While many may be familiar with the recommendation of using a cup of white vinegar to help soften towels in the wash, what about when it comes to drying them? Some people swear by using a tumble dryer, but in some cases, the towels can still come out feeling like sandpaper.
According to experts at the Secret Linen Store, there is one item you can add to the tumble dryer drum that will help to soften towel fibres. “Use dryer balls,” the experts suggested, adding that even “a tennis ball will do” to help the towels come out of the machine feeling lovely and soft. While tumble dryers “can be a big help in the pursuit of soft towels”, if towels are over-dried, the fibres will likely stick together and become rough in texture.
This is why the experts advise “hanging your towels out to dry and then bung them in for a 20-minute tumble, preferably on a cool setting”.
The experts elaborated: “This will help agitate the fibres, stopping them from sticking together, which will result in softer towels.”
However, you must avoid overloading the washing machine or tumble dryer with towels when doing your laundry.
“It’s tempting to stuff all the family’s bath towels in the wash at once, but this won’t help with softness or cleanliness,” the experts noted.
“If there are too many towels in the wash, laundry detergents and fabric conditioners will not rinse out properly, leaving a build up over time which dries and goes hard.”
And when it comes to drying the wet towels, whatever you do, do not place them on a radiator to dry as “this only leads to over-drying and crusty towels”.
If the weather is good, and you have access to a garden, hanging the towels outside is one of the best methods for achieving soft towels.
This is because “the wind will help them move, which agitates the fibres, just like a tumble in a dryer would”.
Other ways to soften towels
- Use the recommended amount of detergent advised on the back of the packaging
- Don’t overdo the fabric conditioner
- Wash towels in 30C or 40C
If you adopt these washing and drying tips into your routine, “you will see improvements over a couple of washes”.
The experts urged that if you do wish to get brand new towels, you should follow these tips “right from the start.”
They added: “Treat your towels right from the start, and you will be blessed with soft cuddles from your towels for years to come.”