Everyone loves the feeling of wrapping themselves up in a soft and fluffy towel after a lovely, relaxing shower or bath. But over time, towels can become scratchy and stiff which can make this feeling a lot less luxurious and more of a pain.
Luckily, you don’t have to suffer this with your towels, no matter how old they are. Molly Freshwater, Founder of Secret Linen Store, has shared her top expert tips for ensuring your bath towels stay luxuriously soft and fluffy all year round.
Less is more
Her first tip is to take it easy on the detergent.
High-quality bath towels should feel thick and indulgent; however, because of this, the detergent can be harder to remove during rinse cycles than other materials.
If you’re using too much, it will accumulate over time and may cause your towels to feel hard and stiff. Ensuring you’re using a gentle detergent is also important, as towels are made from natural fibres like cotton.
Harsh detergents can cause permanent damage to these fibres.
Detergent add-ins
Another tip is to add a dash of vinegar to the wash. To soften towels, try adding 250ml of white vinegar to your wash alongside your regular laundry liquid.
Just pour the vinegar directly into the drum before loading your towels, and start the cycle as usual. The vinegar works by breaking down any detergent residue or mineral build-up in the fibres, which can leave towels feeling rough.
It helps to restore softness and absorbency without harsh chemicals, leaving your towels fresh and cosy. Don’t worry about your towels smelling like vinegar – it will all be washed away, leaving just the smell of fresh, clean laundry.
Keep it cool
Temperature is also key to keeping towels soft. It can be tempting to put your laundry on hot to get them extra squeaky clean but this can actually make them stiff.
Like harsh detergents, hot water can strip the natural fibres of their softness, leaving them rough and less absorbent. To keep them fresh and soft, Molly recommends washing your towels at a cooler temperature, between 30 and 40 degrees.
Give them space
Even if it is easier to just chuck all the towels in the same wash, this can actually make them crispy and won’t get them properly clean.
When there are too many towels in the machine, the detergent and fabric conditioner can’t rinse out properly. For the best results, try washing your towels in smaller loads.
This way, the detergent gets a chance to properly rinse out, leaving your towels feeling soft, fluffy, and ready to use after every wash
Keep it natural
A tumble dryer can be your best friend when it comes to towels, but it could also be making them feel stiff and scratchy. For that perfectly soft feel, use a low heat setting and remove them while they’re still slightly damp before hanging them up outside.
Alternatively, embrace the power of nature and hang them outside on a breezy day. The wind acts as a natural agitator, keeping those fibres wonderfully soft.
Shake it out
Want to keep your towels super soft and absorbent? Give them a good shake both before and after drying, whether they’re going into the tumble dryer or onto the clothesline.
This simple step helps to loosen the fibres and encourages better airflow, leading to softer results. Once they’re dry, another shake will prevent stiffness and maintain their beautiful fluffiness.
Store them smartly
How you store your towels can make a big difference to their softness. Folding them too tightly or burying them under heavy stacks can flatten the fibres, making them feel stiff over time.
To preserve their delightful softness and absorbency, store them loosely with enough space for air to circulate. This simple storage tip helps them maintain their fluffiness and keeps them feeling fresh for longer.
