Beach towels: how and when to wash them? The most effective tricks to remove oil or sunscreen stains

How to clean and sanitize beach towels? Here are all the tips for cleaning beach towels correctly.

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Find out how to clean and sanitize beach towels? Here are all the tips for cleaning beach towels correctly.

Clean and wash beach towels it is essential for proper personal hygiene. Obviously, beach towels are very different from those commonly used for the bathroom: they require more attention in order to eliminate excess sand, unpleasant odors of sweat and sunscreen spots, oily or self-abrasive.

That said, it is important to wash them properly because by doing so, a beach towel can last for several seasons. Here, then, are some tips for thorough cleaning. (Read also: The tricks to wash swimwear without ruining them)

Index

How to wash and clean beach towels

Shake and dry in the sun

After each use, it is important remove earth or dirt from fibers. Even if the towel is wet, shake it vigorously to remove any residue, as the sand will stick to the towel which is good to hang in the sun to dry completely, then shake it again.

Also remember that excessive sand remaining in the towel can also cause the malfunction of the washing machine; in addition, when it enters the appliance it slides towards the filters, causing them to become clogged.

Check the garment care labels

Most beach towels are made from thick, absorbent cotton, but there are synthetic microfiber towels. Take your time to look at the care label, in order to find out the fiber content and, above all, the washing instructions.

When it's time to wash a load of beach towels, be sure to sort them by color, as even though most don't fade some of the new towels can extinguish during the first cycles. If you don't have enough sheets to do a full load, you can add other types of laundry; just make sure you choose fabrics that don't attract lint.

Load the towels into the washing machine

If you wash the towels in a top-loading washer, place them evenly around the center post to keep the washer balanced. For each type of washing machine, do not overload the basket and remember that towels need space to move around, so they come out really clean and sanitized.

Choose detergent, water temperature and cycle

To clean your beach towels you need to make the right choices in terms of water temperature, washing cycle e detergent for laundry.

If you are going to put the towels in the dryer, you can opt for a lower wash water temperature, because it will be the heat from the dryer to eliminate any bacteria persistent; instead, in case of problems such as athlete's foot or any other type of fungal or bacterial infection, opt for hot water in order to disinfect the fabrics.

Plus, avoid the short, gentle cycle and choose a regular wash cycle so your towels spend a lot of time in the cleaning solution. For the best results, opt for a detergent that contains enough enzymes to eliminate dirt and not having to pre-treat any stains.

Skip the fabric softener

Another tip is to avoid using thesoftener, because it can leave a waxy residue that reduces the absorbency and softness of the towel itself. (Read also: Softeners: 7 natural alternatives to traditional chemicals)

Drying

Once the towels have been washed and cleaned of all stains, choose the dryer cycle. In this way the machine will stop when the sheets are dry, to avoid overdrying them. If you don't have a dryer you can simply use a classic clothesline.

Stain removal

Before putting the beach towels to dry, check that there are still no stains. In case of halos due to sun creams or self-tanners, avoid the dryer until you can treat and eliminate the problem. The reason? The heat from the dryer sets stains that will be very difficult to remove.

here are the tips for pre-treating stains and halos.

Sunscreen: It is important to know that some sunscreens may contain an ingredient called avobenzone, responsible for any streaks. This combined with hard water from the washing machine can leave a rust-like stain; to prevent this from happening, we recommend adding a water softener to the load. Another solution is to wash it with a rust remover, or with Marseille soap or again with the baking soda to leave for a few minutes. If you notice the sunscreen stain at the right time, you can try another solution: rub the sand on the halo to absorb the oil from the cream, this will make it easier to wash it off. (Read also: Stains: 10 tricks and remedies to remove the most difficult ones)
Solar oil: pre-treat the stain with a solvent-based spray or gel stain remover. If you don't have a solvent-based stain remover, apply a liquid dish soap directly onto the stain and gently scrub the fabric. If you only have powder detergent, make a paste with a little warm water and apply it on the stain, leave it on for at least 15-30 minutes and proceed with washing.
BloodIf it is a bloodstain, however, you have two options: if the bloodstain is fresh, simply work some liquid laundry detergent, let it act for fifteen minutes and then wash as recommended on the label; while, if the blood stain is dry or old, you need to scrape and brush off the encrustation and then mix a solution of cold water and oxygen-based bleach and leave the towel to soak for at least two hours or overnight.
Self-tanning cream: Mix a solution of liquid dish detergent with two cups of lukewarm water, dip a soft-bristled brush into the solution and rub it on the stained towel.

How to restore dull and dirty beach towels

I Beach towels can easily fade with intense use and exposure to sun, salt and chlorine for long periods of time. To restore dull towels, we recommend that you never use bleach as it can weaken the fibers and further fade the fabric. For cotton towels, use an active oxygen-based bleach that will work slower, making the colors vivid and intense again.

How often do you wash beach towels?

The towel used on the beach or in the pool comes into contact with the bacteriatherefore ideally a beach towel should be washed after each use. However, when on vacation this may not be possible; therefore, the advice is to wash it at least every other day depending on the number of uses and the degree of soiling.

Between one use and another the towel should be hung out to dry, preferably in the sun because i ultraviolet rays help sanitation eliminating germs and bacteria. To keep the colors bright, especially if you go to the pool, you need to rinse the towels every day as chlorine residues can fade the colors.