Hospitality Insights: Caring for Bath Terry, Plus Other Expert Tips

At Garnier Thiebaut USA, we take pride in our reputation as a trusted partner for high-quality linens in the hospitality sector, and exclusively offer products that meet the highest standards of luxury and durability. Our unwavering commitment to excellence has provided us with a deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by hoteliers. As part of our ongoing linen care series, we examine the benefits of 100% cotton bath terry and offer essential tips to enhance your guests’ experiences in bathrooms, in spas, and at pools.

Why Do You Need to Properly Wash Bath Terry?

Properly washing hotel bath terry is crucial for maintaining high hygiene standards and ensuring guest satisfaction. Fresh, clean towels not only reflect the hotel's commitment to cleanliness but also enhance the overall guest experience. By adhering to rigorous laundering protocols, hotels can prolong the lifespan of their linens, reduce operational costs, and uphold their reputation for quality service.

Best Practices for Caring for Bath Terry

Washing

• Bath towels should be separated based on material, soil level, and color before being washed
• Soft water will help maintain colors and keep the hand feel soft on towels. Hard water deposits get trapped in the looped yarns of towels and harm their appearance and feel
• High-quality detergent should have surfactant and a percarbonate in it (and be without brighteners on colors) to swell cotton fibers, releasing the dirt and preserving color
• Do not use chlorine bleach
• Wash at 40°C (100F) for colors, 60°C (140F) for whites

Drying

• Always check to see if a treated stain was removed after laundering and before ironing, otherwise the heat will set the stain
• Press up to 40 bars
• Dryer: terry temperature not to go above 185°C (365F) to preserve linen fibers
• Do not overfill the dryer or run it longer than necessary. Over drying can result in scorching, loss of brightness, and a harsh hand feel
• Maintain efficient door seals and clean lint filters in the dryer
• Always use a cool-down stage at the end of drying to prevent creasing
• Moisture needs to be at 0% when the bath terry comes out

Ironing

• No need to iron

General Tips for Bath Terry

• Wash and dry towels with other towels only
• Cotton and cotton rich towels should not be washed together to prevent cross-contamination of lint
• Always shake out the linens before laundering
• One of the most common laundering problems is machine overloading, the machine should be 75% filled

Bath Terry Life – 80 – 140 Washes (Depends on Construction)

• 100% Cotton – 80 – 120 washes
• Cotton rich 86/14 – 100 – 140 Washes

Par Levels

• If laundry on premises – 3 par
• If no laundry on premises – 5-6 par

How Important is the GSM?

When choosing towels for your venue, it is important to consider the GSM of the terry. GSM, or grams per square meter, is a measurement that indicates a towel’s absorbency and durability. Most hotels tend to choose terry with a GSM of 450-700, but there is a wide variety of terry GSMs available depending on the needs of your venue. The GSM of a bath towel can fall into one of three categories: light-weight, medium-weight, and heavy-weight.

Light-Weight (300-400 GSM)

Featuring thinner, lighter, and coarser cotton terry, these towels boast a lower GSM, allowing for quicker drying times and more efficient storing. They are perfect for gym settings, kitchens, and hotel pools.

Medium-Weight (400-600 GSM)

Medium-weight cotton terry offers a heavier feel, soft texture, and excellent absorbency. They are commonly used for standard bath towels and high-end beach towels.

Heavy-Weight (600-900 GSM)

For a luxurious experience for your guests, choose towels with a GSM between 600 and 900. These heavy-weight towels are soft, plush, and incredibly absorbent. However, keep in mind that they often come with a higher price tag and require more room in washing machines and storage.

Bath Terry, Sustainability, and You!

When choosing the best type of bath terry for your venue, there are some factors to think about when it comes to sustainability.

Opting for lighter weight towels, within the 450 to 530 GSM range, saves money and protects the environment by using less water for washing and less time for drying. Collections like our Zero Twist Royal bath terry at 500 GSM and Levant bath terry at 530 GSM incorporate stylish elements like rice and dobby borders to help add that final touch to your guest’s bathroom experience.?

Our cotton-rich towels, such as the Bora at 450 GSM, are more sustainable in regards to the washing process. This is because the polyester in these towels dries faster than regular cotton, saving both time and electricity. An additional benefit to cotton rich towels is that they have a longer shelf life, which reduces the ecological impact of production, transportation, and landfill waste.

In addition, another way to incorporate more environmentally friendly practices into your venue is to give your guests the option of either reusing their bath terry or asking for new bath linens. According to The American Hotel and Lodging Association, this request alone reduces the amount of laundry that needs to be washed and the water, energy, sewer, and labor costs by 17%. Another great way to be more sustainable with your energy when washing your bath terry is to invest in Energy Star certified appliances. These types of appliances have automated energy management systems, making them ideal for energy efficiency, and usually recoup their costs within three years while delivering energy savings of 5% to 15%.

Why Are My Whites Turning Yellow?

Another common question that our Hospitality partners ask is, “Why is our white bath terry turning yellow?” To answer this, it is important to keep in mind that proper laundering procedures are crucial to maintaining the bright, white appearance of bath terry. Implementing best practices in washing and drying can help prevent discoloration and extend the life of your linens. Some examples of why your white towels are becoming yellow include:

• Poor rinsing: Alkaline materials collect in the fibers, turning yellow when dried. Also called galling
• Detergent: Too much used on first wash with no soiling; refer to product specifications and load size for correct amounts?
• Gas Dryer: Some can cause cotton to turn yellow. Try a steam dryer. The two best-rated brands of electric and gas dryers in Consumer Reports are GE and Whirlpool.?
• Scorching: Some can cause cotton to turn yellow. Try a steam dryer. The two best-rated brands of electric and gas dryers in Consumer Reports are GE and Whirlpool.?
• Rust: In water supply
• Chlorine bleach: Reaction to bleach or poor rinsing after bleaching?
• Cross Contamination: From other items in wash that are colored or soiled
• Fabric softener: Used too much; refer to product specifications and load size for the correct amounts

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Taking proper care of your bath terry ensures a comfortable stay for your guests, with linens that remain white for an extended period. By following these guidelines, you can extend the lifespan of your Garnier Thiebaut USA linens and maintain the high standards your guests expect.

Have specific questions or topics you'd like us to address? Feel free to comment below or contact us at [email protected]!