Hot Towel Cabinet Maintenance Procedures and Tips

Posted by MassageTools Staff on May 17th 2021

Hot towel cabinets are wonderful to have, and hot towels are an added touch of luxury for your clients. Hot towels offer a super-special detail that are not just luxurious - they are also beneficial to your client's skin and promote overall relaxation. Hot towels' benefits include opening pores, softening skin, relaxing muscles, promoting circulation and relieving tension.


Hot Towel Cabinet Cleaning

To keep bacteria at bay, however, your hot towel cabbies must be cleaned and well-maintained. Hygienic conditions are imperative in the spa setting, so it's important to employ regular cleaning of the hot towel cabinets for optimal health. The warm, dark environment of a hot towel warmer is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Cleaning a hot towel cabinet is as easy as wiping the interior, emptying drip trays on a daily basis and checking for loose screws or broken parts. Keeping your cabinet clean and functional will ensure years of warm, inviting and clean towels.

Hot Towel Cabi Care & Upkeep


Most people who have a hot towel cabinet don't think about it very often. Most cabis are well-made and rarely break, so it's easy to put cleaning and maintenance on the back burner, especially in a busy spa setting. This is particularly true when several therapists use the cabinet, yet no one is solely responsible for its care and upkeep.

Fortunately, cleaning your hot towel cabinet and maintaining it isn't terribly difficult and takes only a few minutes to ensure you have clean, sanitary towels to use.

Start with the Basics

First, start with the basics: Remove and empty any drip trays and clean up any spilled oils that have gotten on the inside of the cabinet. Cleaning up messes as they happen is the best policy - it's always easier to clean things before they've been baked on. While you're checking for spills, take a moment to wipe down the inside of the cabinet. Remove shelves and don't forget to clean the drip tray. Drip trays should be routinely removed each night, along with the towels . Allowing them to stay there promotes an optimal breeding ground for bacteria, mildew and mold. Drip trays should also be regularly washed with warm, soapy water to completely clean its surface. Never leave towels in the cabinet overnight. Warm, dark and damp places are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and a UV light may not fully penetrate all surfaces of the towel to kill bacteria. Whether your cabinet has a UV light or not, make it a habit to remove all towels overnight to ensure you don’t accidentally spread disease.

Check Gaskets & Seals

While you're wiping down the inside of the cabinet, take a moment to check out the rubber gasket that seals the door. Pull it forward, away from the metal, and wipe it clean with a damp rag. You'll be amazed at what can get trapped in there! Keeping the gasket clean will help prevent moisture from getting into unwanted places and turning into mold. Once a month, check the screws that are hidden next to the gasket and tighten them if necessary.

Clean Outside Surfaces

Finally, take a moment to clean the outside surfaces of the towel warmer with a damp cloth. It's a good practice to leave the unit open so it dries completely. Make sure that everything is dry, including the racks and the interior surfaces, before shutting the door.