How to Soften Towels (4 Tested Tips)

how to wash towels so they are soft

The life of a towel is really hard.

Just think – all of that detergent, softener and rough use, and then at the end of the day, they’re moping the floor and being rolled around like a football. Not to mention those occasional hair oils and stickiness that get stuck to towels like a magnet. Even the best fluffy, squishy, cloudy towels need some TLC once in a while in order to be their best.

Ways to Make Your Towels Soft Again

The single question that keeps on reappearing in every towel user’s mind is, how do I keep my towel soft and fluffy? Here we have enlisted some of the ways in which you can keep your towels feeling soft as new.

best way to wash towels to keep them soft

1. Lower the amount of detergent

The type of detergent you’re using is very important. Using generic laundry detergent will result in the improper cleaning of your towels. To achieve the best result, invest in towel detergents that is specifically designed for towels. These sorts of detergents keep towels soft and plush. However, keep the proportion of detergent small so that it gets rinsed completely without any residue. For white towels, use non-chlorine bleach if necessary.

2. Warm water is preferred over cool water

The temperature of the water matters when you are cleaning dirty towels. Experts say that at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, most germs and microorganisms can be killed. When washing towels in the washing machine, wash on hot or sanitize to ensure proper cleaning of the towel. 

3. Use vinegar in place of fabric softeners

Avoid using fabric softener or any chemicals that make a towel smell fresh. Remember, these chemicals clog the pores of towels, which attract dust and debris. This blocks the towel’s ability to absorb liquid. Basically, it hampers all the purposes of using a towel.

However, if you really want something extra, you can add 1/4th cup of white vinegar to the washing machine to set the color of the towel and help remove any excess detergent residue. This will bring back the suppleness of the towel while restoring its full absorbency.

Remember that this vinegar cleaning method is only applicable for an occasional treatment (preferably every 6 weeks); it is not a replacement for a regular cleaning method.

4. Keep the load light

Don’t put too many towels into the wash in one go. This will not only stress the machine but also hinder space for each towel to wash out all of the dirt, grime, and detergent. The same thing is applicable to the dryer when you overload it: the dryer struggles to fluff each and every towel equally. Thus, you will end up with a matted, hard, and stiff towel in place of the fluffy, soft towel that you need. So, lower the load to let the towels breathe. Phew!

Final Words

There are some solutions to keep your towel soft and squishy. Follow the steps, refrain from using in excess (such as adding few more tablespoons of detergent, a heaping spoon of fabric softener, etc.), and you will find that your towels remain fluffy for a long period of time.