This household item most people have could work wonders in the washing machine – but only if you follow a specific set of instructions.
A mum has passed on a tip for making her towels fluffy and soft after cleaning – and it doesn’t include the well-known hack of white vinegar. The everyday items can become hardened after washing no matter if they are used in hotels or at home
The causes of the tough fabric can be caused by a build-up of detergent leaving some cleaning residue on the towels which then makes the fibres tough. Hard water, which contains calcium and magnesium, can also add to its rough texture and over-drying towels can damage the material.
The Express reports some people actually prefer rough, hard towels for their exfoliating properties and invigorating feel. And to restore towels back to their fluffy nature, some recommend using white vinegar, but one woman has other ideas.
Taking to Mumsnet, user Sunflower6 asked: “Has anyone got any tips on how to make towels soft again once they have gone hard? I tried washing without fabric conditioner but that hasn’t helped.”
User Wowfudge shared a solution that worked for her – soda crystals. She said: “Wash with soda crystals only in your machine – no washing powder or liquid – on a hot cotton wash, then tumble dry.
“Towels tend to go hard when they have washing powder/liquid residue in them. They should be washed at 60 degrees (or hotter).”
She further explained: “The soda crystals will clean the towels and break down the detergent deposits making them hard.
“Tumble dryer is optional, but it’s the best way of getting lovely soft and fluffy towels at home – you could always take them to the launderette to use the dryer there.
“I find line-dried towels go crisp – you can kind of soften them up (and someone I used to work with swore by ironing them to do so!), but it’s not the same.”
Talking about her experience of using white vinegar, the user said: “Some people recommend white vinegar in the machine as a substitute for fabric softener.
“I tried this once when I ran out of softener and it made everything smell like a chippy although I only used a small amount. I had to wash it all again.”
The Mirror reported earlier how Cassandra, a cleaning guru and the brains behind Frugal Family, pointed out that an excess of laundry detergent can also make towels feel less than cosy.
She explained: “The washing detergent you use to wash your towels can build up in the fibres of your towel and will gradually make your towels less fluff and more rough, and will mean that they’re not as absorbent as they once were.”
But don’t fret there’s a quick and straightforward method to restore your “cardboard” feeling towels to their former glory, using just two common kitchen staples.
She advised: “Non-fluffy towels are super easy to fix though and just need a couple of things you’ll probably already have in your kitchen store cupboard white vinegar and baking powder.”
