How to wash a terry robe

How to wash a terrycloth robe so it looks like new and doesn't turn into a scruff? This is a serious question for many housewives, as terrycloth items are found in almost every home. The main fear many housewives have when washing a dirty terrycloth robe is that it will fall apart, lose its shape, or fade. This can easily happen if you don't follow the rules we'll discuss in this article.

Rules for washing such items

A terry robe is a large, voluminous garment with a multitude of fibers. As long as the fibers maintain their shape and color, the robe looks stunning. The multitude of fibers adds volume and fullness to the robe, while bright colors only enhance the beauty of the terry garment.

White terrycloth robes have always been considered the most striking and attractive. White emphasizes cleanliness, making it especially pleasant to slip on after a bath, sauna, or regular shower.

Over time, the lint accumulates a large amount of dust and dirt. Moreover, the lint of a robe attracts dirt and dust far more effectively than any other fabric. The lint of a terrycloth robe clumps together, causing the garment to lose volume and become duller and less attractive. Before you know it, your robe will transform from a pleasant and cozy piece of homewear into a scarecrow's attire.

For heavy smokers, it's worth noting that tobacco smoke can ruin a robe's appearance even faster. When you smoke on the balcony or porch while wearing a terry cloth robe, the cigarette smoke is absorbed into it, so in addition to looking disgusting, your robe will also develop an unpleasant odor.

Perhaps it's time to wrap up the backstory. Everyone knows how to ruin a terrycloth robe, but restoring it to its former glory is a more difficult task. There are general rules for washing such items, and we recommend familiarizing yourself with these rules first.

1. Wash the terry robe in plenty of water.
2. Don't throw other dirty laundry in the washing machine with your robe. A terry robe "likes solitude."
3. A terry robe is very difficult to rinse, and it absorbs detergents like a sponge, so for this type of washing, use the most easily rinsed powders and gels.
4. If you decide to wash or rinse a terry robe by hand, you might remove rings and signet rings from your fingers, catch lint, and tear the robe.
5. Pay special attention to rinsing the robe. It is better to use double or even triple rinsing.
6. You should not spin your robe at high speed, as the perforated walls of the washing machine drum at 1000 rpm or more act like a grater, causing serious damage to the terry fabric.
7. There's no point in washing a terrycloth robe in cold water, as it won't stretch, but boiling water is also harmful to the lint. You'll have to find the optimal water temperature.
8. When washing, be sure to add a little fabric softener, otherwise your freshly washed and dried robe may feel like stubble.

Washing product and mode

So, you've decided to wash your robe in the washing machine, read the instructions above, and are getting ready. However, you don't yet know how to wash a robe in a washing machine.

Based on the rules we've outlined, it's essential to first select a good laundry detergent, as terrycloth robes are difficult to rinse. It's best to use a gel detergent rather than a powder detergent, as gel dissolves better in water and doesn't adhere as well to the fabric fibers. We recommend the following detergents.

1. Laska Shine of Color. Suitable for colored terrycloth robes. Thanks to its active ingredients, it helps restore color after 4-6 washes.
2. Frosch Universal. Ideal for colored robes. Thanks to the conditioner included in the gel, the robe will be soft and pleasant to the touch.

Recently, there have been many consumer complaints about Frosh, as counterfeit products have appeared on the market. Be careful and buy only the original product.

3. My loveLaundry gel. A very good Danish product that removes even the most ingrained dirt from a terrycloth robe.
4. Power Wash. White Laundry Gel. If your robe has gone from white to gray, use this gel. Thanks to the optical brightener, the whitening effect will appear after the first wash.

Now let's talk about the washing cycle and how to wash a robe in a washing machine. This poses a dilemma. On the one hand, a terrycloth robe requires a delicate wash cycle, as any intensive cycle will certainly damage the delicate fibers. On the other hand, a delicate cycle will make it impossible to wash, much less rinse and spin the stubborn fabric. We suggest the following procedure:

• choose a gentle cycle, such as “bulky items” or “hand wash”;
• set an extra rinse;
• turn off the spin;
• start the wash and wait until the machine completes the program;
• then separately start the spin cycle at a speed of no more than 800 rpm.

Some recommend setting the spin cycle to no more than 600 rpm, but experience shows that this is extremely ineffective. Set it to 800 rpm—it's also not critical for the fabric. What temperature should you wash a terrycloth robe at? Experiments have shown that the optimal temperature for a cotton terrycloth robe is 60°C.⁰C, for bamboo 40⁰S. Some housewives ask whether it's possible to wash a cotton terry robe at 90 degrees Celsius. The answer is obvious – it's not advisable! Doing so will almost certainly ruin the item.

Hand wash

We've more or less figured out how to wash a terrycloth robe in a washing machine. But what if you have to wash it by hand? What should you do? In this situation, we can sympathize with you. However, there are advantages. Hand washing is much gentler than machine washing, as long as you don't overdo it.

Along with a terry robe, you can also hand wash other terry items, such as towels.

Soak the robe and towels in a basin with laundry detergent. Don't leave the robe in the basin for too long; 15-30 minutes is sufficient. Fill half the bathtub with water and add the robe and other items, then rinse thoroughly. Avoid excessive rubbing to avoid damaging the fabric. Place the robe on the edge of the bathtub and apply laundry detergent by hand, gently lathering the detergent as you go. Rinse the robe again.

Now we need to drain the soapy water and fill the bathtub again with clean water. Rinse the robe and other items as thoroughly as possible, and then drain the water. Leave the items at the bottom of the bathtub to allow the excess water to drain. Don't try to lift the soaked robe; it's very heavy. Next, wring out the item and dry it.

Spinning and drying

Spinning a robe in an automatic washing machine is much easier than doing it by hand. If you prefer hand washing, you can rinse the robe, transfer it to a basin, and then place it in the washing machine drum for spinning. This is generally the best option, but be sure to let the excess water drain first, otherwise the robe will be completely unwieldy. Some housewives prefer to skip the spinning process altogether. They simply lay the robe out on the bottom of the bathtub and then gently squeeze out the water, section by section.

The advantage of this method is that it's gentle on the robe's fabric. The disadvantage is that it's time-consuming. After wringing out the robe, proceed to drying it. If you've learned how to wash a terrycloth robe, drying it shouldn't be a problem at all.

You can dry it in a drying cabinet or in the drum of a washing machine with a drying function, or outside, whichever you prefer. There aren't any major differences here. However, there are a few things worth considering:

• Do not dry your robe in direct sunlight, as this will damage the terry cloth;
• Do not dry this item in conditions of heavy gas or smoke;
• do not overdry the item, as this will make it feel unpleasant to the touch;
• And finally, do not hang your unwrung out robe on a line to dry, as it may stretch out and lose its appearance.

So, how do you wash a terrycloth robe in the washing machine? It turns out there's nothing complicated about it. While these items certainly have their own unique characteristics, they can be washed either by hand or in the washing machine, as long as you follow the instructions carefully. Happy washing!

   

2 reader comments

1. September 18, 2021 at 5:50 AM

   Michael:

   Thanks for the detailed advice on washing a terrycloth robe. Everything is clear and understandable.

   Answer
2. August 16, 2023 at 5:29 PM

   Lily:

   Thanks for the advice. I followed your instructions and the robe retained its shape and softness.

   Answer