Hard towels can easily be softened naturally with two simple ingredients (Image: Getty)
Towels can harden and become uncomfortable to touch when they are not washed correctly but do not throw them away, as there is a simple way to restore them in just one wash.
Tom Ceconi, an expert from has shared that often lose their softness if you them with fabric softener.
He said: “Using liquid fabric softener, which is oil- and petroleum-based and leaves a slick coating on towel fibres, making them less absorbent.”
Towels are super absorbent and fabric softener coats them in a thin waxy layer that the washing machine will not be able to rinse away properly.
Over time, this will cause soap to build up in the fabric, which can lead to them feeling greasy, stiff and still smelling musty even if you have just done a load.
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Both white vinegar and baking soda will naturally soften towels and make them fluffy again (Image: Getty)
However, there is an easy way to get your towels soft and fluffy once again, and all you need is two ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen cupboard.
Tom said: “You can restore your cotton towels with three simple steps using just baking soda and white vinegar.”
It may seem strange but white vinegar contains acetic acid which will neutralise any alkaline build-up from soapy detergents that make towels feel rough.
White vinegar will break down the soap residue and also remove any moisture trapped in the fabric to get rid of any musty smells.
Baking soda is the best natural way to break down any greasy residues. It will also dissolve any soap that white vinegar does not get rid of, helping make towels cleaner and softer.
If you use white vinegar and baking soda to restore your towels, you will need to do two washes. You cannot use them in the same wash cycle, as they will react to each other and reduce their effectiveness.
Do not use any fabric softener sheets if you put towels in the tumble dryer (Image: Getty)
How to wash towels to get them soft again
To begin, place your towels in the washing machine on a warm water cycle and pour some white vinegar into where you would normally add your fabric softener. Do not use fabric softener or laundry detergent.
Once the laundry is done, add only baking soda to the detergent drawer and put it on another wash.
When the second wash is done, hang your towels to dry or tumble dry them on a low heat setting in the dryer.
Do not use any fabric softener sheets, and if you can, add wool balls to the tumble dryer. This will also help fluff up your towels.
Tom said: “Wool dryer balls soften towels without the use of any chemicals. As we mentioned earlier, fabric softener and dryer sheets are to be avoided at all times, but especially with towels.
“These products leave a waxy build-up on your towels and in your machine that flatten fibres and minimize absorbency.”
After your towels have dried they should feel soft and fluffy once again without having to throw them away or use a harsh chemical solution.