Consumer Diary: Towel Stains

Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

Harlan Levy. Courtesy photo

By Harlan Levy

The world is in turmoil.

The U.S. faces turmoil.

Our home is in turmoil – after our three grandchildren (ages 5, 3, 1½) created havoc over the most recent visit by both our children, their families, and an extra dog. What a mess.

First, a look at towels our seven guests and we used over several days and nights: Stains. No problem, I thought, then searched for advice and tips, finding a plethora, with specific steps I wouldn’t have dreamed of (in a million years). Plus a litany of little-known “towel facts.” (Use: To fill awkward silences in party chatter).

I digress. So, with another round of holidays and family visits coming up, here’s a useful compendium (from Martha Stewart, Towel Super Center, Trends Alley, Wirecutter, and other sources):

Stains

• Dab a small amount of hydrogen peroxide over the entire stain and allow it to sit on the towel for at least an hour before washing.
• Soak towels in distilled white vinegar for three minutes before washing to remove stains and “musty towel” smell.
• To eliminate hard stains, use liquid detergent or detergent booster or a paste of powder detergent and water. Then wash the towel with sodium hypochlorite color-safe bleach or color-safe oxygen bleach. If the stain is old, soak the towel in an enzyme-filled product before washing it.
• Bleach can remove some stains, but for color towels, never use chlorine bleach, which discolors them. Try color-safe oxygen bleach instead, like Truly Free’s 100% Chlorine Free and Color Safe Oxyboost.
• Pretreat stains with Shout, Zout, or OxiClean. Soak well before washing.
• If you’ve pretreated, check towels for stains before putting them in the dryer, where they’ll set. So wash again until the stain disappears.
• For soda, tea, and wine stains, basically the same process as for hard stains (above) after sponging the stain with cool water.
• White towels: Drip white vinegar or lemon juice directly onto the stain, then scrub gently with a soft bristle brush. Soak 15 minutes. Then blot off the area with a damp sponge and throw the towel in the washing machine.
• To eliminate baby formula stains: Drench the stain in a cleaning product with enzymes. Soak for about 30 minutes, longer if it’s an old stain. Then wash.
• Skin- and hair-care items can stain towels, sometimes permanently, if they contain benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids, which bleach towels forever. So check the labels before wiping your hands or your face on your towels.
• If cosmetics like makeup have smudged a towel, pretreat it with a few drops of liquid detergent directly on the area. After soaking for a few minutes throw the towel in a hot wash with detergent and bleach.
• For stains already set in, presoak the towel in high-quality liquid detergent. Combine a cap of detergent and a couple of gallons of hot water, then soak overnight. Then wring out the solution, and run the towel through the hot wash cycle with detergent and bleach.

Towel facts and tips

• Have black washcloths for makeup and skin-care routines.
• Don’t overload your machine with towels. They might not get clean enough.
• Don’t let wet towels sit in the drum or lie around damp. They’ll likely get mildew and that memorable mildew smell. Dry immediately after washing.
• Use towels only about three times. Dead skin cells, bacteria, and sweat accumulate quickly. Also, maybe swap towels after every use to avoid drying your face two or three times in a row with one towel.
• After a shower, let your towel air-dry to stop bacteria growth. Throw it over a door, shower rod, etc., with no part folded under, until dry.
• New towels often contain conditioners, chemicals, and even small amounts of formaldehyde. So, wash new towels at least once before using them.
• Fabric softeners should never be used on towels. They can build up a film over time and make towels less absorbent.

Bet you didn’t know all that … or want to.

For more details check each website.

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected], and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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