If your towels aren’t as soft and fluffy as those in a luxury hotel, and you’re left feeling scratchy after drying off, don’t lose hope. There’s a simple tweak to your laundry routine that can restore your towels to their cloud-like glory.
It’s not about the fabric, the detergent, or even the washing frequency. The real villain? A common laundry practice many of us swear by.
Plumbworld experts reveal that this straightforward error is robbing your towels of their softness and absorbency, leaving them stiff and coarse, far from hotel standards. To bring your towels back to their prime, all you need to do is abandon the fabric softener.
Fabric softeners contain silicone-based components designed to coat fabric fibres, providing clothes with a silky touch. However, this coating stops towels from effectively absorbing moisture and over time, the accumulation forms a waxy residue that makes towels feel rigid and significantly reduces their drying capacity, reports the Express.
Research has shown that towels washed with fabric softener can lose up to 25% of their absorbency after just a few washes. This build-up of residue can also trap dirt and bacteria, causing your towels to smell musty and unpleasant.
If you desire soft and fluffy towels, the first step is to ditch the softener and opt for a natural alternative instead. Try using white vinegar in place of the softener – around half a cup added to the rinse cycle should suffice.
The vinegar naturally breaks down detergent buildup, removes odours, and helps restore softness without leaving behind any residue. It also acts as a mild disinfectant, keeping towels fresher for longer.
The other recommendation is to use less detergent. Too much detergent can also cause buildup, making towels stiff. Stick to half the usual amount and opt for a mild, liquid detergent. Avoid powder detergents that can leave undissolved particles trapped in the fibres.
The way you wash your towels can make a difference too. Before placing towels in the dryer, give them a good shake. This helps to loosen the fibres, preventing them from clumping together and feeling stiff.
Dry them with dryer balls, and if you can, occasionally dry them on the line instead to maintain softness while preventing overheating damage.