Kitchen towels quickly lose their beauty and acquire an unpleasant smell. Sometimes it is impossible to return them to their original beauty even after several washes on standard programs. But do not rush to throw away the products: there are ways to get rid of stains and smell.

How to Wash Kitchen Towels
How to wash kitchen towels?

Standard methods

If the stains are simple and the towels are washed on time, you can use standard modes on your machine. Remember that white items can withstand temperatures up to +80 degrees, colored items – up to +60, and black items – up to +40. Manufacturers usually indicate the appropriate washing temperature on the label.

How to Wash Kitchen Towels
How to Wash Kitchen Towels

The effectiveness of the procedure can be increased by soak. Soak a towel in a soap solution for several hours (usually overnight). You can use a saline solution. Dissolve 10 tbsp. of table salt in 10 liters of warm water and add the items to the resulting mixture. A bleach solution is suitable for white towels.

Soak
Soak

An effective method for getting rid of difficult stains is boiling. You can boil not only with bleach, but also with vegetable oil. Fill an enamel bucket with boiling water, dissolve 2 tbsp. of bleach suitable for the type of fabric, add 1 cup of washing powder, 2 tbsp. of refined vegetable oil without additives, fragrances.

Place towels in the container, leave for 10-12 hours, then rinse. The stains may disappear completely, then washing is not required.

Remember that exposure to boiling water can destroy the dye and lead to discoloration of the product!

You can use a microwave. The method resembles boiling, but takes less time. In addition, there is no risk of mold. Rub the dirty towel with unscented laundry soap. Put it in a plastic bag. Do not tie it. Turn on the product at medium power for 1.5 minutes. Then wash in a standard mode in the machine.

Folk compositions

Of the folk remedies, the following are effective::

Salt. Dissolve salt in hot water at a rate of 2 tbsp. per 1 liter of clean water. Soak the towels for 2-3 hours. Then rinse the fabric under running water. Then wash in the machine with powder.

Mustard. Eliminates yellowness, gray tint. Dilute 6 tbsp. mustard powder in 2 liters of water heated to +40 degrees. Dip towels in the resulting mixture. After 12 hours, wash with powder or gel.

Ammonia and glycerin. The method is especially effective against tea stains. Mix alcohol with glycerin in a ratio of 1:4, then apply to the contaminated area. Leave for 1 hour. Then wipe by hand, squeeze thoroughly and wash.

Shampoo. Will help remove stains left by fruits. Apply a small amount of the composition to the dirty area, place the towel in the washing machine and activate the washing in the standard mode.

Laundry soap. Helps against yellowing. Rub the entire surface of the towel on both sides, put it in a bag for a day, tie it up. Keep it in a warm place, then, without rinsing off the soap, put it in the washing machine.

Dishwashing liquid. A good way to combat greasy stains on fabric. Apply the product mixed with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the stained area. Leave for 20 minutes, then machine wash the towel.

Citric acid. It removes stains left by fruits, vegetables, berries, and also removes traces of rust. Sprinkle the powder on a previously hand-washed stain, wait 5 minutes, then rinse and wash in the machine.

Hydrogen peroxide. Pour the mixture onto the stain, leave for 5-15 minutes. Rinse and wash. But do not use peroxide too often, it can destroy the fabric fibers.

Potato starch. This product is not very effective against old stains, but it removes fresh stains perfectly. Mix starch with warm water, apply to the stained area and leave for 6 hours. After that, squeeze out thoroughly and dry in the sun. There is no need to rinse the product.

Washing powder with potassium permanganate. The composition helps to eliminate the unpleasant smell that kitchen towels often acquire (especially if they are not replaced in a timely manner). To prepare the composition, use boiling water. But do not overdo it with potassium permanganate. Add enough crystals so that the water acquires a light pink tint. If the solution is too concentrated, things may be dyed. Leave the soaked towels for 2 hours until the water cools, then wash in the machine.

When using folk remedies, be safe. Work with gloves, as some substances can corrode the skin. It is advisable to use a mask or respirator, and leave the door to the room open.

Inhaling vapors from certain products, such as vinegar or ammonia, can cause aggravation or even a chemical burn.

Household chemicals

It is better to use for kitchen towels safe, natural ingredientsSince contact with food often occurs immediately after using the towel, aggressive chemicals are not recommended.

Use of household chemicals
Use of household chemicals

If you use white towels, bleach will help clean them. The following products help well:

Chlorine bleach. Dilute 50 ml of the composition in 5 liters of water. Soak a towel in the resulting solution for half an hour. Then remove, rinse and wash. Make sure that the towels are completely immersed in the solution.
Oxygen bleach. The composition also includes the organic substance biotin, which increases the elasticity of fabric fibers. The product contains enzymes that affect stains of various natures.
Biodegradable oxygen-based bleach. The composition is completely natural, rinses out of textiles of any density. Does not harm the environment, the bottle can be recycled.
An organic bleach that does not contain aggressive surfactants. The gel rinses out completely and has no odor. Suitable not only for kitchen towels, but also for children's things.

For colored products other compositions will be required:

Helps to get rid of even ingrained dirt. At the same time, it does not destroy the pigment, does not cause fading of products. It has a pleasant aroma. If the stain is ingrained, you should first apply the gel to it, and only then put the towel in the drum of the washing machine.
The composition includes 7 enzymes, as well as special substances that protect color. Active components penetrate the structure of stains, destroy them without damaging the fibers of the fabric. 1 bottle is enough for 36 washes, a convenient measuring cap helps to measure the required amount.
An environmentally friendly and effective product that allows you to remove even difficult stains from the surface of a colored towel. Does not cause allergies. The packaging can be recycled.

Pollution prevention

To reduce the risk of stains, it is enough to use towels correctly and follow simple preventive measures.

  1. Use kitchen towels only for hands.. You shouldn't wipe a dirty stove or table with them. It's better to buy microfiber cloths or paper towels for these purposes.
  2. Change your kitchen textiles regularlyIt is better to wash the towels after 3-4 days and hang fresh ones in their place.
  3. Remove towels from the washing machine immediately to avoid musty odors.. It is recommended to dry them in the open air: this way the remaining smell will evaporate. And be sure to iron on both sides: they will get dirty less, will retain their freshness and external attractiveness longer.
  4. Try to wash a towel that has been stained as soon as possible.. You don't need to keep it in the laundry basket for several days: the stain will have time to set in, after which it will become much more difficult to get rid of.
Kitchen textiles always suffer the most, because they get the most difficult and uncompromising stains
Kitchen textiles always “suffer” the most, because they get the most difficult and uncompromising stains

Wash towels separately from other items. This will help prevent specific odors from developing on other clothes.

Advice! Give preference to practical products that are easy to care for. For example, waffle, cotton or linen towels. It is better to leave terry towels for the bathroom. Firstly, they take longer to dry, which creates a favorable environment for the development of microbes. Secondly, they leave lint, which is absolutely inappropriate in the kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to clean terry towels?

Fill a basin with boiling water, add 2 tbsp. boric acid, stir. Soak the towels for 2 hours. Then wash them on a standard cycle in the machine. But it is better not to use terry towels in the kitchen, they are not very practical.

How to get rid of red wine stains?

Dilute alcohol with liquid soap in equal proportions. Apply the resulting paste to the contaminated area, leave for 15-20 minutes, then wash.

If I add more powder, will it help clean the towel?

No, quite the opposite. Excess powder accumulates in the fibers. At the same time, their hygroscopicity decreases, and drying time increases. The risk of an unpleasant musty smell increases.

What to do if towels smell bad?

Table vinegar will help. Load dirty towels into the washing machine, add powder. Pour a glass of 9% vinegar into the conditioner compartment. Then activate the quick wash mode at the minimum temperature.

What to do if mold appears on a towel?

It is easier to prevent its appearance: for this it is enough to dry the products thoroughly. But if mold does appear, it can be eliminated with vinegar: soak the stain and leave for 2-3 hours.

What to do if the stain does not come out?

Repeat the procedure. The concentration of some products can be increased. But not all: some can destroy the structure of the fabric, the fibers themselves. Therefore, you should not make them too concentrated, it is better to simply repeat the treatment.

Video tips on how to wash kitchen towels