Washing settings guide
Best Washing Machine Setting for Towels
A practical UK towel-washing guide for fresher, cleaner, better-rinsed towels.
For suitable cotton towels, Cottons or a dedicated Towels programme can be appropriate. Follow the towel label: 40°C may suit routine washing, while 60°C is only an option for textiles and programmes that permit it.
Last updated: 22 September 2026
Quick answer
Best washing machine setting
Program
Cottons or Towels
Temperature
40°C may suit routine cotton towels; 60°C only if permitted
Spin
Use the suitable programme’s default within textile and model limits
Why: Use the programme specified for the towel fabric and load. Do not raise spin or temperature beyond the textile and machine instructions.
Safe tip: Check the care label first and load towels loosely enough to move and rinse.
Can I still use it?
MaybeFor routine washing, use settings allowed by the towel label. This guide does not validate a disinfection cycle or clear a faulty washer for use.
- 40°C may suit routine cotton towels where permitted.
- 60°C is an option only where the textile and chosen programme allow it.
- If water remains, a code appears or smells persist, use the model’s troubleshooting and maintenance instructions.
Step-by-step setup
- 1.Load within the selected programme’s capacity, leaving room for the towels to move.
- 2.Select Cottons, or a dedicated Towels programme if your machine provides one.
- 3.For suitable cotton towels, consider 40°C for routine washing or 60°C only where the textile and programme permit it.
- 4.Use the suitable programme’s default spin within any lower textile or manufacturer limit.
- 5.Remove towels when the cycle ends and dry them completely before storing.
Settings by towel type
Start with the care label and your machine manual. These are practical defaults, not overrides for a lower labelled limit.
| Towel type | Programme | Temperature | Spin | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturdy cotton bath and hand towels | Cottons or Towels | 40°C may suit routine washing; 60°C only if permitted | Programme setting within textile and model limits | Wash similar colours together and leave enough drum space for the load to move. |
| White cotton towels | Cottons or Towels | 40°C normally; 60°C if the label allows | Programme setting within textile and model limits | White colour does not override the towel’s labelled maximum temperature. |
| Microfibre or sports towels | Use the care-label programme | Do not exceed the label | Programme setting within textile and model limits | Do not apply cotton-towel settings automatically; specialist fibres and finishes can need different care. |
| Waffle, decorative or embellished towels | Use the care-label programme | Do not exceed the label | Programme setting within textile and model limits | Use a gentler programme only when the label calls for it; trims and construction may set the limit. |
If towels still come out wrong
| What you notice | Possible contributors | Safe next step |
|---|---|---|
| Towels feel stiff, coated or less absorbent | Detergent or conditioner residue is one possibility; dosing that does not suit water hardness can also contribute. | Use the detergent pack dose for the load, soiling and local water hardness; avoid conditioner when absorbency matters and follow the manual for an extra rinse. See washing machine leaves residue on clothes. |
| Towels smell musty after washing | A crowded load, laundry left wet, incomplete drying, residue, or a washer that needs cleaning. | Reduce the load, remove towels promptly and dry them fully. Clean the washer only as its manual directs. See washing machine smells after a wash. |
| Powder, streaks or detergent marks remain | Overdosing, a dose that does not match water hardness, or insufficient room to rinse. | Check the detergent label, local water hardness and washer manual, then adjust the load or dose as directed. Neither more nor less detergent is automatically correct. |
| Towels are unusually wet after the cycle | The heavy load may be unbalanced, the selected spin may be low, or the washer may not be draining correctly. | Redistribute the load and retry only the manual-approved spin. If water remains or a code appears, stop and check why your washing machine won't drain. |
Related problems and error codes
Drainage and residue problems linked to towel loads
Hoover Washing Machine E03
The washing machine is not draining water on models using Hoover's E03/E3 mapping
Bosch Washing Machine E36
A drainage warning whose full suffix matters
Hotpoint Washing Machine F05
Waste-pipe blockage or pump problem
Hotpoint Washing Machine F11
Pump-circuit fault
Indesit Washing Machine F11
Pump-circuit fault
Samsung Washing Machine 5C
Water-drainage error
Balance and spin warnings from heavy loads
Beko Washing Machine E18
Spin not started due to imbalance on the three documented models
Samsung Washing Machine UB
Load imbalance preventing normal spin
Samsung Washing Machine UE
Load imbalance preventing normal spin
LG Washing Machine UE
Unbalanced-load warning in LG US front-load guidance
Samsung Washing Machine UB1
Waterproof items detected on WD53DBA9**H*
Why this works
Choose a programme intended for the towel fabric and load. Correct dosing, space for movement and complete drying are practical checks; the programme name alone does not prove better rinsing than every alternative.
When to use this setting
- Machine-washable cotton towels with compatible care labels.
- Specialist towels only with their own labelled settings.
When not to use it
- The towel needs specialist care.
- A mat or waterproof item is not explicitly permitted by both its label and the washer manual.
Common mistakes
- Using a quick wash for a heavy towel load.
- Using too much detergent, which can make towels stiff and may contribute to Samsung SUD.
- Using fabric conditioner repeatedly when absorbency matters.
- Overloading the drum, which can cause poor rinsing, smells, and spin imbalance.
Related guides
Mixed Load vs Cottons on a Washing Machine
Mixed and Cottons describe fabric groups, not a universal gentle-versus-stronger ranking. For example, Bosch’s WAE24377GB manual assigns Mixed Load to compatible cotton/synthetic fabrics and Cottons to robust cotton/linen, with different load limits.
Washing Machine Leaves Residue on Clothes
White marks or a soapy feel can have several causes. Check detergent instructions, load space and rinsing before assuming a fault; poor drainage is one possible contributor.
Washing Machine Smells After Wash: What Setting Should You Use?
First establish whether the smell is in the laundry or in the empty washer. Use the fabric’s normal care instructions for laundry; clean the washer with the empty maintenance procedure specified in its manual.
What Temperature to Wash Clothes in the UK
The number on a wash care label is an upper temperature limit. Routine lightly soiled clothes may suit 30°C or lower with an appropriate detergent; 40°C and 60°C are options only where the fabric and purpose allow them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash towels at 40°C?+
It may suit routine cotton towels when the label permits it. Use the actual textile and programme instructions; no temperature here is a disinfection guarantee.
Why do towels smell after washing?+
Check loading, dose, prompt removal and complete drying, then the washer’s maintenance instructions. Smell alone does not establish the cause.
Should I use fabric softener on towels?+
It is usually better to avoid frequent fabric softener on towels because it can reduce absorbency and contribute to residue.
Why are towels still very wet after spinning?+
A heavy towel load can become unbalanced, the programme may use a lower spin, or the washer may not be draining fully. Redistribute the load and follow the machine manual; investigate persistent water or error codes rather than repeatedly forcing a spin.
How should towels be dried after washing?+
Remove towels promptly and dry them completely before storage. Follow the care label for tumble-drying heat or line drying, because fibre blends and decorative finishes can have different limits.
Sources and limits
Programme names, load limits and permitted settings vary. Follow the item’s care label and the instructions for your exact machine.
- Hoover UK: washing towelsSupports separate towel loads, Cottons for suitable towels, labelled temperature limits, avoiding overdosing and the effect of softener on absorbency. No universal spin speed is stated. Checked 22 September 2026.
- Persil UK: wash temperaturesCare-label temperature limits, lower-temperature routine washing and the distinction between routine and more demanding loads. This detergent-maker guidance is not a validated disinfection process. Checked 22 September 2026.
- Bosch UK: detergent dosingDose depends on the product instructions, load, soiling and water hardness. No single dose is prescribed here for every detergent. Checked 22 September 2026.
- Bosch UK: detergent residue on clothesIdentifies overloading and restricted drainage as possible reasons for poor rinsing. Filter and hose work must follow the exact model’s safety instructions. Checked 22 September 2026.
- Beko: washing and spin troubleshootingSupports balance, drainage and dose as possible contributors to poor results. These are possibilities, not a diagnosis of a particular washer. Checked 22 September 2026.