Why Do Bath Towels Lose Their Color?

Background

• The action of the washer and dryer causes damage to the bath towel fibers. When the fibers break, they appear lighter so that the towel loses color. Poor-quality towels tend to bleed dye and fade more quickly than better-quality towels.

  Consumer reviews, such as those by "Good Housekeeping," can help you select towels that resist fading. All colored towels lose color over time because of dye loss and wear, but some retain color better than others.

The Basics

• Washing colored towels in cold water helps to maintain their color. Hot water promotes color bleeding and fading, especially in lower-quality towels. Drying your bright- and dark-colored towels for the minimum amount of time reduces wear and tear on the towels. The longer the towels tumble in the dryer, the more the fibers break and the faster they lose color.

Solutions

• Many manufacturers recommend drying colored towels on a low heat setting. This takes longer and uses more energy, but it helps to reduce fading, because higher dryer heat will cause your colored towels to lose color faster.

  Separating your laundry by color and keeping light-colored soft items out of the dryer when you dry colored towels will protect your towels from developing light-colored lint and "pills" of fiber that make the colors look faded. Sweaters, blankets, socks and other soft items can transfer lint to towels.

Pointers

• Hard water takes a toll on your colored towels by leaving a residue that roughens the texture of your bath towels. If you have hard water -- water with a high mineral content that leaves deposits on your sink fixtures -- use 1 to 2 tbsp. more detergent than your detergent packages suggest. Extra detergent counteracts the hard water to make your towels cleaner and softer -- and keep the colors brighter by protecting them from mineral deposits. The type of detergent doesn't have much effect on fading, according to Drexel University.