5 Tips For Washing Kitchen Towels the Right Way, Including Skipping the Fabric Softener

Updated on 6/30/2020 at 5:20 PM

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Keeping the kitchen clean can be tedious, and we all make mistakes when it comes to certain cooking-related chores, like waiting months before cleaning the oven and forgetting to scrub the inside of the microwave. If there's one cleaning tip my mom made sure to send with me into adulthood, though, it's to never wash kitchen towels with other laundry. Under the wrong conditions, the bacteria that build up on the surface of these towels can spread easily to other clothes in the laundry machine, contaminating the rest of your laundry and not cleaning your dish towels.

While it might sound like a waste of water to throw three or four measly towels into the washing machine, it is possible to clean your towels without spreading unwanted bacteria. Keep reading for a few tips on how to keep this kitchen staple clean, and remember to skip the fabric softener!

Allow Kitchen Towels to Air-Dry

Whether you're soaking up spilled wine or drying water off the counter near the sink, chances are your dish towels collect a fair amount of moisture over time, leaving them damp at best. If this is the case, it's important to let your kitchen towels air-dry before dumping them into the washing machine to prevent the growth and spread of mold and mildew. This step is as easy as hanging the towels on a hook or laying them flat on the counter before actually washing them.

Wash Kitchen Towels Separately From Other Laundry

There's no limit to what a kitchen towel might sop up throughout the week, so washing your towels separately from regular loads of laundry ensures that no germs or leftover food particles end up on your favorite set of pajamas. If throwing only a couple towels in the laundry machine seems like a waste of water to you, I get it. In cases where dish towels are lightly used and haven't touched any questionable surfaces, they can be mixed in with a regular load of laundry to save time and water.

Set the Washing Machine Temperature to Hot

When washing dish towels — especially if they're mixed in with your other laundry — it's crucial to set the washing machine to normal or heavy duty and use the hottest water setting possible. This kills any bacteria that might have been transferred over from the kitchen. If other garments are in the machine, it's important to make sure these settings won't do any damage to the clothes, so always be sure to read the label first.

Avoid Washing Kitchen Towels With Fabric Softener

I personally love the way fabric softener makes my clothes feel, but it's best to skip this step in your laundry routine when washing kitchen towels because the softener can leave a film or soapy residue behind on the rough surface of the towels, making them unsanitary for everyday use (so you'll have to wash them all over again).

Clorox

Use Bleach When Washing Your Kitchen Towels

Not all dish towels are safe for washing in bleach, in which case using hot water alone will kill bacteria. If you do have the option, though, adding Clorox Disinfecting Bleach with Cloromax ($4) to the specified dispenser of your laundry machine (not pouring it directly over your towels) is a great way to get rid of even more germs and bacteria. As always, make sure everything in the washing machine is bleach-safe before adding the solution.

All it takes is a little extra attention to detail and your kitchen towels will be clean and safe to use in no time!

Clorox Disinfecting Bleach with Cloromax

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