoming stiff and dry.

18 March, 2024

Face towels and bath towels are everyday items that need to be cleaned to ensure safety. Wet towels are prone to bacteria and can cause unpleasant odors. Sometimes you may also find towels greasy, causing discomfort.

Causes of greasy and smelly towels

After a period of use, towels will accumulate a lot of dirt and generate unpleasant odors, becoming greasy.

Greasy and smelly towels are caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells, sweat, and sebum during use. In addition, towels are washed daily but hung in closed and humid places such as bathrooms, which create conditions for bacterial growth, making the towels smelly and unpleasant.

Cleaning face towels and bath towels

– Salt

Salt is not only an essential seasoning in the kitchen but also has the function of cleaning household items. You can use salt to clean towels.

You need to prepare a basin of warm water and put some salt in it. Stir well for the salt to dissolve and then put the towel in the basin, soak the towel in it for 10 minutes. Salt not only removes dirt on the surface of the towel but also helps to kill bacteria. Warm water also helps clean dirt on the towel. After soaking, you just need to wash the towel with soap and hang it in a dry, airy place to dry naturally.

– White vinegar

You can mix vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:10. Put the towel in to soak in this water for at least 15 minutes. Then rub the towel thoroughly and wash it with detergent. Rinse the towel several times with clean water to remove dirt and detergent. Vinegar will soften stains, disinfect to a certain extent, and soften the fibers. After washing the towel, it needs to be wrung dry and hung in a dry, airy place to dry naturally.

– Rice water

Rice water has many uses in daily life. You can use it to wash hands, wash hair, water plants, or clean household items. Rice water is one of the things that can help clean and soften face towels and bath towels.

You just need to soak the towel in rice water for about 10 minutes. During this time, the rice water will dissolve the oil stains on the towel. After that, rub the towel thoroughly to remove dirt. Wash the towel with soap and clean water.

– Hot water

The simplest way to clean towels is to use hot water. Hot water softens dirt and kills bacteria on the towel. You just need to put the towel in boiling water and soak it for a few minutes. Wait for the water to cool down a bit, then take the towel out and wash it thoroughly with soap and clean water.

Places where towels should not be hung

– Next to the toilet

Many houses nowadays have the bathroom and toilet combined in one space, so towels are also hung in this position. However, it is especially important not to hang bath towels and face towels right next to the toilet. The toilet is a place where a lot of bacteria are spread. Every time you flush the water, especially when the toilet lid is not closed, bacteria will fly into the air and stick to the surrounding objects, which is not good for users.

In addition, the bathroom usually has humid air and unpleasant odor. Hanging towels here will make them damp and smelly. After using the towel, you should hang it in a dry, airy place to let it dry naturally.

– Soaking in a basin

Many people have the habit of using face towels and bath towels and then putting them in a basin of water to soak instead of drying them immediately. Doing so will quickly damage the towels, make them not clean, and create conditions for bacterial growth.

After use, you should wash and hang the towel immediately. For bath towels, you can hang them outside and after 2-3 uses, you can put them in the washing machine for a wash.

Frequently asked questions

The grease and smell on towels are often a result of accumulated dead skin cells, sweat, and sebum. Additionally, when towels are washed but then hung in closed and humid places, such as bathrooms, it creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth, making the towels unpleasant and unsanitary.

There are several household items you can use to clean your towels and remove any grease or odors: salt, white vinegar, rice water, and hot water. For salt, prepare a basin of warm salted water, soak the towel for 10 minutes, then wash it with soap and hang it to dry naturally. For white vinegar, use a 1:10 ratio of vinegar to water, soak the towel for 15 minutes, rub and wash it with detergent, then rinse thoroughly. Vinegar helps soften stains and fibers while disinfecting. With rice water, a 10-minute soak will help dissolve oil stains, after which you can rub and wash the towel with soap and clean water. Finally, hot water is a simple and effective method—simply soak the towel in boiling water for a few minutes, then wash it thoroughly with soap and clean water.

Avoid hanging towels in humid and closed spaces, especially next to the toilet. The bathroom, due to its humidity and the presence of bacteria, is not ideal for drying towels as it can lead to dampness and odors. Instead, opt for a dry and airy space to hang your towels after use. Additionally, refrain from soaking used towels in a basin of water; this provides an environment for bacterial growth and can damage the towels over time.