Care
How to Wash a Turkish Towel — So It Stays Beautiful for Years
5 August 2026
A Turkish towel is easier to care for than terry — once you know a few ground rules. Washed correctly, a peshtemal doesn’t decline with the years, it improves: softer, more absorbent, more supple. Here is everything you need to know.
Before first use: wash it once
New Turkish towels have a slightly crisp, almost papery feel out of the workshop — that’s normal. The cotton fibres are still “closed”. Wash your towel once at 40 °C before first use, or soak it overnight in cold water: the fibres swell, the towel becomes noticeably softer and reaches its full absorbency.
The ground rules of washing a Turkish towel
- Temperature: machine wash at 40 °C — hotter isn’t needed, and it protects the colours.
- Detergent: a mild colour or delicates detergent. No bleach.
- Fabric softener: better without. It coats the fibres like a film and reduces absorbency. A splash of white vinegar in the rinse cycle softens the towel naturally.
- Spin: moderate (up to 800 rpm) — the flat weave dries quickly anyway.
- Drying: best on the line. A tumble dryer on low is possible but rarely needed — a Turkish towel is air-dry in a few hours.
Caring for the fringes
Hand-knotted fringes are the signature of a genuine peshtemal. To keep them looking good: comb them through briefly or tie them loosely before washing, and use a laundry net when zips share the drum. Tangled fringes after a wash? Simply smooth them out — don’t trim them.
Why does a Turkish towel improve with age?
Flat-woven cotton keeps opening up with every wash — the fibres bloom, and the towel gains volume and softness. After five to ten washes a good Turkish towel reaches its final, soft hand. That is the opposite of terry, which hardens over the years.
For the basics, see the complete Turkish towel guide; for questions about size, delivery and returns, our FAQ has the answers.