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Can you warm a towel in the oven? Is it safe to do so?
We all have our reasons for warming towels up, and since my oven is the only thing that can heat them quickly, I looked for the possibility of using it to warm or heat them.
No, you can’t put and dry a towel inside the oven. However, you can use a microwave oven so long as the towel fits inside it without any problems.
I don’t know about you, but I consider safety the number one priority. So, let me give you a closer look at the things you need to avoid putting inside your oven.
What You Need to Avoid Putting Inside Your Oven
There’s a handful of materials you need to keep away from being inside the oven because of one thing – starting a fire.
Plastic Products
No matter how expensive your plastic containers are, never ever put them inside the oven.
And while it wouldn’t actually start a fire, per se, the melting of the plastic can contaminate the inside of your oven.
This can be dangerous to your health.
Stick with glass, metals, cast iron, and ceramic materials as they’re the safest and most ideal items to use inside your oven.
Paper Products
Paper products are what I consider the most dangerous. They are highly combustible, and they have a decent burning point.
They can ignite and blaze up easily without you even noticing it.
Wood Products
Wood items will likely warp and become deformed when placed inside the oven.
And while paper comes from wood, wood items would be less likely to burn and ignite.
However, if subjected to high constant temperatures, they will eventually burn.
Wet or Damp Cloth
Last, but most definitely not least is wet and damp fabric. If fabrics aren’t enough for you, what more if they’re damp or wet?
All water content that you put inside the oven will turn into steam instantly, and therefore, the next layer would be subjected to high heat and can eventually lead to burning.
So, can you put a towel in the oven to warm or heat it up quickly? Is it safe to use your oven as a heating tool to get a hot towel?
Can You Warm a Towel in the Oven?
The quick and easy answer is NO – you can’t. Never attempt putting a towel inside the oven and turning it on as it can catch fire.
Placing it inside the oven, especially if not cared for and thought through can start a fire.
I’ve read a lot of forums where they said that it worked perfectly, it heated up and their towels didn’t catch fire, but those are lucky and isolated cases.
Generally speaking, though, whatever you put inside the oven will be burned – and fabrics, being combustible, can burn faster than you think.
Warming Small Items Inside the Oven
You can, however, warm and heat up small items inside the oven only if the oven is not turned on or activated.
This includes socks, underwear, and other small articles of clothing only.
There is a distinct way of drying it inside the oven, and don’t worry, I got you on this!
How to Warm Fabrics in the Oven?
Here’s how you can successfully and safely warm small pieces of fabrics and articles of clothing in the oven.
- Preheat the oven to about 100 to 120 ⁰C for 10 minutes.
- Turn the oven off and unplug it from power, leave it for 5 minutes.
- Place the pieces of clothing in a baking tray or pan.
- Put the baking pan or tray with the clothing inside the oven.
- Leave it there for about 1 hour.
As you can see, you’ll just take the residue of heat and warmth from the oven, you won’t literally “cook” the fabrics. And even that is considered unsafe.
I DON’T RECOMMEND THIS METHOD FOR HEATING ARTICLES OF CLOTHING BECAUSE IT’S AN EXTREMELY LONG PROCESS.
Apart from the fact that it runs the biggest risk of starting a fire, it’s not an efficient process.
Only do this if you have no other choice.
NOTE: Ensure that nothing will touch the walls or elements of the oven. Keep everything inside the baking tray far from the surfaces of the oven.
Can You Warm Towels in a Microwave Oven?
Surprisingly, you can warm towels in the microwave as long as the towels fit inside it.
Fabrics don’t get heated enough to ignite inside a microwave, however, you still need to be careful in doing so.
As a matter of fact, warming and heating towels up inside a microwave oven is fast, safe, and is actually done by salons, barbershops, and massage parlors.
- Run the towel under a hose or a faucet and wet it.
- Wring it completely to let excess moisture out.
- Add the essential oil of your choice.
- Place inside a plate or dish that’s microwavable.
- Warm it for 30 to 45 seconds.
Things to Consider Before Warming Towels Up in a Microwave
Hold your horses, don’t immediately go on thinking that you can dry every towel you have under your microwave.
There are, of course, a few considerations you need to think about before doing it.
Make Sure the Towels Don’t Have Metallic Attachments
Metallic items can ruin your experience as much as they can ruin your home.
Stringing metal pieces inside a microwave can catch fire, so, ensure that your towels are free from metal tags, linings, and labels.
Dampen the Towel With Cold Water First
Putting a dry towel inside the microwave can have a rough and textured feeling.
So, make sure that you dampen and run it under cold water first before placing it inside the microwave.
NOTE: You just want your towels to be damp, not dripping wet. After running it under cool water, wring it properly to let go of excess water.
Never Go Too Long
A session of 30 to 45 seconds is more than enough to heat and warm it up. Going for 45 seconds can actually be too hot to the touch.
Make sure that you don’t put it in for more than 1 minute to avoid accidental burns.
Can You Put Paper Towels in the Oven?
No, it is never safe to put paper towels inside the oven no matter how safe you think it is.
Firefighter Insider says that paper materials burn at temperatures between 218 and 246 ⁰C.
That being said, all elements inside the oven can potentially heat up even greater than that and start a fire. The same thing goes for microwave ovens.
It is never safe to put paper products or materials inside the microwave oven because they can ignite and light up.
FAQs
I know, you could still be confused, or you might still have some questions about it.
Don’t fret, because I have here some of the most commonly asked questions on warming towels up inside your oven.
At What Temperature Will Paper Ignite in an Oven?
Paper burns and ignites at about 480 ⁰F or about 249 ⁰C.
And although this figure is not common for ovens, it can reach even higher than it, causing or starting a fire inside your machine.
How Do You Warm Up Towels Fast?
You can warm towels up fast by nuking them inside a microwave, ironing it, or by boiling them in water.
Never try putting towels inside the oven, especially if they are big fabrics because they will burn.
Read Next: Why Do My Towels Smell After Using Them?
Final Words
Can you warm a towel in the oven? No, but you can use a microwave oven to heat and warm it up safely.
So, if you’re on the hunt for the best, fastest, and safest ways of warming a towel up, going for the option of baking it in an oven isn’t the best idea.
Just make sure you follow the guidelines accurately to avoid burns and more importantly, accidents and fires.