After several washings, towels frequently lose their suppleness. Towels are crucial for maintaining household cleanliness and hygienic conditions. Over time, towels become gritty and rough, making them challenging to use.

Why do towels get stiff?

Towels can get stiff due to the shedding of small fabric particles called lint. Towels also get stiff and hard over time due to detergent residue that remains on the towel too. Minerals bind to fibers, making them rigid. Improper drying can also lead to stiff towels as staying damp for too long can also cause stiffness. Fabric softener makes towels soft but can also cause lint.

The chemicals in softeners make fibers cling together, leading to more lint. Try using a lint-reducing fabric softener, or look for other options. The chemicals in softeners make fibers cling together, leading to more lint. Try using a lint-reducing fabric softener, or look for other options.

Here are some natural tips to keep your home’s towels soft:

Wash your light and dark towels separately

To keep your towels in the best condition, separate your towel laundry from dark towels to light-colour towels. This helps maintain the colour of your towel.

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Use warm  water to wash

You can use warm water to wash your towels, as it will help to soften up the fibers in the towel. Warm water also helps remove stains from towels and clean them

Tumble dry

To restore absorbency and fluff the fibres, it is preferable to tumble dry towels on a low or medium heat setting. Avoid the towels shrinking or becoming stiff by staying away from using a high heat setting. To ensure that your towels dry completely, it is ideal to hang them in a well-ventilated place if you choose to air dry them.

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Use baking soda or vinegar

Natural fabric softeners include vinegar and baking soda. To freshen your towels and get rid of detergent residue, add half a cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle. In contrast, baking soda breaks down minerals to neutralise odours and maintain the fluff of fibers.

For best results, use them separately in different wash cycles. These eco-friendly laundry solutions not only maintain towel softness but also protect sensitive skin from harsh chemicals found in commercial fabric softeners.

Don’t use fabric softeners

The most common way to soften towels is by using a liquid fabric softener. However, this can actually make your towels feel stiff and scratchy. The residue left behind by the fabric softener will cause your towel to become stiffer over time

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Keeping towels clean and soft can be a tricky process as the solutions often used such as fabric softener liquids have the opposite effect on the overall softness of towels.

Natural solutions work such as baking soda and vinegar soften microfibers and remove detergent residue from the towel fiber. Follow these effective measures to maintain the softness of your towels.

ALSO SEE: SIX SIGNS YOU NEED TO REPLACE YOUR TOWELS

6 signs you need to replace your towels

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