Yes, you can put a Turkish beach towel in the dryer, but keep it on low heat, and most of the time you will not need the dryer at all. The flat weave dries so quickly on a line or a chair back that air drying is usually faster and gentler on the fibers. If you do tumble it, use low heat and skip the fabric softener, which coats the cotton and cuts its absorbency. Low heat keeps the towel soft and holds its shape for years.
A Turkish towel is woven flat, not looped like a terry towel, so there is far less material to hold water. That is why it wrings out and air dries in a fraction of the time a thick beach towel takes. Hang it over a railing, a chair, or a shower rod and it is usually ready before a terry towel would be halfway there.
When you do want the dryer, low heat is the move. High heat is what stresses cotton over time and can cause a little shrinkage on the first cycle, so a gentle tumble protects the weave and the size. Pull it out while it still has a hint of give rather than baking it bone dry.
Two habits keep a Turkish towel at its best. Skip fabric softener, since it leaves a film that makes any cotton towel less absorbent, and go easy on heat. Turkish cotton actually gets softer and more absorbent over the first several washes, so normal washing and gentle drying improve the towel rather than wearing it out. Because each NIXY towel pattern is woven once and not restocked, treating it well is how you keep the one you have looking good.
The NIXY Nebula Turkish Beach Towel ($39) is a lightweight flat-woven Turkish cotton towel that wrings out and air dries fast, so the dryer is optional. For the full routine, our quick answer on washing a Turkish beach towel covers wash settings, and if you are worried about sizing, our note on whether Turkish towels shrink explains what to expect. See the current patterns on the NIXY beach towels collection page.
Frequently asked questions
Will a Turkish beach towel shrink in the dryer?
It can shrink slightly on the first high-heat cycle, like most cotton. Drying on low heat, or air drying, keeps shrinkage minimal and protects the weave. A small amount of first-wash shrinkage is normal and does not affect how the towel works.
How long does a Turkish towel take to air dry?
Much faster than a terry beach towel, because the flat weave holds far less water. Wrung out and hung over a rail or chair, it is often dry in a fraction of the time, which is why many owners skip the dryer entirely, especially on warm days.
Should you use fabric softener on a Turkish towel?
No. Fabric softener leaves a coating that reduces how much water any cotton towel can absorb. Turkish cotton softens naturally over the first several washes on its own, so you get a softer, more absorbent towel by leaving the softener out.
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