Hard, scratchy towels can be softened at home with a simple kitchen ingredient — citric acid — rather than vinegar or shop-bought fabric softener. A mixture of one heaped teaspoon of citric acid dissolved in 500ml of water, added to the washing machine's fabric softener compartment, strips away the mineral deposits that make towels stiff.
Why fabric softener makes towels worse
When towels lose their soft, fluffy feel, reaching for fabric softener is tempting — but that can backfire. Fabric softener builds up on towel fibres, leaving them feeling even stiffer and more uncomfortable.
Instead of commercial softeners, a homemade citric acid solution can bring towels back to life, according to the Liverpool Echo.
How to use citric acid to soften towels
The process is simple: mix one heaped teaspoon of citric acid with 500ml of water. Add the mixture to the washing machine's fabric softener compartment, use no other products, and run a hot wash cycle to remove the mineral deposits that have built up in the towels.
Citric acid does more than soften — it also revives whites. White towels and clothing that have turned dull or grey over time can be brightened and restored to their original colour.
Other ways to fix hard, scratchy towels
Although citric acid works well, the real secret is skipping the washing line. If a tumble dryer is available, throwing towels in with a tennis ball works wonders on the fibres, leaving them feeling nearly as good as new.
For those without a tumble dryer, giving towels a vigorous shake both before and after washing helps loosen the fibres, leaving them noticeably softer against the skin.
