I started to read up on the subject and did my own experiments to try and recover them and optimize cleaning.
Today, my equipment is lasting. Some of my towels have been used intensively for over 3 years, and they’re still impeccable. It’s also possible to recover and extend the life of your old cloths, but without working miracles… These tips will only be really effective if you follow them from the outset with new sheets.
My advice
Which wash temperature to choose?
This is one of the most important tips, as the washing temperature will help to remove much of the oil.
If you want to save energy, you can also do 1 out of every 2 washes at 60°.
I use this washing temperature for all materials, even if the manufacturer recommends a lower temperature. Make sure your laundry can withstand this temperature.
What types of garment materials are used for our towels, hand towels and massage protection sheets?
Shower towel and sheet
When it comes to shower towels, I use cotton because they’re soft and pleasant to dry off with after a shower.
When my clients receive a massage, they are coated from head to toe in massage oil, and after showering, they may well still have some oil on their skin. The towels could become greasy over time. To avoid this, I wash them at 90° and add additives to remove oil residues (see below). I also wash shower towels separately. If possible, I avoid washing them with other sheets and massage equipment to minimize the risk of contact with oil-soaked sheets. To keep them soft, I dry them afterwards.
Towel and massage sheet
As for the sheets and towels on which people lie down to receive their massage, I’ve abandoned cotton in favor of synthetics. Indeed, I realized that massage oil was much easier to remove when using synthetic towels rather than cotton ones. After a number of trials, I opted for microfiber towels.
My belief was that they wouldn’t be pleasant, because I’ve already tried drying myself with a microfiber towel on surfing vacations or when hiking, and it’s far less effective than cotton.
But, in reality, they’re quite pleasant to lie on and they have plenty of other advantages over cotton; they’re quite thin and they don’t take up any space in the washing machine. As a result, you can wash more of them at the same time. They are available in size XXL. My massage sheets are 200 cm long and 100 cm wide, making them ideal for covering the entire surface of the table or futon. Available in lots of different colors, I was able to find soft, zen-like ones. They may not be as soft as cotton, but the ones I tested are super-soft, a bit like velvet, and they don’t leave a trace on the skin, even after a 2h or 3h ritual massage.
Despite the manufacturer’s washing instructions (40° or 60°), I wash them at 90° and the colors and fabric hold up beautifully over time. I then put them in the dryer.
Massage decoration sheet
Underneath the micro-fiber towel, I have a decorative sheet, which can be cotton or synthetic. A priori, it will have less contact with the oil than the first micro-fiber towel, as it is protected by it. Personally, and as a precaution, I also use a synthetic material because, in the event of an accident with the oil, it will wash better and won’t leave an aureole.
Mattress cover
And underneath the decoration sheet I have a waterproof, breathable mattress protector to prevent any contact with the massage oil and my futon. The mattress protector is washable at 90°. I wash it regularly, but not after each massage.
Pareo
The sarongs for tantric massage rituals are made of cotton. I wash them after each massage at 90°. I fix the colors with vinegar, but even so, after many massages, the colors will gradually become less intense.
Choosing the right massage oil
Even so, I don’t want to use mineral oils for my massages, as they are often petroleum-based and not good and nourishing for the skin and health.
Our epidermis absorbs some of the oil and I don’t want to absorb oil into my body.
I therefore excluded mineral oil from my experiments. Be sure to check the ingredients if you buy ready-made massage oils….
As for the vegetable oil, I started massaging with sweet almond oil. It’s a very pleasant oil to massage, excellent for the skin but unfortunately very difficult to clean and quickly becomes rancid with a very unpleasant smell.
I make my own oil blend of 50% coconut oil, 50% deodorized sesame oil and my little finishing touch 🍒 with a little deodorized argan oil (50ml argan / liter blend). 👌
Coconut oil is solid when cold, so it should be pre-warmed in a bain-marie with hot water before mixing or using for massage.
For massages, I use a bottle warmer or a glass container with tea lights to keep her at the right temperature.
As well as being very cheap and organic, this oil blend is pretty easy to clean if you follow my wash temperature and wash additive tips.
For intimate massage, I use PJUR massage oil from Germany.
Although my oil recipe can be used for intimate parts, I like using Pjur because its texture is very pleasant and the sensations are exquisite.
You’ll find it in small and large quantities.
What laundry detergent should you use in your washing machine?
What additive should I use to optimize the cleaning of massage sheets?
Soda crystals
The cheapest and most effective product is soda crystals! It costs next to nothing, and degreases your equipment thoroughly. It looks like coarse salt, and I use a large 25 cl glass per wash cycle.
Oil-eating enzymes:
Certain enzymes dissolve and remove oil. These enzymes can be found in natural or chemical washing additives.
Beef gall, in particular, is a product that comes from the stomachs of cattle, and whose enzymes help digest fats.
Quantity: one cap per wash cycle.
Or the chemical version, Biozym F, which costs a little more than beef gall. Quantity: one cap per wash cycle.
Unfortunately, biozym F is not available in Belgium. I therefore advise you to buy it in Germany or to take the Fiel de bœuf which is available in our country.
Other products already tested :
I’ve already tried using spirit vinegar and baking soda, but neither works.
To summarize:
-Wash all at 90°.
– Used different towels for the shower and for the massage.
– If possible, use synthetic materials for materials that will be in contact with the oil.
– Wash shower towels and protective equipment in contact with oil separately.
– Use natural or chemical additives to dissolve as much oil as possible from your equipment.
– Use sesame and/or coconut oil, which wash off better than other vegetable oils.
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