How to Wash and Care for Turkish Towels (And Why It Matters)
The short answer: wash in cold or warm water on a gentle cycle, use a small amount of mild detergent, never use fabric softener, and tumble dry on low or air dry. Turkish towels get softer and more absorbent with every wash when cared for correctly.
Unlike thick terry cloth, Turkish towels are flat-woven from long-staple cotton. This is exactly why they respond differently to heat, detergent, and drying. Follow these steps and your Turkish cotton towel will last for years and improve the whole time.
How Do You Wash Turkish Towels?
Wash Before First Use
Run your towel through one wash cycle before using it. This opens up the cotton fibers and activates absorbency. Turkish cotton towels become noticeably more absorbent after the first few washes, slightly less absorption straight out of packaging is completely normal.
What Water Temperature Should You Use?
Cold or warm water on a gentle or normal cycle. Avoid hot water: it stresses long-staple cotton fibers, causes gradual shrinkage, and weakens the weave over time.
How Much Detergent Should You Use?
Less than you think. Too much detergent coats the fibers, reduces absorbency, and leaves residue that compounds with every wash. Use a gentle, mild detergent at roughly half your normal amount.
Can You Use Fabric Softener on Turkish Towels?
No. This is the single most important rule. Fabric softener coats cotton fibers with a waxy layer that progressively blocks moisture absorption. If your towel has become less absorbent over time, fabric softener is almost always why.
Use white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. It breaks down residue naturally, restores absorbency, and leaves no smell once the towel is dry.
Should You Wash Turkish Towels Separately?
Yes. Keep them away from anything with zippers, hooks, or hardware that can snag the flat weave or damage the fringe. Untangle the fringe before washing and avoid high spin speeds.
Can You Put Turkish Towels in the Dryer?
Yes, on low heat. Turkish towels dry fast even indoors, air drying usually takes an hour or two. Tumble dry low or hang to air dry, whichever you prefer. Avoid high heat either way, in the wash or the dryer, as it weakens long-staple cotton over repeated cycles.
How Often Should You Wash Turkish Towels?
Every 3 to 4 uses. Because Turkish towels dry so quickly between uses, they are far less prone to the moisture buildup that causes odor and mildew in terry cloth towels. Regular washing keeps the fibers clean, fresh, and performing well.
Why Has My Turkish Towel Stopped Absorbing Water?
Detergent or fabric softener residue built up in the fibers. To restore absorbency:
- Wash in warm water
- Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle
- Skip detergent entirely for this cycle
One treatment usually restores the towel fully. Repeat every few months if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Turkish towels shrink in the wash?
Slight shrinkage after the first wash is normal as the fibers settle. After that, they hold their size reliably when washed in cold or warm water. Hot water and high dryer heat are the main causes of ongoing shrinkage.
How long do Turkish towels last?
With proper care, ten years or more. Long-staple cotton holds its strength over hundreds of wash cycles. The main things that shorten their life: fabric softener, hot water, and high dryer heat; are all easy to avoid.
What detergent is best for Turkish towels?
A gentle, fragrance-free liquid detergent in a conservative amount. Powder detergents and heavily fragranced products are more likely to leave residue in the fibers over time.
Why do my Turkish towels smell musty?
Almost always because the towel was stored or folded while still damp. Turkish towels dry fast enough that this is easy to avoid. If it has already developed an odor, wash with half a cup of white vinegar and no detergent on a warm cycle.
Are Avery Home Turkish towels Oeko-Tex certified?
Yes. All Avery Home Turkish towels are crafted in Turkey from long-staple cotton, Oeko-Tex certified, and designed to improve with every wash. Browse the full collection at shopaveryhome.com.