Towels inevitably lose their softness over time, becoming hard and scratchy due to repeated washing. Consumer champion Which? has investigated the science behind this common problem and suggests a simple vinegar soak may help restore fluffiness.
Dr Primrose Freestone, associate professor in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, explained that detergents and fabric softeners leave waxy residues on cotton fibres. Egyptian cotton towels tend to stay softer longer due to their more ordered fibre structure, but eventually all towels decline.
Which? laundry editor Victoria Purcell tested a remedy: soaking towels in two litres of white vinegar for an hour, then rinsing and washing at 40°C without detergent or softener. After vigorous shaking and drying on a heated airer, she found the towels were softer, though ‘not new-towel soft’. A 35p bottle of distilled vinegar from Aldi is sufficient for the soak.
However, Which? warns never to add vinegar directly to the washing machine, as it can corrode rubber and plastic parts. The method may also be ineffective if towels are too old or poor quality.
If towels are beyond revival, Which? recommends repurposing them as cleaning rags or donating to textile recycling facilities, rather than throwing them away.
