How to Care For Your Hot Towel Cabinet

Hot towel cabinets are one of those pieces of esthetic equipment we don’t think about very much. It’s unusual to have one break, but they often suffer from benign neglect, especially in a spa environment where they are used by several therapists who share a treatment room.

Here are some quick towel warmer tips

Clean your towel warmer frequently: It’s important to thoroughly wipe the inside clean, especially if you heat products in your towel warmer or if you use essential oils on your towels. If you spill something, attend to it promptly – it’s way more difficult to clean anything after it has been baked on!

• Remove the rack and wipe it clean, and wipe the inside of the cabi.
• Pay particular attention to the rubber gaskets that seal the doors – pull them away from the metal, and wipe up any debris. This is like cleaning a fridge – it’s amazing what gets trapped in there!
• Empty the drip tray and wipe it clean. The drip tray is underneath the cabi, and pulls out completely. Lots of esties don’t even know that the drip tray exists …. so {blech} it’s amazing what you’ll find there as well!
• Wipe the outside and finish by disinfecting all surfaces; if you are finished for the day, leave the cabi door open to allow it to air out. In some spas you’ll be asked to leave the drip tray outside the cabi as a sign that it has been cleaned.

Maintenance: Every so often you should check that the screws that hold the cabinet together are still tight. The vibration from opening and closing the door can loosen the screws – if they fall out the cabi will begin to fall apart. You can see the screws behind the rubber gaskets; they tighten easily with a small screwdriver that has a very short handle.
If your cabi is getting old it is possible that the on-off switch might stop working. These can be replaced, though it is not a do-it-yourself job. Your local small appliance repair shop might be able to help.

Occasionally, you might find that the door cracks. This is usually because someone bumps into the hot towel cabinet door when it is open. Some manufacturers may be able to sell you a replacement door for your model. Again, it isn’t really a do-it-yourself job, unless you are handy. Pay particular attention to keeping the door hinge arm from falling into the body of the cabi when you remove the door – you’ll have to disassemble the entire thing if it falls into the body of the cabi!

Sanitation: A final note – don’t rely on the UV light inside! A hot towel cabi is a perfect incubator – warm, dark and damp. Never leave unused towels in it overnight – all sorts of things relish the opportunity to grow in such a hospitable environment. Not all cabis have a UV light; if yours does you should regard it only as decorative – it certainly can’t kill bacteria on the inside of a rolled towel – and doesn’t meet any state board requirements for disinfectation.

Use your cabi well and often – there are few things that make clients sigh with pleasure more than an artfully applied hot towel!