Towels can be difficult to keep fluffy once the weather gets colder as most dryers are too harsh on the fabric but leaving them to hang can lead to them having a musty smell.
If you use too much fabric softener or detergent when washing towels then it can also damage them as the chemicals will build up in the material to make them much stiffer.
However, it is very easy to restore towels according to natural cleaning expert Nancy Birtwhistle, who has shared that the best way to get them soft again is by adding washing soda to the laundry.
In a video online, Nancy said: “Just two tablespoons of washing soda dissolved in hot water is fantastic because its natural [antibacterial] qualities will dissolve any grease and dirt, neutralise any odour, and soften the water in the washing machine.”
Washing soda can break down detergent or fabric softener which can cling to towels but will also soften the water in the washing machine as hard water with high levels of minerals will also cause towels to feel rough
It is often better to use washing soda to restore hard towels rather than use other natural remedies like vinegar or baking soda as it is more effective at getting rid of any build-up in the fabric due to how alkaline is it.
Washing soda, also called soda crystals, is a cheap natural product that can be found in the laundry aisle in most supermarkets, and at ASDA it only costs £2.
How to get towels fluffy again using washing soda
To begin, place the towels you wish to soften in the washing machine, but make sure not to overload the machine as they will need room to move around.
Add the two tablespoons of washing soda in the detergent drawer.
If the towels are particularly dirty then add one tablespoon of liquid soap to the drum of the machine, but do not add any fabric softener or detergent.
Place the washing machine on the normal cycle you use when washing your towels.
Once the time is up, do not place them in a dryer but instead, shake them vigorously before hanging them up to dry.
Nancy explained: “What do you do with towels to get them nice and fluffy? Now you can either put them in an expensive, energy-guzzling tumble dryer, which I don’t have.
“Or you can dry them outside, but if there’s no wind like today, they’re going to dry hard. So this is what you do. We do a workout and we give them a good shake.”
Nancy held one end of a towel and gave it a hard shake, then turned it upside down and repeated shaking them. This is a simple way to loosen the fabric in all directions to help fluff towels up.
Ideally, it is best to hang them outside to allow the wind to naturally fluff them up as well but it is fine to also hang them indoors.
After the towels have dried they should be fully restored to be soft and cosy once again.
