How to Care for Your Bathrobe: A Complete Guide

A quality bathrobe should last for years. The robes we make for hotels like Chateau Marmont and Ashford Castle go through commercial laundry cycles dozens of times and still come out soft. Your robe at home, treated with a little care, will outlast almost anything else in your closet.

Here's everything you need to know about keeping your bathrobe in great condition.

Do I Need to Wash My Robe Before Wearing It?

Not necessarily. Robeworks robes are made from pre-existing fabrics without harsh chemicals or dyes, so they're ready to wear out of the box. That said, if you have sensitive skin or allergies, a quick wash before first use is a reasonable precaution.

How Often Should I Wash My Bathrobe?

Less often than you might think.

Unlike underwear or workout clothes, a bathrobe doesn't need washing after every wear. You're typically putting it on when you're already clean, and it's not pressed against your skin the way a t-shirt is.

We recommend washing your robe once a month under normal use. This keeps it fresh while avoiding the wear that comes from over-washing. If you're wearing your robe daily and it's getting heavy use, every two to three weeks is reasonable.

When in doubt, trust your nose.

How to Wash Your Bathrobe

Proper washing technique makes a significant difference in how long your robe maintains its quality.

Before washing: Remove the belt from the carriers. This prevents tangling and protects the belt loops from stress during the wash cycle.

Water temperature: Use cold water. Cold water protects colors, prevents shrinkage, and is gentler on fibers. There's no benefit to hot water for a bathrobe.

Detergent: Mild detergent is ideal. Regular detergent works, but it's harsher on fabrics over time. Use less than you think you need. Detergent buildup is one of the main reasons robes lose their softness.

Wash cycle: The delicate or permanent press cycle is best. These settings use gentler agitation that protects the fabric's integrity.

What to avoid: Skip the fabric softener. It sounds counterintuitive, but fabric softener coats fibers and actually reduces absorbency over time. It can also cause buildup that makes your robe feel stiff rather than soft.

Never use bleach, even on white robes. Bleach weakens fibers and shortens the life of the garment.

How to Dry Your Bathrobe

Drying is where most robe damage happens.

The best approach: Tumble dry on low heat or the permanent press setting. Remove the robe promptly when the cycle ends and hang it immediately. Leaving a robe bunched in the dryer leads to set-in wrinkles and unnecessary wear.

Alternative: Hang drying works well if you have the space. The robe will be slightly less fluffy than tumble-dried, but it's the gentlest option for the fabric.

What to avoid: High heat is the enemy. It can cause shrinkage, damage fibers, and reduce the plush quality of terry cloth. Even if your robe feels fine after one high-heat cycle, the cumulative effect shortens its lifespan significantly.

Caring for Different Robe Materials

Different fabrics have different needs.

Terry Cloth and Microfiber (Robeworks Construction)

Our robes feature a microfiber exterior with terry cloth interior. This combination is forgiving and durable.

Wash: Cold water, mild detergent, delicate or permanent press cycle Dry: Low heat or permanent press, remove promptly Special note: The microfiber exterior resists pilling naturally, and the terry interior maintains its absorbency through hundreds of washes when cared for properly

Cotton Robes

Pure cotton is prone to shrinkage if exposed to heat.

Wash: Cold water only, delicate or regular cycle Dry: Low or no heat. High heat will shrink cotton. Tip: Using half your normal detergent amount plus a half cup of white vinegar helps maintain fluffiness

Waffle Weave

Waffle weave is lightweight and dries quickly, making it easy to care for.

Wash: Cold or lukewarm water, any gentle cycle Dry: Low heat or hang dry. Waffle weave dries faster than terry, so check early.

Silk or Satin Robes

These require the most careful handling.

Wash: Hand wash or delicate cycle only, cold water, mild detergent Dry: Hang dry only. Never put silk in the dryer. Iron: Medium heat on the reverse side only Avoid: Fabric softener, bleach, and contact with alcohol-based products (hairspray, perfume) while wearing

Linen Robes

Linen actually improves with washing, becoming softer over time.

Wash: Delicate cycle, lukewarm water Dry: Hang dry or tumble on low to prevent shrinkage Iron: While slightly damp for best results

How to Revive a Worn Bathrobe

Even well-cared-for robes can develop issues over time. Here's how to address common problems.

Wrinkles

If your robe has been sitting bunched up or came out of the dryer wrinkled, you have options. A handheld steamer works quickly and is gentler than ironing. If you iron, use low heat and work on the interior side of the fabric when possible.

Stiffness

A stiff robe usually means detergent or fabric softener buildup. The fix is simple: wash the robe alone with no detergent. Adding a half cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle helps dissolve residue and restore softness.

Stains

Act quickly. Blot (don't rub) the stain with cold water immediately. For stubborn stains, apply a small amount of mild detergent directly to the spot and let it sit for an hour or two before washing. The sooner you treat a stain, the better your chances of complete removal.

Pilling

Some pilling is natural with any well-loved fabric. A fabric shaver or even a disposable razor, used gently, can remove pills without damaging the underlying material. Work slowly and don't press too hard.

Lost Fluffiness

If your terry cloth has flattened over time, try this: wash with cold water and no detergent, add a half cup of white vinegar, and dry on low with clean tennis balls or dryer balls. The balls help restore loft to the terry loops.

How to Store Your Bathrobe

Storage matters more than most people realize.

Between wears: A hook in the bathroom is fine for daily use. Just make sure the robe can air out and isn't crammed against the wall or other items. Moisture trapped in fabric leads to musty smells.

For longer storage: Hang on a padded hanger in a cool, dry closet. Avoid wire hangers, which can leave marks on the shoulders. Make sure the robe is completely dry before storing. A robe put away even slightly damp can develop mildew.

What to avoid: Don't fold and stack robes for long-term storage. The weight creates creases that become permanent over time. Hanging preserves the shape and drape.

The Hotel Standard

The robes we provide to luxury hotels go through industrial laundry processes that are far harsher than anything in your home. They're washed in hot water with commercial detergent, tumble dried at high temperatures, and this happens multiple times per week.

We design our robes to survive that treatment. In your home, with gentler care, a Robeworks robe will last for years and maintain its quality through hundreds of washes.

The key principles are simple: cold water, mild detergent, low heat, and prompt removal from the dryer. Follow those guidelines, and your robe will reward you with years of comfortable mornings.