Good-quality towels should last 5 to 10 years if properly cared for. These guidelines will help prolong their life.

Follow care-label directions precisely for washing and drying temperatures. Avoiding extremely hot washing and drying temperatures will help reduce shrinkage.

Jenny Botero, worldwide director of housekeeping for Marriott Hotels, suggests removing towels from the dryer when they're 95 to 97 percent dry. "Overdrying towels can weaken fibers and force towels to become misshapen," she says. Towels shouldn't feel wet to the touch, but if they feel crisp, you've overdone it. Tumble-dried towels are invariably fluffier than line-dried ones.

Wash with a mild detergent, such as Wisk or Arm & Hammer dye-free formulas. Use chlorine beach sparingly, if at all; it weakens fibers

To keep towels soft, use only half the amount recommended on the detergent label, and never pour the detergent directly onto them. If detergent isn't fully rinsed out after each washing, a residue can build up that will diminish softness.

Never use silicone-based fabric softeners, whether in liquid or sheet form. Silicone is water-repellent, and fabric softeners leave behind a waxy film.

Deeply colored towels should not be washed with light-colored ones.

Don't wash clothes with towels; terry cloth will coat finer fabrics with lint.

Avoid washing towels with items that have zippers, hooks, or buttons, which can pull loops out of terry cloth.

Between uses, hang towels fully extended on a rod for ventilation and quick drying, which will translate to fewer washings and a longer life. Don't dump moist towels in a hamper, where mold and bacteria can spread.