There is nothing like stepping out of a hot shower and wrapping yourself in a fluffy towel, but it can be annoying if the fabric begins to feel scratchy and stiff to the touch.
Towels lose their soft texture if you add too much fabric softener to the washing machine as the residue will begin to build up in the fibres.
This causes towels but have that rough cardboard feeling and makes them much less absorbent and will not go away no matter how many times you wash them.
Luckily Liz Eichholz, a cleaning expert and co-founder of Weezie Towels, has shared that a simple laundry technique to restore towels is to use kitchen white vinegar.
Liz said: “You might notice that we recommend vinegar often when it comes to taking care of your towels. Versatile and affordable, it really is a game changer for many household tasks.”
Why use vinegar in your towel laundry?
It may seem strange, but vinegar can revive towels to make them soft and fluffy again as it contains acetic acid.
This natural acid can break up the detergents and soap residue that has become built up in the towel fabric.
Vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener to restore the towels without having to spend lots of money or use harsh chemicals.
Liz said: “Utilising vinegar as part of your towel care routine is incredibly effective, but it’s also environmentally friendly, nontoxic, and cost-effective.
“It works as a natural alternative to commercial fabric softeners, which often contain chemicals that can harm your towels and the environment.”
How to use vinegar to make towels fluffy again
To begin, fill a bathtub or basin with hot water and nothing else, then add your towels. Leave the towels to soak for at least 30 minutes but preferably longer.
Liz said: “This will help eliminate any existing residue that might be lurking in the fibers of your towels, so you can start from a clean slate with the vinegar treatment.”
Once the towels have been soaked, place them in the washing machine and add one cup (around 240g) to the detergent drawer.
Place the towels in a rinse cycle, and once the wash is complete run an additional rinse cycle to ensure the vinegar has been washed up.
When it comes to drying the towels place them in the dryer on a low heat or hang them like normal on a clothesline outside.
If using the dryer do not add any dryer sheets as this can also cause towels so become scratchy.
Liz said: “Dryer sheets contain a softening agent that can cause buildup on your towels over time, making them less absorbent.
“Instead of dryer sheets, try using a dryer ball. You can add your favourite essential oil to the dryer ball prior to use (make sure you let it dry completely), leaving your clothes soft and fragrant without any residue.”
Once the towels have dried they should now be restored back to their normal soft texture and feel brand new.
Liz said: “You’ll be amazed at how soft and fluffy they feel!”
