Terry Cloth Washing Tips
Before Using RagLady Terry Cloths and Rags
Look over the terry you received from the RagLady and make certain they'll meet your needs. If you want to do a test launder, use only ONE item, not the entire pack. NO returns are allowed for "used or laundered" products. If you use or launder it, it is now yours to enjoy.
Let's Talk Shrinkage
- Cotton shrinks. It's a fact of life. Just like your favorite jeans and t-shirts, cotton terry cloths and rags will shrink in the laundry.
- Shrinkage varies. It depends on your laundering equipment and methods. The higher the heat in the wash/dry process, the more severe the shrinkage.
- Just like teenagers, cotton shrinkage can't be uniformly controlled. After laundering, you might find that it shrinks more on one side than another. We call that character.
- The good news? They get bigger and better with age. New products are stiffer and less absorbent than the same product after having been laundered many times. Some of the shrinkage might go away too. Bonus!
Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your RagLady Terry Rags
- Wash and dry new terry BEFORE first use to make them more absorbent. Terry will become more absorbent with each washing. Yep, they get better with age!
- Put all brand new terry in a dryer before their first use! Nothing will "bang" more lint out of cotton than a few good spin cycles in the dryer.
- Do not wash terry towels with non-terry towels. New terry is linty—it's the nature of the beast. Remember to clean the dryer lint trap before and after each drying cycle.
- Do NOT use bleach. (Okay, you can use bleach but please keep in mind bleach is the kiss of death to everything.) Over time, using harsh chemicals such as those contained in bleach and fabric softeners, reduce the quality, effectiveness and longevity of the material. Use hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant. When choosing store-bought whiteners, look for products marked "non-chlorine bleach" which means they're made with either hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate. Several of the "green" liquid oxygen bleaches are mainly hydrogen peroxide.
- Do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets. Laundering with fabric softener will make the towels feel soft. Fabric softener however is essentially a wax-like coating that surrounds the towel. The wax-like coating will repel water not allowing towels to absorb like they should. This coating also prevents towels from breathing properly, trapping in mildew odors.
- Wash towels in cold water with one cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of detergent. This will help release lint and set colors.
- Tumble dry low. Less shrinkage, wear and tear.