A quality beach towel can last for years when properly cared for, but neglect can quickly turn even the best towel into a scratchy, smelly disappointment. Beach towels face unique challenges—salt water, sand, sunscreen, and prolonged exposure to sun and moisture all take their toll. Understanding how to properly clean, dry, and store your towels will keep them soft, absorbent, and fresh season after season.
Whether you own a luxurious Turkish cotton towel, a compact microfiber travel towel, or an eco-friendly bamboo option, these care principles will help you maximise your investment and enjoyment.
Immediate Post-Beach Care
What you do in the first few hours after leaving the beach has a significant impact on your towel's condition. Taking a few simple steps before you get home can prevent most common towel problems.
Shake Off the Sand
Before packing your towel, give it a thorough shake to remove as much loose sand as possible. Do this away from your belongings and other beachgoers. For stubborn sand, especially in cotton towels, hanging the towel and letting it dry slightly makes shaking more effective—dry sand releases more easily than wet sand.
Rinse When Possible
If fresh water facilities are available at the beach (many Australian beaches have outdoor showers), give your towel a quick rinse. This removes salt, which can damage fibres and cause stiffness over time. Even a brief rinse makes a noticeable difference in how your towel feels and washes later.
Never leave a wet beach towel bundled in a bag for extended periods. Within hours, bacteria and mildew begin growing, creating that unmistakable musty odour that's difficult to remove. If you can't wash immediately, at least hang the towel to dry.
Washing Your Beach Towel
Proper washing technique varies slightly depending on your towel's material, but several principles apply universally to keep your beach towels in top condition.
Before the First Wash
New towels often have a coating from manufacturing that reduces their absorbency. Before first use, wash your new towel with half a cup of white vinegar (no detergent) to remove this residue and open up the fibres. This single step can dramatically improve how your new towel performs.
Water Temperature
For most beach towels, warm water (around 40°C) provides the best balance of cleaning power and fabric protection. Hot water can set stains and may cause colours to fade or bleed, while cold water may not effectively remove oils, sunscreen, and bacteria.
Exception: if you're trying to remove mildew or sanitise a heavily soiled towel, one occasional hot wash won't cause significant damage to most fabrics, though it shouldn't be routine.
Choosing the Right Detergent
Use a mild, liquid detergent and avoid overusing it. Too much detergent leaves residue that makes towels stiff and reduces absorbency. A general rule: use about half the amount suggested on the packaging. For best results, choose a detergent without brighteners or softeners.
Skip the Fabric Softener
This is perhaps the most important washing tip: never use fabric softener on towels. Softeners coat fibres with a waxy residue that dramatically reduces absorbency. Your towels might feel silky smooth, but they won't dry you effectively. If you've been using softener and your towels have become less absorbent, a few washes with vinegar can help restore them.
- Shake out sand thoroughly before washing
- Wash in warm water (40°C) with half the recommended detergent
- Never use fabric softener
- Wash beach towels separately from regular laundry
- Add half a cup of white vinegar occasionally to remove residue
Special Care by Material
Cotton Towels
Cotton is forgiving and can handle regular machine washing. However, high heat in both washing and drying can cause shrinkage. If your cotton towel feels stiff after washing, it may have hard water mineral buildup—adding half a cup of baking soda to the wash can help. For white cotton towels that have yellowed, a small amount of oxygen bleach (not chlorine bleach) can restore brightness.
Microfiber Towels
Microfiber requires gentler treatment. Wash in cool to warm water on a gentle cycle. Never use fabric softener or bleach, as these damage the microscopic fibres that give microfiber its unique properties. Wash microfiber separately from cotton towels—microfiber can pick up lint from other fabrics. Air drying is ideal; if you must tumble dry, use the lowest heat setting.
Linen Towels
Linen actually improves with washing, becoming softer over time. Wash in cool to warm water and avoid wringing or twisting, which can distort the weave. Linen dries quickly and is best air-dried. Iron while slightly damp if you want a smooth finish, though many prefer linen's natural relaxed texture.
Drying Methods
How you dry your towels affects their feel, longevity, and hygiene. Both line drying and machine drying have advantages depending on your situation and preferences.
Line Drying
Line drying is the gentlest option and helps towels last longer. The sun's UV rays provide natural antibacterial action, which is particularly valuable for towels prone to odour. However, extended sun exposure can fade colours, so bring towels in once dry rather than leaving them out all day. A gentle breeze helps fluff the fibres and reduces stiffness.
The main drawback of line drying is that towels can emerge slightly stiff, especially in low humidity. Giving the towel a good shake before and after drying helps, as does briefly tumbling in a dryer on the no-heat setting to fluff the fibres.
Tumble Drying
Tumble drying produces fluffy, soft towels and is convenient for quick turnaround. Use a medium heat setting—high heat can damage fibres and cause shrinkage, while low heat takes longer and may not fully dry thick towels. Remove towels promptly when dry to prevent wrinkling and musty smells.
Adding clean tennis balls or dryer balls to the cycle helps fluff the fibres and can reduce drying time. Avoid dryer sheets, which leave the same residue problems as fabric softener.
Line drying uses no electricity and reduces wear on your towels. In Australia's sunny climate, most beach towels air dry completely in just a few hours, making it an easy sustainable choice.
Storing Beach Towels
Proper storage between uses and during the off-season keeps your towels fresh and ready for action.
Day-to-Day Storage
Store clean, completely dry towels in a well-ventilated area. Avoid cramming them into tight spaces or stacking them while still warm from the dryer, which can trap moisture. Folding rather than rolling generally works better for storage, though rolling is fine for short-term packing.
Long-Term Storage
If storing towels for an extended period (such as over winter), ensure they're completely clean and thoroughly dry. Store in a breathable fabric bag or open shelf rather than sealed plastic, which can trap moisture and encourage mildew. Adding a sachet of lavender or cedar can help keep them smelling fresh and deter pests.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Musty Odour
That persistent musty smell indicates bacteria or mildew growth. Wash the towel in hot water with one cup of white vinegar instead of detergent. Follow with a second wash using half a cup of baking soda. This combination neutralises odours rather than just masking them.
Reduced Absorbency
When towels stop absorbing well, residue buildup from detergent or fabric softener is usually the culprit. Run the towel through a hot wash with just vinegar (no detergent), then wash again with a small amount of baking soda. Going forward, reduce your detergent usage.
Faded Colours
To prevent fading, wash in cold water, dry away from direct sunlight, and turn brightly coloured towels inside out before washing. Unfortunately, once colours have faded, they cannot be restored, though the towel remains functional.
With proper care, your beach towels will remain soft, absorbent, and fresh for many seasons. The few minutes invested in correct washing, drying, and storage pays dividends in both comfort and cost savings.