Households across the UK often face the annoyance of harsh, scratchy towels. If you are tired of feeling as though you are scrubbing your entire body every time you step out of the shower, relief is at hand.
There is no need to invest in a complete set of new towels or spend heavily on costly fabric conditioners to restore them. All that is needed is adding one straightforward ingredient to your washing routine.
Why Fabric Softener Is a Mistake
When towels have lost their luxurious softness, the natural reaction might be to grab fabric softener, but that would be a mistake. Fabric softener can actually accumulate on towel fibres, leaving them feeling even stiffer and less comfortable.
Rather than shop-bought softeners, you can make your own solution that will restore your towels to their former condition.
How to Soften Towels Using Citric Acid
While many people recommend vinegar, there is another option worth trying. Citric acid can transform your towels back to their original state.
The approach is simple - just mix one heaped teaspoon of citric acid with 500ml of water. Dri-Pak Citric Acid can be bought from Ocado for £2.30 or £2.25 from B&Q.
Add this solution to your washing machine's fabric softener compartment. Do not include any other products, and run a hot wash cycle to remove mineral deposits that have built up in your towels.
Citric acid is not just excellent for softening towels - it will also refresh your whites. White towels and clothing can turn dull and grey with time, but citric acid can brighten them and bring back their original state.
Other Methods That Will Soften Hard Towels
Although citric acid can do wonders for softening towels, the real secret is abandoning the washing line altogether. If you happen to have a tumble dryer available, throw your towels in alongside a tennis ball - it will work wonders on the fibres, leaving them feeling virtually as good as new.
No tumble dryer? Do not worry. Give your towels a thorough shake both before and after washing to help loosen those fibres, which should leave them feeling noticeably softer against the skin.
