Soften hard towels and get them fluffy by adding 2 natural items to your washing machine

Nothing is worse than reaching for a towel only to realise it is hard and rough to touch, but towels can become extremely uncomfortable if they are not washed properly.

The biggest mistake people make when washing towels is using too much fabric softener in their , as they are super absorbent, and soap can easily build up in the fibres.

Using too much fabric softener and then overloading your laundry will not give towels a chance to rinse off the residue, which causes the fibres to clump together and stiffen. 

However, there is no need to throw away any raggedy towels, as Cass, the founder of , has shared that you can restore towels by deep them with two simple ingredients.

She said: “Non-fluffy towels are super easy to fix though and just need a couple of things you’ll probably already have in your kitchen storecupboard – and .

How does it work? 

It may seem strange, but white vinegar contains acetic acid, which can break down the soapy residue, hard water minerals, and bacteria on towel fabric to make it soft again. 

What is fantastic about white vinegar is that not only does it remove any build-up on the fabric, but it is also a natural fabric softener and will relax and fluff up fibres. 

Baking soda is abrasive, which means it can help break down any soap coating the towels. It is also a natural alkaline, which means it will balance the pH levels to restore towel softness. 

White vinegar and baking soda are cheap, soft, and environmentally friendly ways to fix towels, but it is important not to mix the two ingredients together, as this will reduce their effectiveness. 

For the best results, you will need to do two separate washes, but your towels will be completely restored and softened. 

How to wash towels to make them fluffy again 

Gather any rough towels and place them in the washing machine. Make sure to only wash these towels to avoid overloading the drum. 

Pour 120ml of white vinegar into the detergent drawer and place the washing washing on the highest temperature.

If possible, place it on a 90C wash and make sure not to add any laundry detergent or fabric softener to your towel wash. 

Cass said: “The first thing to do if you have towels already in this state is to do a towel refresh wash which is basically a high-temperature wash that will strip off all of the layers of product from the fibres of the towels so when they’re dry they’ll be fluffy once again.”

Once the laundry has finished, do another wash cycle, but this time, add baking soda to your washing machine drawer. Again, wash at a high temperature. 

After both washes are done, hang them outside for the best results. A windy breeze will also fluff up your towels. However, if you need to dry them inside, like in a tumble dryer, place them on a low heat.

Cass said, “Dry outside on a windy day. It’s really important that you do this or at the very least pop them in your tumble dryer if you have to, but if you put them over the radiator or your indoor dryer, then they’re not going to dry as soft.”

Your towels should now be fluffed, soft and feel amazing without having to wash them with harsh chemicals.