Whether it’s premium Turkish cotton, a blend of quality knits, or satin, here are some expert tips on how to get the most mileage out of your luxury robe:
Don’t Overwash It
If you overwash your robe, it can cause the colors to fade, so keep in mind that you don’t need to wash your robe as much as your intimate apparel. Treat them like bath towels: wash them when they need to be freshened up, usually after several days. Another trick for extending the life of your bathrobe is by having several in your weekly rotation. This will allow you to reduce the number of washes for each robe.
Pretreat Stains
An accidental coffee or a wine spill can leave stubborn stains. The most stubborn of stains can be made virtually invisible when you spot clean with a stain removing detergent. Then, when you toss it in the washing machine, it will come out looking as good as new. This washing method works with all types of bathrobes, including cotton and satin. A little pretreatment can make a huge difference in maintaining your bathrobe.
Use the Best Wash Cycle for the Bathrobe’s Material
Cotton
When it comes to laundering robes in washing machines, not all fabrics are created equal. Cotton robes are the easiest to care for because the durable terry cloth expands in the washing machine, which makes it fluffier and softer with every wash. You can wash cotton robes on the normal cycle with any type of laundry detergent. If you want your robe to be extra fluffy, we recommend using half the amount of detergent typically used on other cotton clothing. For white bathrobes, non-chlorine bleach can be added in hot water to brighten the fabric as needed. We also suggest opting for the extra rinse function on your washing machine, which will remove any residual detergent. If any laundry soap is left in the cotton, it lessens the soft texture.
Satin
The combination of high-quality fabrics, satin is both durable and low maintenance. Unlike other satin garments that are delicate and must be hand-washed, you can machine wash a satin robe in cold water on the normal cycle. To maintain its soft, silky finish, tumble dry on low heat.
Silk
While silk is considered a delicate fabric, it’s actually more durable than you might think. If you hand wash it in cold water with detergent, it will help maintain its shiny finish.
Polyester
Just as durable as cotton, polyester can be machine washed in warm water on cold. some polyester blends need to be dry cleaned, so pay attention to the label on the garment.
Prevent Fading
The challenge with dark colored robes is keeping them from getting faded after a few washes. A simple trick for maintaining bright colors is by washing them inside out, which protects the exterior. We also advise not drying them in the sun, which can also fade the colors significantly. If you must keep it in the sun, turn it inside out.
Keep the colors of your robe bright and vibrant by washing them in cold water. This prevents the colors from being extracted from the fabric, which happens in warmer water. Also, wash on the shortest cycle possible, which will reduce the amount of soaking time for the garment, another way that color can be leached out of the garment.
Expert tip: When washing colored robes for the first time, add a half cup of salt to the machine to prevent the colors from running.
Use Hangers
When you store your robe on hangers, it helps to keep its shape and integrity. For satin and silk robes, padded hangers will protect the thin and lightweight fabric from snags or rips.
Seasonal Storage
When transitioning from lighter to heavier fabrics in between seasons, we suggest washing the robes before putting them in storage. They should be stored in a zippered plastic bag with cedar chips to keep it fresh.
When you properly care for your bathrobes, you’ll be able to enjoy them for many years.