How to Stop Hotel Towels from Shedding: 8 Expert Tips - qltextiles.com

The quality of towels directly affects the customer experience. A soft, absorbent towel that does not shed lint enhances user satisfaction, while a towel that sheds lint frequently not only makes guests uncomfortable but may also affect the reputation of the venue.

Why Do Towels Shed?

Short-fiber towels, like regular cotton, shed easily due to their fragile structure, while long-staple cotton (e.g., Egyptian cotton) sheds less due to stronger, longer fibers. Low-density weaves and poor-quality towels with residual short fibers also contribute to shedding.

Improper washing and high temperatures damage towel fibers, accelerating wear and tear. Bleach, harsh detergents, and excessive drying weaken the fibers, causing increased linting over time.

Related Reading: How Do Hotels Keep Their Towels White and Soft?

How to Stop Towels from Shedding

1. Purchase High Quality Towels

Give priority to long-staple cotton (e.g., Egyptian cotton, Pima cotton) or high-count cotton for its long and strong fibers, low linting rate, and soft touch. Meanwhile, choose towels with a high-density weaving process to ensure a tight structure and strong durability.

In addition, suppliers’ production processes should be examined to ensure that they are adequately treated to reduce floating lint, and that environmentally friendly dyes and softeners are used to avoid chemical residues damaging the fibers. A sample test is recommended to check for water absorbency and linting.

2. Remove Lint From New Towels

There is no completely lint free towel or towels that don’t shed without losing comfort and softness. When new towels are used for the first time, it is recommended to soak them in cold water with salt or white vinegar, or baking soda for about 30 minutes to help get rid of residual floating lint and chemicals and reduce subsequent linting problems. After soaking, rinse well with clean water, then perform individual gentle washing, avoid mixing with other clothes, and choose a gentle washing mode to reduce friction damage to the fibers.

3. No Softener

The softener ingredient forms a hydrophobic film on the surface of the fibers, which fills in the bumpy structure of the fiber surface and makes the towel feel smoother.

However, this film clogs the natural pores of cotton fibers, reducing their water absorbency and causing the fibers to harden and lose elasticity with long-term use. In addition, the softener residue may encapsulate the natural protective layer on the fiber surface, preventing it from coming into full contact with the air and accelerating fiber deterioration.

4. Reduce the Use of the Dryer

The high temperature of the dryer will make the towel fibers fragile due to thermal expansion and contraction, especially cotton fibers will dehydrate and harden under the sustained high temperature, resulting in reduced elasticity and easy breakage. At the same time, the mechanical force of high-speed rotation will exacerbate the friction between the fibers, loosening the structure and resulting in linting, pilling, and hardening of the texture.

In addition, frequent high-temperature drying will also destroy the natural oils on the surface of the fiber, so that the towel loses its softness and shortens its service life. In contrast, natural drying or low-temperature drying protects the fiber structure and maintains the towel’s fluffiness and durability.

5. Scientific Washing

• Use neutral detergent, avoid detergents containing bleach or strong alkaline.
• Control the water temperature (no more than 40℃); high temperatures will damage the fiber.
• Avoid overloading the washing machine to reduce friction between towels.
• Separate towels from other clothes and bed linen

6. Daily Maintenance and Management

• Check and replace overused towels regularly.
• Categorize use (e.g., separate hand towels and bath towels) to reduce excessive wear and tear.
• Repair promptly when detached threads are found to prevent further linting.

More Reading: 10 Hotel Amenities That Make Stays Unforgettable

7. Employee Training and Supplier Management

To ensure the quality of towels and reduce the lint rate, the hotel should strengthen employee training, develop a standardized washing process (SOP), standardize the water temperature, detergent selection and drying temperature, and other operational details, to avoid improper handling of damage to the fibers. 

At the same time, suppliers should be strictly screened, and quality agreements should be signed to require the provision of towel linting rate test reports and durability certificates to ensure that the raw materials and processes are in line with the standards. Regularly review the performance of suppliers to establish a long-term and stable relationship, protect the quality of towels from the source, extend the service life, and reduce operating costs.

8. Customer Communication and Emergency Handling

In order to improve customer satisfaction, it is recommended to place a warm reminder card in the guest room and take the initiative to invite guests to give feedback on their towel experience. If you receive a complaint about hair loss, you should apologize to the guest and immediately replace the towel with a high-quality towel, while recording the problem batch for follow-up quality tracking.

This quick response can not only resolve complaints but also reflect the hotel’s attention to detail and enhance customer trust. Regular analysis of complaint data can help optimize purchasing decisions and form a virtuous cycle of service quality.

High-End Hotel Towels Supplier

QL Textiles offers a diverse range of high-quality towels suitable for both personal and commercial use. To further enhance the shopping experience, consider adding detailed product comparisons, user reviews, and more lifestyle images to showcase the towels in real-world settings, helping customers make well-informed purchasing decisions.

Conclusion

By following these 8 expert tips, hotels can effectively reduce towel shedding, improve customer satisfaction, and extend the life of their linens. From choosing high-quality towels to maintaining proper washing practices and training staff, these solutions ensure a consistent, premium experience for guests. Prioritizing these measures will lead to better service and lower operational costs.