Few things ruin a bath or shower more than reaching for a clean towel and finding it smells damp and musty - or it's gone scratchy and thin after a few washes.
But if your freshly washed towels keep developing an unpleasant odour, a luxury linen expert says a few simple changes to your laundry routine could help.
And one of the biggest mistakes is what happens after you've used the towel.
Jo Perks, a laundry and linen specialist at luxury homeware brand Hampton & Astley, says the way towels are washed, dried and stored can make a major difference to how fresh they smell, as well as how soft and fluffy they remain.
Jo said: "There's nothing worse than buying a new towel only for it to start fraying and falling apart after a few months.
“The good news is a few simple changes to your laundry routine can keep towels feeling soft and hotel-quality for years."
Don't leave damp towels scrunched up
If your towel is left in a heap on the bathroom floor or scrunched up after a shower, it can stay damp for hours.
That creates the perfect conditions for unpleasant musty smells to develop.
Jo recommends hanging towels up straight after use in a room with good airflow, ideally with a window open.
Towels should be allowed to dry completely before being put into the laundry basket, rather than being left damp and bunched up.
Don't leave wet towels in the washing machine
Another simple mistake is forgetting about towels once the washing cycle has finished.
Leaving damp towels sitting inside the washing machine can quickly lead to a stale smell.
Take them out as soon as possible and get them drying promptly.
Jo also recommends washing towels at least once a week to prevent a build-up of skin oils and bacteria.
Wash new towels before using them
It may be tempting to use a brand-new towel straight from the packet, but Jo recommends washing it before its first use.
New towels should be washed on their own to remove germs picked up during manufacturing and delivery, as well as chemicals used to give them their smooth shop-floor finish.
Stick to a cold wash
Towels should be washed separately from other laundry on a cold cycle, using a gentle detergent without additives.
Jo says this helps protect the cotton fibres and prevents colours from fading over time.
Try the baking powder trick
For extra fluffiness, Jo recommends adding a teaspoon of baking powder to the detergent drawer.
She says it acts as a natural softener and gives towels "extra bounce".
Go easy on the tumble dryer
Overheating is another major culprit when it comes to towels becoming rough and scratchy.
Jo recommends using a low heat setting and taking towels out while they are still slightly damp.
They can then be left to air dry or finished off in an airing cupboard.
If you're drying towels outside, avoid direct sunlight, which can bleach and stiffen the fabric.
Instead, hang them in the shade or behind another item of washing.
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Never leave towels on the floor
Keeping towels off the floor is important for both freshness and hygiene.
Jo recommends hanging them up somewhere with plenty of airflow rather than leaving them folded up or dumped on the floor.
This helps keep mould and mildew at bay while allowing towels to dry properly and stay fresher for longer.
She also recommends washing towels in a separate laundry basket from clothes, so they don't pick up extra germs or colour from other garments.
Jo said: "Follow these steps and you'll notice a real difference. Towels that are looked after properly can stay soft, fluffy and absorbent for years, not just a few months."
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