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IMABARI, Ehime -- A towel manufacturer in this west Japan city known as the hub for quality towel production will launch a maintenance service for the fabric items and other similar products on May 9, claiming it as a "world first."

The goal of the service is to restore towels that are no longer absorbent, or have stains or bad smells by utilizing the washing and drying expertise of manufacturer Ikeuchi Organic that has focused on towel maintenance. The company wants to offer "sustainable" usage, where the towels retain their initial feel for five to 10 years.

The firm has been focusing on post-purchase maintenance under the registered trademark "towel doctor." It has also signed a contract with FC Imabari, a local soccer team in the J-League's third division, and has been providing towel maintenance services to individual players and others since the 2018 season.

The new service is offered for bath towels, terry-cloth blankets, bathrobes, and other products from the company, and costs 8,500 yen (about $66) including tax and return shipping per box which can contain up to about seven bath towels.

After identifying problems with the products, the company cleans them using washing machines and dryers for professional use, and returns the items within 14 days with a "medical record" describing improvements made, including the removal of fabric softener, black stains, mold, and sediments such as soap and synthetic detergents.

According to Keishi Ikeuchi, the company's representative, there are reasons for towel problems. The quality of towels drops as the use of fabric softener causes the fibers to repel water and lose absorbency. Other factors include insufficient water volume during washing which leaves detergent in the fabric, causing mold on the towel. In addition, bad smells can be caused by the buildup of oil from the skin and dirt.

The service provides maintenance tailored to each problem, using industrial washing machines that allow a choice of water volume, temperature, spin speed, and other features, and drying at the appropriate temperature to once again make towels fluffy.

"Towels are not expendable goods, but rather beloved items. We want to help as many people as possible use them for a long time," said Ikeuchi.

For inquiries, contact the company's public relations department at 03-6427-7870 (in Japanese).

(Japanese original by Nobuto Matsukura, Imabari Local Bureau)

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