How to Wash Your New Waffle Towels
& Natural Laundering Tips

How should I wash my Waffle Weave Towels the first time?

We recommend machine washing in warm water with 1/2 cup of vinegar. This helps the towels form the honeycombs and also helps remove any natural waxes more quickly.

For darker colored towels, help the colors "set" by adding 1 cup of vinegar, 1/2 salt or 1/2 cup of baking soda to the first wash.

We also always recommend washing dark items separately, especially the first couple of times. 

Tumble dry on low heat, or line dry on your clothesline. We recommend not using fabric softener or dryer sheets, which coat the fibers and reduces absorbency.

 Three Ways to Naturally Whiten Your White Towels

Dinginess can be caused by lots of things.  Hard water deposits, being washed with a darker item, using too much chlorine bleach (it can cause yellowing), or by minerals in your water.

Whatever the cause, dingy white towels are a bummer and take the joy out of using them.  So here are some natural ways to lighten the whites and brighten them up again.

Tip #1. Add a cup of Vinegar to the wash water. If your area has hard water, vinegar helps soften the water itself, plus it removes the residue from detergents. It also helps to remove bad smells.(Added bonus!)

Tip #2. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to each load to help your detergent be more effective. Baking soda binds with the minerals in the water, so they don't stick to the fibers in your towels. 

Tip #3. Lemon Juice, Salt & Sun.  In a bucket combine 1 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup salt and 1/2 gallon of water.  Soak the towels in the salt and lemon juice solution for a few hours. Wring out the towels, (don't rinse) and lay or hang them in the sun for a few hours. Run them through the washer and dryer like normal and they should lighten considerably.

My new towels seem stiff, how can I soften them?

Our towels do get softer and nicer the more you wash them, but if you're impatient, we've got a simple, inexpensive solution.

Add 1 cup baking soda in place of detergent, and then line dry the towels in the sun if possible. A quick tumble on low heat afterwards will soften them even further.

Also, always use medium or low heat if you machine dry - high heat can cause cotton fibers to tighten, making the fabric feel stiffer.

Natural Laundry Essentials

Stock your laundry room with a few simple, natural ingredients like White Vinegar, Baking Soda and Lemon Juice to help solve almost any laundering problem.  Skip the harsh chemicals and expensive cleaners and stock these natural allies instead.


Using Vinegard - Natural Laundering Tips

  

Using Baking Soda in the Laundry - Natural Laundering Tips

 

Using Lemon Juice in the laundry - Natural Laundering Tips

 

Another "Recipe" for Whitening from our friend Nancy:

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup dishwashing powder
  • 1/2 cup non-chlorine bleach power dissolved in warm water
Throw this mix in the washer and soak overnight, then wash on a regular cycle. She says it works like magic!  For added power,  we recommend laying the towels out in the sun to dry. The sun can help brighten the towels and it also sanitizes, so it can help with odd smells too.

 

Last Chance Stain Removal Method

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup dishwashing powder
  • 1/2 cup non-chlorine bleach powder
Dissolve the dishwashing powder and non-chlorine bleach power in warm water in your washer. Add the towels or clothes and let them soak overnight, then wash on a regular cycle.


The boys in our son's high school orchestra wore tuxedos with dress shirts all year. Multiple evenings under hot stage lights left them in a pretty sorry state.  At the end of the year, I volunteered to take them home and wash them. This method did the trick and got the worst of the stains and smells out - so I know it works!  - Ann