Making a hammam towel soft: why it's firm at first and what helps
A new hammam towel often feels firmer than expected: smooth, thin and sometimes almost a little stiff. That is not a quality defect. A hammam towel becomes soft once it has been washed, dried and used a few times. Here you will learn why that is, how to handle the first washes, what makes a towel hard and which home remedies really help – and which you can skip.
Contents8
- Why isn't a new hammam towel soft straight away?
- How your hammam towel gets softer over time
- The first washes: how your hammam towel becomes soft
- What makes a hammam towel hard
- What really helps: making a hammam towel soft in 5 steps
- A soft hammam towel, but not a fluffy one: realistic expectations
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why isn't a new hammam towel soft straight away?
Terry towels feel fluffy in the shop because they consist of many small loops. A hammam towel, on the other hand, is flat-woven: the cotton threads lie close and smooth next to each other. Soft therefore doesn't mean "fluffy" here, but supple and flowing – the towel drapes loosely, wraps around you and feels gentle on the skin.
There are several common reasons why a fresh towel is still firmer:
- The fibres are still "new": Cotton gradually becomes more supple through water, movement and use. That takes a few washes.
- Residues from processing: With new textiles it is common for traces from manufacturing and transport to remain in the fabric. That's why we recommend washing all our hammam towels before first use.
- The fabric settles: Pure, non-pre-shrunk cotton contracts a little in the first wash. For the Manolia hammam towel, for example, the product description mentions shrinkage of up to approx. 10 %. Afterwards the fabric feels denser and has more grip.
How your hammam towel gets softer over time
For several of our models it says so explicitly in the product description: the Ocean hammam towel and the ADRIA hammam towel become softer with every wash, SULTAN more supple with every wash. How quickly this happens depends on water hardness, detergent and drying. A typical progression looks like this:
| Stage | What you notice | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| New, unwashed | smooth, firm, absorbs water hesitantly | wash before first use |
| After the first wash | slightly denser, sometimes a little shrunk, already more grip | shake out, air dry |
| After a few washes | drapes more loosely, feels noticeably gentler | use regularly, dose sparingly |
| After many months | supple and soft | avoid limescale and residues (see below) |
The stages are guide values, not fixed numbers. A towel you use every week in the sauna or bathroom becomes supple faster than one that sits in the cupboard.
The first washes: how your hammam towel becomes soft
The first two or three washes determine how the towel will feel later. Follow the care label. For our hammam towels the rule is always: 30 °C and no fabric softener. Detailed advice on programmes, detergent and fringes can be found in our guide to washing hammam towels. For softness, these points matter most:
- Don't overload: In a full drum the towel hardly moves, and detergent spreads less evenly.
- Dose sparingly: Too much detergent stays in the fibres and makes them stiff.
- Feel free to wash twice: If the hammam towel is still firm and not soft enough after the first wash, simply wash it a second time.
- Shake out straight away: Shake vigorously right after spinning so that fibres and fringes loosen.
What makes a hammam towel hard
If a towel becomes stiff again after a while instead of softer, one of these causes is almost always behind it:
| Cause | What happens | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Hard water | limescale builds up in the fibres | dose detergent for your water hardness, occasional vinegar soak |
| Too much detergent | residues stick the fibres together | use less, add an extra rinse if needed |
| Fabric softener | coats the cotton, the towel absorbs less | leave it out, wash out residues |
| Drying on the radiator | fibres dry "stiff" without movement | dry on a line or rack with airflow |
| Salt and chlorine water | salt crystals remain in the fabric | rinse with clear water after swimming |
Fabric softener is a special case: it makes a towel softer in the short term, but at the expense of absorbency. Why a hammam towel then stops absorbing properly and how to fix it is covered in a separate guide.
What really helps: making a hammam towel soft in 5 steps
If your towel has already become hard, this is the best approach:
- Vinegar soak in a bowl: A common home remedy against limescale is a soak of 1 part household vinegar and 2 parts warm water. Put the towel in until the water has cooled. Do this in a bowl or sink, not in the softener compartment – some washing machine manufacturers advise against vinegar because it can attack seals. If in doubt, check your machine's manual.
- Wash normally: Then wash as usual at 30 °C with little detergent. This rinses out the vinegar.
- Shake out vigorously: Hold the wet towel by one long side and shake it out two or three times.
- Air dry – with movement: Outside on the line with a little wind, cotton becomes more supple than in still indoor air. From our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel dries in about 30 minutes in the sun and in around 60 minutes indoors. You don't need hours of blazing midday sun.
- Work it through: Shake the dry towel out once more or rub it briefly between your hands. This loosens the fibres.
What you can skip
- Fabric softener and dryer sheets: They coat the fibres.
- Washing hotter than stated: More heat doesn't make a hammam towel softer, but can make it shrink further.
- The dryer as a shortcut: For several of our hammam towels the care instructions say air dry, and for Colombia explicitly "not suitable for tumble drying". Follow the label of your towel.
A soft hammam towel, but not a fluffy one: realistic expectations
To be honest: even after many washes, a flat-woven towel will never be as fluffy as thick terry. That isn't the goal either. Its strengths are low weight, little bulk in your bag and short drying times. If you want the typical terry feeling when drying off, a classic sauna towel is the better choice. If you want a light, quick-drying towel that becomes more pleasant with every use, you will be happy with a hammam towel in the long run. You'll find a detailed comparison of both towel types in our article on hammam towels and terry.
Tip for the impatient: just use a new hammam towel. A towel that is used regularly, washed and air-dried is noticeably more supple after a few weeks than one that is kept in the cupboard. You'll find a selection in our hammam towels collection.
Related reading: Washing a hammam towel: temperature, first wash, fringes and dryer · Hammam towel not absorbing? Causes, solutions and what helps against odour · Hammam towel or terry towel? The honest comparison for bathroom, sauna and travel
Conclusion
It is normal for a new hammam towel to feel firm at first. With a few washes at 30 °C, sparing detergent, no fabric softener and air drying, it becomes more supple step by step. That's how your hammam towel becomes soft without reaching for fabric softener. A towel usually turns hard because of limescale, residues or drying without airflow – a vinegar soak in a bowl, shaking out and the washing line instead of the radiator help against that.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for a hammam towel to become soft?
That can't be stated in days. Usually there is a clear difference after a few washes, and with regular use it keeps getting more supple.
Does fabric softener make a hammam towel softer?
In the short term yes, but it coats the fibres and can reduce absorbency. That's why our rule for hammam towels is: no fabric softener.
Can I use vinegar?
A vinegar soak (1 part vinegar, 2 parts water) in a bowl is a common home remedy against limescale. Then wash the towel normally. Only use it in the machine if the manufacturer allows it.
Why is my hammam towel hard after the holiday?
Usually it's salt, chlorine or sun cream in the fabric. Rinse with clear water, wash normally and air dry.
Does a hammam towel get softer in the dryer?
For several of our models the care instructions recommend air drying, and for Colombia the dryer is explicitly ruled out. The label of your towel takes priority.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.