Towel Care for Inns

TOWEL CARE FOR INNS & B & B’S

1. Wash in warm water. Hot water will only set the stains. If you have a B&B or hotel, you
probably have commercial machines. Try to get the temperature lower. It will save a lot of
laundry stain problems. You don’t need hot water to kill germs, soap kills germs. Water
temperature of 98 degrees to 112 degrees is good.

2. Pre-treat is almost a must. Especially if you happen to have any stubborn stains, like blood.
Use a spray bottle filled with 1/2 water and 1/2 peroxide. Spray any spots that you see
before stripping the beds or putting things in “the laundry pile”.

3. Do Not Use Bleach as it burns the fibers. Once you burn the fibers, it makes them more
susceptible to staining. Instead use peroxide. Whatever you use in bleach, use about 1/2
the amount in peroxide. While it costs a little more, it will keep your linens in good shape
for a lot longer.

4. Don’t use too much soap. Soap residue reduces the softness of the towels and can make
your towels feel rough and stiff. IF your towels are rough and stiff, try the following: If you
are using a commercial machine, after you have run your linens through the wash cycles
with soap, start the machine again, using a cup of white vinegar. Run your towels and
linens again through the whole cycle. Most of the commercial machines have a cut off valve
so you can do this. If you can’t “feed the vinegar” into the machine, you can put it in through
the front door with the wet linens. I fusing a regular machine, run the towels and linens
again with just the vinegar. We do this about once every 6-8 weeks. NOT EACH LOAD!

5. Use Dawn dish soap for grease spots. Dawn is the best and works the first time.

6. For really difficult stains use baking soda and peroxide. Make a paste out of baking
soda and peroxide mixed together.

7. Do not use fabric softeners. They coat the fibers and then makes them more susceptible
to stains. They also reduce the absorbency of the towels. Use vinegar as suggested above. It
acts as a natural softener, with the mild acid removing any detergent that clings to the
linens.

8. Don’t over-dry your linens. It will weaken the fibers, and if there are any stains that didn’t
come out it helps to set them. When drying linens use a lower setting.

9. When all else fails use Resolve carpet cleaner. Put it in a spray bottle and use it to spray
the stain. It is harder on the fibers, but when you are desperate, that’s the last ditch effort.