That wonderfully soft bathrobe you wrap yourself in after a morning shower is one of the nicest ways to start the day. But can that comfort last forever? Of course it can. With the right care you can extend your bathrobe's life and keep it as soft and as colourful as the day you bought it. We have gathered the golden rules of bathrobe care, and how Keep London's quality products can take that comfort to its peak.
Choosing a Bathrobe: What to Look for in Material and Quality
A bathrobe is a textile product we use often and an important part of our personal care routine. Here is what to consider in terms of material and quality when choosing one:
Material:
- Cotton: The most common and most popular bathrobe material. Soft, absorbent and breathable, it offers comfortable wear. Quality cotton types such as Turkish cotton, Egyptian cotton or organic cotton are especially recommended.
- Bamboo: Increasingly popular in recent years, bamboo is naturally antibacterial, soft and absorbent. It is also environmentally friendly.
- Microfibre: Light, quick-drying and easy to carry, it is ideal for travel. It may not be as soft or as absorbent as cotton, however.
- Modal: Made from beech wood, modal is a soft, lustrous and durable fabric. It absorbs moisture well and dries quickly.
- Linen: Cool in summer, linen also absorbs moisture well, but it creases easily.
Quality:
- Weight (GSM): The thickness and weight of a bathrobe are expressed in grams per square metre. Higher-GSM bathrobes are thicker, softer and more absorbent. For a really soft robe, look for 380 g/m² and above.
- Pile Density: The higher the pile density, the softer and more absorbent the bathrobe. Look for a high pile density when buying a quality robe.
- Yarn Quality: Long, densely woven yarns are more durable and give the robe a longer life.
- Stitching Quality: Strong, even stitching makes a bathrobe last longer. When buying one, check the edge seams and the belt attachments in particular.
- Certificates: Bathrobes carrying international certificates such as OEKO-TEX or GOTS are free of harmful chemicals and are a safe choice.
If you can, try the bathrobe on to see how it fits and how comfortable it feels. The label will tell you about the material content, the washing instructions and the manufacturer.
Keep London offers a wide bathrobe collection to suit different tastes and needs. Made from quality materials, elegantly designed and long-lasting, Keep London bathrobes add a touch of luxury to your bathroom while giving you a comfortable experience.
Correct Washing and Drying Techniques
To extend your bathrobe's life and keep its soft texture, it needs to be cleaned carefully. Here are the correct methods, step by step:
Washing:
- Read the Care Label: Every bathrobe can have a different fabric structure and different washing instructions. So the first step is to read the washing instructions on the label carefully.
- Sort by Colour: Wash white bathrobes separately from coloured ones. In case coloured robes release dye in the first wash, washing them separately and adding a little vinegar to the rinse water can help set the colours.
- Use Warm Water: The ideal washing temperature for bathrobes is 30-40 degrees. Higher temperatures damage the structure of the fabric, making it stiff and worn.
- Choose a Gentle Detergent: Use detergents made specifically for delicates. Harsh detergents can damage the fibres and reduce absorbency.
- Do Not Use Fabric Softener: Softeners coat the fibres, reducing absorbency and lengthening drying time. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse water instead. Vinegar helps keep the robe soft while preserving the vibrancy of the colours.
- Do Not Overload: Do not overfill the washing machine. Leave enough room for the bathrobes to move freely. This gives better cleaning and rinsing.
- Lower the Spin Speed: A high spin speed can damage the fibres. Choosing a lower spin speed helps your bathrobe last longer.
Drying:
- Tumble Dry on Low Heat: If you use a tumble dryer, select the low heat setting. High heat can damage the fibres and make the robe stiff.
- Use Dryer Balls: You can use wool dryer balls or tennis balls in the dryer. This helps the bathrobe stay fluffier and softer.
- Dry Naturally: Drying bathrobes on a line, or flat on a surface, is the healthiest method. Take care to keep them out of direct sunlight, as this can fade the colours.
You can set your washing frequency at about once a week. Rather than leaving the robe damp, hang it up to dry immediately after use. If your bathrobe is stained, you can use a stain remover for heavy marks. Do not apply the stain remover directly to the robe, though: test it first on a cloth or a cotton pad. By applying these correct washing and drying techniques you can keep your bathrobe soft and absorbent for a long time.
Tips to Keep the Colours from Fading
Keeping your bathrobe's vivid colours and patterns for a long time is possible with the right care. Here are practical tips you can use to stop the colours fading:
- Sort by Colour: Wash white, light-coloured and dark-coloured bathrobes separately. That way colours do not transfer and the risk of fading is kept to a minimum.
- Prefer Cold Water: Hot water can cause colours to fade. Always use cold or lukewarm water when washing your bathrobes.
- Pre-treat Stains: Treat stubborn stains such as chocolate, coffee or fruit juice before washing, either with a stain remover or with natural methods (lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda and so on).
- Use a Gentle Detergent: Detergents made specifically for coloured laundry help preserve the colours.
- The Right Wash Programme: Choosing the delicates or colours programme reduces wear and helps keep the colours from fading.
Store your bathrobe folded, or on a hanger, somewhere cool and dry. Bathrobes you will not use for a long time can be kept in breathable fabric bags. Apply these tips and your bathrobes will stay as vivid as the day you bought them, giving you pleasure for years.
Common Care Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Some common care mistakes can shorten your bathrobe's life, fade its colour and stiffen its texture. Washing your robe after every single use wears down the fibres and fades the colour. Wash it only when it is dirty, or about once a week. If you perspire heavily, you might prefer a towel to a bathrobe after showering.
Harsh detergents and fabric softeners can damage the fibres, reduce absorbency and make the robe harder to dry. Use detergents made for delicates and avoid softener. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse water instead.
Leaving a wet bathrobe for a long time can lead to mould and bacteria. Hang it up to dry straight after use. If you use a tumble dryer, take care to dry on a low heat.
Washing and drying at high temperatures breaks down the fibres, making the robe stiff and causing it to shrink. Wash your bathrobe at 30-40 degrees and dry it on low heat or naturally. By avoiding these common mistakes and applying the right care methods you can extend your bathrobe's life and preserve its softness and colour.
