Cleaning enthusiasts have shared a simple hack to make towels super soft and fluffy without the need for a tumble dryer – and it’s all down to one natural ingredient
There’s little as irritating as enjoying a relaxing bath or shower and hopping out to a rough, scratchy towel. To avoid this, there’s one simple way to ensure your hard towels become soft again.
The majority of towels are crafted from cotton, a natural fibre composed of countless tiny filaments. What occurs to the cotton structures throughout the washing process determines whether your towels stay soft and fluffy or turn hard and scratchy.
Over time, it’s the detergents and fabric softeners that trigger the issue as they can deposit a waxy residue on the cotton fibres. Eventually, with repeated washes, most towels will inevitably lose their softness.
A tumble dryer can be tremendously helpful in achieving soft towels, but there are methods to soften this laundry item without one. Thankfully, one handy tip can save your towels.
With her options exhausted, cleaning enthusiast Susie Ford posted on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page seeking guidance. She posted in the Facebook page: “Hi, any tips on how to wash my towels to keep them soft and fluffy?
“I can’t use my tumble dryer at the moment, and they are now horrible and crispy!”. The vast majority of group members in the comments section praised adding white vinegar to the washing machine drawer – the compartment that you would typically add fabric conditioner to, reports the Express.
Donna Corbin said: “White vinegar in the conditioner drawer. Give them a good shake to lift the pile before hanging them to dry.”
Sarah Paylor wrote: “White vinegar as a softener. Hang out to dry, go out every so often and give them a good shake before hanging back up to finish drying.”
Maria Tuttle advised: “One cup of white vinegar in the fabric softener section of the detergent drawer at 40 degrees for super soft and fluffy results.”
Sue Mayor suggested: “White vinegar in the conditioner drawer section. I do this once a month.”
Using white vinegar has long been a savvy trick for keeping them plush and pristine. And you don’t have to worry about the potent scent associated with vinegar.
Simply add washing powder as usual, and then pour around 250ml of white distilled vinegar into the softener compartment. Set the cycle temperature or programme according to the towel label instructions.
This typically ranges from 30 to 40 degrees. You may want to opt for an extra rinse to ensure all washing powder and vinegar are removed.
Don’t fret if the towels still have a vinegar smell when coming out of the washing machine; this will disappear during drying. Once the washing machine cycle has concluded, remove the towels from the drum and give them a shake to fluff up the fibres.