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A rainbow-colored stack of plush bath towels

When asked what color towels for Airbnb guests, most hosts pick white. It’s easy to spot dirt and stains on towels like this, and they can be hit with strong chemicals (like bleach) if anything unpleasant is left behind after a visit.

While white towels come with plenty of advantages, they’re not right for everyone. We’ll outline why so many hosts choose white, and we’ll give you a few other options if you’d like to go in a different direction.

What Color Do People Like?

Most homeowners choose linens that match their décor, and that means they consider what colors they like best. Studies suggest that blue or teal are favorite colors worldwide.

If you like blue, you may choose navy towels for your bathroom. You might even splurge on floral towels that have all of the colors of your room.

Professional decorators say that the best home towels are in a neutral shade that works with any room and style. Towels like this might be light green or tan, and you might live with them year after year.

Should you use the same towels for your Airbnb guests? Chances are, they need something a little different than the linens you use in the family bathroom.

What Color Towels for Airbnb? White

Posts in Airbnb forums suggest that hosts often choose white towels for their guests. Perhaps they’re inspired by the linens they’ve seen in hotels and motels. Perhaps they’re interested in the cleanliness they’ve seen in hospitals. Whatever the reason, it seems like many hosts think white is the perfect choice for towels for their rentals.

3 Reasons White Towels Work

Why do so many people choose white towels for their Airbnb rentals? The following three reasons could convince you to do the same:

1. Cleanliness

The typical bathroom towel is filthy. For example, in a study of bacterial colonies in towels, researchers found E. coli on all of them. Many consumers know that the average towel scrubs filthy places every day. When they’re renting a property, even for one night, they may wonder who that towel has touched before.

Why are hotel and hospital linens usually white? The appearance of cleanliness is part of it. Consumers can examine linens with their eyes when they’re white. They can spot things like traces of makeup, stray hairs, or dirt. If they don’t find any contaminants with their eyes, they may just assume they’re staying in a clean space.

Dark-colored towels may be very clean, but it’s hard to spot that trait with your bare eyes. Consumers may just assume these towels are dirty because they can’t see any evidence to the contrary.

2. Ease of Cleaning

Towels can pick up scent, especially when they’re damp for long periods. If your Airbnb guests pile their towels on the floor, a strong smell could quickly follow. White towels can handle strong cleansers, including bleach, which can remove stains and smells. Dark towels can’t take this kind of treatment, as they require more careful laundering to preserve their color.

Hosts can also inspect white towels at the end of a visit. For example, you can look over every piece of linen for stains that should be removed. You can spot treat those problems and remove them quickly, long before your guests notice.

3. Quick Replacements

All towels should be replaced when they’re worn or damaged. Accidents happen, and sometimes, hosts are required to purchase just one replacement to complete a set. If your towels are patterned or colorful, finding a perfect match is tough. White looks very much the same from batch to batch, so it’s easy to find a new one. Most Airbnb hosts simply find white to be the easiest color for maintaining a full inventory of towels.

What Other Colors Can You Try?

While many Airbnb hosts choose white towels, others say this color isn’t ideal. They point out that white towels can become permanently stained with things like makeup or blood. They can also become dingy, especially when they’re washed without bleach.

These hosts choose other colors for their towels, such as gray or yellow. And some use multiple colors. For example, if their home sleeps four people, they use a different color for each person (so the towels don’t get mixed up during the visit). It really comes down to what works best for your individual rental, your area, and your average guest.

Clean Towels Are Critical

No matter what color your towels are, they must be cleaned. Researchers say that bacteria can adhere to textiles, including towels, and cause sickness. Regular, intense cleaning can help to keep your rental linens hygienic and clean.

But keeping linens clean isn’t easy, especially when you’re busy trying to rent out your property and please your guests. Linen cleaning services from Alsco Uniforms can help. We have more than 135 years of experience in linen cleaning, meaning we know just how to keep towels looking crisp and clean. Our environmentally friendly services use less water while keeping things clean.

We also offer linen rental services, so you don’t have to manage your towel inventory. We ensure your towels always look great, free of stains, tears, and frays. If a towel isn’t up to standards, we replace it. We manage the entire process for you, so you can focus on other aspects of your Airbnb. Contact us to find out more and get started today.