All the Secrets about Hotel Towels - Soft & Fluffy

How Do Hotels Keep Towels So White?

Most hotels tend to stick to white standard towels to match their interior design. But the big question is, how do they keep them so white? Different hotels have different tricks to keep their towels from going gray. While some may focus on using special detergents, others invest in their washing machines.

According to one hotel management, they first treat all stains on the laundry. Then, they toss them in a big pot full of a mixture of baking soda, laundry detergent or soap, and cold water. The towels are then boiled for around half an hour, wrung out, and thrown into the laundry machine.

Some hotels prefer using new technology like Sonic Soak to keep their clothes white. This mini washing machine emits high-frequency ultrasonic waves to break down stains, dirt, and remove germs at a microscopic level. Coming to the best part, they are small and time-efficient.

Fact 1 - How Do Hotels Keep Their Towels Soft?

I am sure you have asked this question to yourself, just like I have. Do they change their towels regularly? Why can’t we achieve this level of coziness at home? It can be quite frustrating when you splurge on the softest bath towel, and they end up losing their fluffiness after a few washes.

To help you out, we have listed down a few hotel tricks on keeping their towels soft in the following section. 

• Detergent

When it comes to detergents, practice the rule of less is more. If you use less detergent with your towels, it will be much easier to get rid of the soap from the fibers. Towels tend to build up soapy residues and, thus, get stiff over time and lose their absorbency.

Apart from this, it is better to use mild detergents with normal pH. Hard detergents can damage your expensive fiber, making them fall apart and lose their softness.

• Fabric Softener

Even though you might be sold with the word softener, these chemicals are a no-go for your towels. They might make your luxury hand towels soft for a little time, but over time, they build up a layer of chemicals on top of the fibers. This greatly decreases the absorbency of your luxury hand towel.

Instead of using these harsh chemicals, opt for natural solutions like using vinegar to wash your towels. Not only will they make your towels fluffy, but they will remove all sorts of smells and stains from them.

• Washing Regularly

Damp towels are a beacon for mildews and germs. Along with absorbing water, they take up odors, dead cells, and even soap from your body. Therefore, you need to be diligent when it comes to maintaining hygiene. Never wait for your towel to start smelling or going gray before you pop them in for a quick wash.

Fortunately, the smart Mizu towels have realized the importance of hygiene and added color-changing strips. These alert you whenever your towels need a wash.

• Drying

There are two aspects that you need to be careful of while drying your towels. You cannot either under-dry or over-dry. The former aids germs and mildew in settling in the fibers while the latter damages the fiber. Thus, hotels take out the towels from the drier before they can dry completely and hang them on a drying line. 

• Baking Soda

Add half a cup of this natural ingredient to your regular laundry can make a huge difference. Baking soda helps to soften up the fibers and remove stains easily. Along with this, it is quite helpful in removing musty odors from your towels. In this way, it helps to maintain the softness of your towels for a long time.

Fact 2 - What detergent do hotels use?

Hotel towels need a laundry detergent that fights stains the first time through. Many hotels choose to use HTD Heavy Duty Detergent. This powdered formula, which contains phosphates, fights the toughest stains quickly and effortlessly. Some of the best HTD laundry detergent brands that we recommend to use in 2021 are: 

• Persil ProClean.
• Tide Original.
• Persil ProClean Sensitive Skin.
• Tide Purclean.
• Kirkland UltraClean.
• Gain Original.
• Purex.
• Arm & Hammer CleanBurst.

What Kind Of Towels Do Hotels Use?

You might have observed how almost every hotel provides the same standard towel in every room. They are big, fluffy, soft, and white. Does this mean that every hotel buys their towels from the same company?

Is there some secret brand that provides towels to just hotels?

Well, the answer is no. All of them might look quite similar, but they are constructed differently.

When it comes to towels, you need to look at a lot of different factors. This includes the material, the GSM, and even the towel weight. Five-star hotels offer only the best combination of such factors to give you the softest bath towels ever. Without further due, let’s see which towels are preferred by hotels.

• GSM

Coming to towel rating, we use GSM or grams per square meter value. High-quality towels have high GSM value, while subpar ones have a low rating. Hence, if your towel is not made from high-quality materials, the method of washing or using softeners will not affect the fluffiness of the towel.

So what is a good GSM rating? Well, if your towels have a 400-600 GSM, they tend to be more durable, softer, and even heavier. Moreover, they are highly absorbent to help you dry up as soon as you use the towel. In contrast, towels with 200-300 GSM are low-quality. Since they have a low density and are lighter, they can be packed easily for the gym or the beach.

Hotels require the highest quality towels to offer the best experience to their guests. Besides this, they need ones that can withstand multiple washes, do not deteriorate, and remain cozy for a long time. This is why they prefer to choose towels with a high GSM rating, like Mizu Towels. 

• Material

The fabric of the towel can make quite a difference in its quality. Bear in mind that hotels look for only the best materials for their high-quality towels. Not only does it affect the absorbency, but it also adds softness and durability to the towel. Among a large variety of materials, we have found that hotels prefer using 100% cotton over any other.

Although bamboo, polyester, and microfiber towels are quite popular in the market, cotton has always reigned the king of fabrics. It is extremely strong, durable, and offers higher absorbency than other materials.

Besides all this, you should also know that there are types of cotton. High-end hotels prefer to use Egyptian cotton, which is softer, fluffier, and cozier than regular cotton. Such that, even Mizu Towels use this fabric to make their luxury towels. Although it is lighter than Egyptian cotton, some hotels also use Turkish cotton in their towels. 

• Size and Weight

The more luxurious your hotel is, the greater the number of towels you will find there. So if you end up staying a few nights at a high-end hotel, you will be provided with a collection of towels. This includes washcloths, hand towels, bath towels, and even large bathrobes. All of them are made from the softest and coziest materials to give you the best experience.

Next, hotels consider the weight of the towel. If two towels have the same size, they are going to prefer the heavy one over the other. But what are the benefits of a heavier towel anyway? Well, to put it simply, they feel more luxurious and softer to guests. Also, denser towels absorb more water than light-weight towels.

Some towels might even weigh 20 pounds, isn’t that crazy?

Also read: How to Make a Towel Soft Again After Heavy Use?

What Are the Different Types of Hotel Towels?

Cotton towels find their way more often in hotels. However, they aren’t the only towels available at the hotel. Other towels, such as microfiber, bamboo, and self-cleaning towels have become quite popular due to their practicality.

Cotton towels take longer to dry. They are replaced by microfiber towels in pool side facilities, gyms, and spas. Here are different towels that you will find at a luxury hotel. 

100% Cotton Towels

100% cotton bath towels are highly absorbent and durable. Hotels have to frequently wash their towels to maintain hygiene standards.

Cotton towels are one of the most durable towels that can be washed frequently. Their fibers do not become worn out that easily. The material is also plush, which gives you a luxurious feel. 

Microfiber Towels

Microfiber towels are quite popular in hotels. They have synthetic fibers that absorb a lot of water but dry pretty quickly. This makes them an ideal choice for poolside and spa towels. You will also find them in the gyms due to their practicality.

Egyptian Cotton Towels

Egyptian cotton towels use durable fibers. These towels have long fibers as compared to cotton towels. Egyptian cotton is also softer and more absorbent than other materials. Most high-end hotels use these towels to prioritize luxury as they are expensive towels.

Self-Cleaning Silver-Infused Towels

Self-cleaning towels have silver-infused threads for antibacterial properties. These towels stay fresh for longer. They also have reduced odors.

Only high-end hotels use self-cleaning silver-infused towels as they are more expensive. Washing them more often could damage the fibers. Since hotels require frequent washing, they may have to replace them more frequently than cotton towels. 

Bamboo Towels 

Bamboo towels are an eco-friendly option. They are very absorbent and soft, which makes them ideal for hotel use. However, they are less durable than cotton, so you may not find them in hotels as much as 100% cotton towels.

Towel Type	Material	GSM Range	Absorbency	Durability	Drying Time	Special Features	Buy Here
100% Cotton Towels	Cotton	400-600	High	High	Moderate	Soft and durable	Amazon
Egyptian Cotton Towels	Egyptian Cotton	600+	Very High	Very High	Long	Luxuriously soft and absorbent	Amazon
Microfiber Towels	Cotton with Silver	400-600	High	High	Moderate	Antibacterial, stays fresher longer	Amazon
Self-Cleaning Silver Towels	Bamboo	300-500	High	Moderate	Moderate	Eco-friendly, naturally antibacterial	Mizu
Bamboo Thread Towels	Synthetic Fiber	200-700	High	Moderate	Very Short	Quick-drying & lightweight	Amazon

Fact 3 - How Do Hotels Wash Towels?

Hotels need to wash a massive number of towels regularly. Hence, they have to follow a strict regime to optimize the towel’s quality along with being economical.

To begin with, these establishments flush their towels with water before adding any chemicals. Secondly, they make sure not to overfill or under-fill the laundry machine with towels. This allows you to clean the towels without affecting their fibers. Next, they only use warm water to wash their high-quality towels. While cold water cannot kill bacteria, hot water deteriorates the towel at a faster rate. 

It might seem unnecessary, but selecting the right laundry settings does affect the cleanliness of your towels. Thus, keep an eye out for the timing and strength of your wash. Apart from this, hotels only use mild detergents to protect the fibers of the towel and skip the fabric softeners to maintain absorbency.

To finish it off, towels are dried as soon as they are washed, and the laundry machines are washed regularly to maintain hygiene.

FAQs

1. What towels do hotels have?

Most hotels use luxurious 100% cotton bath towels with a high GSM. High GSM gives the towels a plush feel. Some hotels may even have Egyptian cotton or Turkish cotton towels that have better absorbency. Hotels also prefer to have quick-drying microfiber towels that you can hang in the bathroom after use. 

1. How do hotel towels stay soft and fluffy?

Laundering techniques such as soaking the towels in baking soda, detergent, and fabric softeners give the cotton bath towels their soft and plush feel. 

1. How are hotel towels always so white? 

Hotels use commercial-grade bleach, whitening agents, and detergents to keep the towels white. Most hotels soak the towels in bleach and hot water before washing them. This gets the stains out and maintains towel brightness. 

1. Why are hotel towels always fresh?

Washing the towels at high temperature kills the germs. Hotels also use sanitizers and commercial-grade bleach, detergent, and fabric softeners. These strong chemicals keep the germs out, remove the stains, and keep the towels fresh. The towels are washed after each use so they stay hygienic and clean. 

1. Can you buy hotel-quality towels to use at home? 

Yes, you can buy hotel-quality luxurious towels to use at home. Hotels use 100% cotton bath towels that are plush and soft. You can purchase a Mizu bathroom towel set. Mizu towels are soft, plush, and clean. They have silver-infused threads to keep the germs out.

1. Are hotel towels different from home towels?

Hotel towels differ from home towels in softness because hotels pick highly absorbent plush towels. Washing methods with fabric softeners, bleach, and detergents preserve towel softness and absorbency. If you use the same laundering methods at home, you can also maintain the plush feel of your towel. 

1. Do hotels use different types of towels for different purposes?

Hotels use different towels for different uses. They have different hand towel sets, bathroom towel sets, and spa towels. Bathroom towels are large and absorbent. For the spa and pool, hotels keep quick-drying microfiber towels. 

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, hotels keep the softest bath towels to attract more customers and provide the best experience for their guests. With years of experience, they have learned how to be economical as well as use different techniques to keep their towels soft for a long time.

Hopefully, this article has delved deeply into the secrets of hotel’s high-quality towels. Just follow all the tips, and you might be successful in achieving the same coziness right at home.

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