10 December 2023 , 09:06
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No matter how much you've paid for your towels, they all inevitably harden and go stiff at some point after going in the washing machine - but you can instantly soften them again with this mum's 10-minute tip.
Towels can often feel stiff and crunchy after they've been washed, due to residue from hard water, dirt - or even fabric softener. This is a mistake many make, thinking the detergent will help soften the towels, when in reality it doesn't work well with towels as it can create a problematic coating on the fibres.
They can make even the most high-quality towels uncomfortable to use. In order to combat this, some people add white vinegar to their washing load, as the acidic properties can strip the towel of any build-up. However, this doesn't always work and means you potentially have to fork out a lot of money on white vinegar.
So a mum has shared her 10-minute trick to make her towels fluffy and soft - without using anything extra at all. Taking to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group, the woman answered another group member's question about her "cardboard towel" problem. She said: "Even though I use white vinegar to wash my towels I find the the only way to instantly soften them is to tumble dry them. So quick and easy. Takes just 10 minutes."
Other fans of the Instagram cleaning sensation Sophie Hinchliffe also agreed that the tumble dryer is the best way to instantly soften them. Another wrote: "You shouldn't use softener with towels. Although they smell amazing, they give the fibres a coat that makes them more water-resistant. Tumble drying I find is the only way to get them soft."
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A third commented: "Tumble dryer is the only way," while a fourth added: "I've started drying my laundry on the airer then putting it in the dryer for 10 minutes. I've ditched the fabric softener and my towels have never been so soft." Another agreed: "I put them in the dryer for 10 minutes. When I take them out they're so fluffy."
According to laundry brand Lenor, the "best way to make your towels fluffier is by placing them inside your tumble dryer right after the wash". You should also make sure there's enough space in the dryer for the items to freely move around. It's also important to use a lower heat and slower speed settings, which will help prevent damage to the fibres of the bold. If you take them out and find they are stiff, you can runt hem through the cycle again, using a dryer-sage ball, such as a tennis ball. According to the brand, the repetitive action of the circulating ball will help "gradually soften up these stiff spots".