The care and washing guide
A 600 GSM towel is an investment in cotton. These are the habits that keep it soft, absorbent and the colour you bought.
Before first use
Wash new towels once before they join the rotation. Finishing treatments from the mill sit on the loop until the first wash, and skin prefers them gone. This is also standard dermatology advice, not just ours.
How often
The guidance we follow comes from the Cleveland Clinic's dermatologists: bath towels and hand towels laundered at least once a week, washcloths at least a couple of times a week, and everything more often, two to three times weekly, when the house runs humid. A damp towel is where mould, yeast and bacteria make their living, so frequency matters more than any detergent choice.
The wash itself
- Warm to hot water, full-strength detergent, towels in their own load. Heavy cotton wants room to move.
- No fabric softener. Softener coats the loop with residue that cuts absorbency and eventually stiffens the pile. If a towel smells musty, a hot wash with regular bleach on whites, or white vinegar on colours, resets it.
- Go easy on additives generally. Stain removers, scent beads and softeners layered together build residue that works against the towel.
Drying
Tumble dry fully on a towel or high-heat setting. A 600 GSM towel put away damp in the middle is a mildew appointment. Between uses, hang towels spread out on a bar rather than bunched on a hook, so the whole face dries.
At the sink
The CDC's handwashing steps end with drying on a clean towel or an air dryer. The clean part is the working word: it is the reason our hand towels come six to a box, so the ring never has to wait for laundry day.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: How Often Should You Wash Your Bath Towels?. Read 2026-08-02.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Handwashing. Read 2026-08-02.