No matter how expensive the towels are, with time they tend to get worn out quite easily. It is quite a bummer especially if you are someone who takes special care of your things. It is not impossible to get hotel-like soft and fluffy towels, all you need to do is to learn the right way of washing and drying. towels get rough and flat if they are not washed correctly. Here is how you can keep the towels soft for a long time.
Use less detergent
Towels soak in detergent and water and easily. Therefore, if you use a lot of detergents, the towel will soak it up and chemicals will make it stiff. It is better to use less than recommended detergent. So that during the rinse cycle of the machine, all the detergent is easily washed off. When there will be no residue, the chemicals won’t stay either and the towels will maintain their original softness and shape.
Wash in warm water
It is better to wash the towels in warmer water. Around body temperature will be the ideal temperature to clean the towels without being too harsh. Warm water dissolves the detergent perfectly, hence it doesn’t build up on the towels. Otherwise, you can first add the detergent, let it dissolve completely, and then add the towels. However, this might not be possible in front load washers therefore, temperature setting will be much more practical.
Use vinegar instead of fabric softener
Fabric softeners contain silicon which makes the towels water repellent. Not only it affects the whole purpose of a towel, rather it won’t allow as good a wash either. Instead of fabric softeners, use one cup of white vinegar to keep the towels soft. Every six weeks after a regular wash cycle, add vinegar and run another cycle. It will make the towels soft by removing all the soapy residue and cleaning them thoroughly.
Use baking soda
Similarly, Baking soda is a great product as well to use in the washing of towels. It will help to loosen up the fibers and get rid of any chemical build-up. Just mix half a cup of baking soda with your detergent while washing. Additionally, baking soda is also a great remedy to eliminate any musty odors that build up in towels. Usually when the damp towel is left in the gym bag or left in a pile on the bathroom floor.
Keep the load light
Try to keep the load in the washer and the spinner lighter than usual when washing towels. There will be more space for the towels to move around and all the detergent will rinse out properly. Similarly, in the dryer, there will be space for the air to pass easily. An overloaded dryer will give stiff and matted towels instead of soft and fluffy ones.
Tennis ball in the dryer
Tossing in 2 or 3 tennis balls in the dryer is an excellent hack to keep the towels soft and fluffy. It removes the lumps and softens up the towels. This way the towels also get the fluff.
Prefer air drying
Try to air dry the towels instead of tumble drying. Or if you absolutely have to tumble dry them then choose lower temperature settings. The high temperature of the dryers can ruin the towels. You can also air dry a bit and then tumble dry. As for the line drying, make sure they are not left out in the sun for too long. Moreover, you can put them in the dryer for added fluffiness after line drying.
