Towels often become hard and scratchy over time if they have been washed too harshly, but you can easily soften them once again with just one household item.
Old towels become stuff due to a build-up of soap residue, body oils, and other particles in the fabric which often happens if too many towels have been stuffed into the washing machine or too much fabric softener has been used.
Luckily, fans of Sophie Hinchliffe, Britain’s most popular cleaner who goes by ‘Mrs Hitch’ have recently shared there is a simple cleaning method to revive towels to make them feel “brand new” with just one wash.
On the Facebook group, ‘Mrs Hitch’s Cleaning Hacks’ one frustrated user recently asked: “How do people wash and dry towels to keep them soft and fluffy?”
It turns out the solution is simple white vinegar you put on your times, and likely already have stored somewhere in your kitchen.
One user said: “Use white vinegar instead of fabric conditioner. Gives fluffy, soft towels.”
Another person said: “White vinegar instead of conditioner! Really makes your towels fluffy again.”
Someone else commented: “I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle. It takes out any residue left in your towels and fluffs them up. If you use this method you’ll have no more crunchy towels.
“It’s amazing and the cheapest product I’ve found to restore them.”
Vinegar contains acetic aid, which naturally breaks down and dissolves any residue in your towels but it is very effective at getting rid of fabric softener buildup as they tend to be alkaline.
The acidic nature of vinegar helps balance the pH of the fabric which also leaves them feeling incredibly soft and also removes odours.
All you have to do is place any hardened towels in the washing machine and put on a normal wash, but use white vinegar in the detergent drawer instead of fabric softener.
Make sure to run a hot water laundry cycle as the heat helps open up the fibres to help the vinegar penetrate.
Once the wash is done take them out of the washing machine and place them in the dryer on a low to medium heat setting.
If your towels still feel hard, you can run a second laundry cycle and add baking soda to the detergent drawer, which should remove any remaining residue.
Your towels will be soft and fluffy once again, making them much more comfortable and absorbent when using them.