There is little more disappointing than the moment a soft, luxurious bath towel turns stiff and scratchy. This common household frustration can ruin the comfort of a post-bath ritual, leaving many to wonder where they went wrong with their laundry routine.
The Queen of Clean's Simple Solution
Thankfully, help is at hand from a leading British expert. Lynsey Crombie, renowned as the Queen of Clean and a regular on ITV's This Morning, has shared her remarkably simple method for restoring towels to their former fluffy glory. In a social media post that featured a satisfyingly high stack of soft towels, Lynsey declared, "Say goodbye to hard, scratchy towels."
Her advice is straightforward and can be implemented by anyone at home immediately. The core of her message is a fundamental switch in your washing routine: abandon fabric softener and replace it with white vinegar.
Why Your Towels Go Stiff and How to Fix It
According to the expert, the primary culprit behind stiff towels is product buildup. "Don't overuse product, the chemical build up can get stuck in the fibres," Lynsey advised, speaking to the Express. This waxy coating, created by accumulated detergent and fabric softener, prevents the towel fibres from absorbing water properly and makes them feel harsh against the skin.
White vinegar acts as a powerful, natural antidote. Being eco-friendly, it effectively cuts through grease, stains, and odours. Most importantly, it breaks down the laundry detergent residue that has built up on the towels, effectively acting as a natural fabric softener without the chemical coating.
For those concerned about the smell, Lynsey assures that the vinegar scent completely dissipates during the wash cycle, leaving your towels fresh and odour-free.
Putting the Advice into Practice
To achieve the best results, follow these steps from the Queen of Clean:
- Switch fabric conditioner for white vinegar in the rinse cycle, using approximately one cup.
- Use laundry liquid instead of powder, as powder doesn't always fully dissolve in newer, more water-efficient machines.
- When the wash is done, shake the towels as you take them out of the machine to help fluff up the fibres.
- If using a tumble dryer, opt for a low heat setting, as high heat can damage the delicate fibres.
The expert also issued a word of caution: do not use baking soda at the same time as white vinegar. This combination can trigger a vigorous chemical reaction that might cause the mixture to overflow from your machine. For a deep clean, it is best to run a wash cycle with just white vinegar, without any detergent or softener.
The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Followers of Lynsey Crombie have already tried the method with great success. One social media user commented, "My towels have been so much better since following your advice," while another added, "I use vinegar since I read your tips they come up lovely." A third simply stated, "White vinegar works so well."
