Rough towels? Here’s how to make them soft and fluffy again!
After several washes, towels can often feel rough, which is not only less pleasant, but also takes the feeling of luxury and comfort out of your bathroom. Fortunately, there’s no reason to say goodbye to your favorite towels! With these simple tips, you can make those coarse, stiff towels wonderfully soft and smooth again.
Causes
First of all, it might be helpful to know how towels get rough. This is because it can be due to several reasons. The main causes are:
- Detergents and soap residue: If too much detergent or soap is left in the towel, it can weigh down the fibers, making them feel stiff and rough. This often occurs when using too much detergent or when not rinsing laundry enough.
- Hard water: In areas with hard water, the water contains many minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals can build up in the fibers of your towels, making them stiff and rough. Hard water can also lead to scale build-up in the washing machine, which reduces the effectiveness of detergent.
- Dryer settings that are too high: Repeatedly drying towels at too high a temperature can damage the fibers, making them feel rough and less fluffy. Overheating can also cause towel fibers to harden.
- Excessive washing: Towels that are washed too often, especially at high temperatures, can wear out faster. Repeated washing causes the fibers to become less flexible and the towel may lose its softness.
- Not drying properly: If towels are not dried properly (for example, by not putting them fully in the dryer or hanging them outside in a damp place), they may feel rough to the touch as they come in contact with moisture or mold, which attacks the fibers.
- Use of fabric softener: Although fabric softener helps soften towels in many cases, it can also have a side effect. Fabric softener can leave a thin layer on the fibers that accumulates, especially with frequent use, and this can reduce the towel’s absorbency, making them feel less fluffy.
Here’s what you can do about it
Anyway, now of course we want to know what we can do to make the towels feel nice and soft again. And hey, that’s simpler than you think! First, you can try to give your towels a good shake when they come out of the washing machine. If you want to dry them in the dryer, it is wise to put them in the dryer in small groups.
But note that even without a dryer, you can make sure your towels become silky smooth again. And believe it or not, this is exactly why you should not use fabric softener. This will prevent your towels from absorbing water, making them rough again faster. Got it?
Doesn’t any of the above tips work? Then you can also try throwing some vinegar in your washing machine and make sure there is space between the towels so they are not entangled in each other.
Source: Margriet | Image: Adobe Stock