The softness of a bath towel helps to pamper your skin after a shower. However, in reality, the softness of the towel diminishes over time, and the cheaper the towel, the faster it becomes stiff. With this towel washing method, the item remains soft and fluffy even after a year of use, just like the towels at a 5-star hotel.
Add a little vinegar each time you wash
Using too much detergent and fabric softener gradually reduces the softness and smoothness of the towel due to the excess chemical residue clinging to the fibers. Adding a little vinegar (about one cup) to each wash helps remove these residues, restoring the natural softness of the towels.
You can also change the way you wash your towels by using vinegar instead of soap or detergent. You can pour vinegar directly onto the towels before starting the washing machine.
Reduce the amount of detergent and fabric softener
As mentioned above, excess detergent and fabric softener residue can cause the towels to become stiff. Therefore, when washing bath towels, you should only use a sufficient amount of detergent and fabric softener, less than the recommended amount for regular laundry. Do not wash bath towels with heavily soiled items as this requires more detergent, which can cause the towels to fade and lose their fragrance.
Do not overload the washing machine
If the washing machine is too full, the laundry will become crumpled, and in the case of towels, they will become stiff and coarse. Remember that a gentle washing method for towels is to make sure that the amount of laundry is less than the machine’s recommended weight. Do not use heat to dry the towels; instead, let them dry naturally in the sun and wind.
Use baking soda
Baking soda also has a cleansing and softening effect similar to vinegar, and it can also eliminate odors. You can add a cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle of the washing machine. Even if you have washed the towels with vinegar, you can enhance the effect by washing them again with baking soda (pouring baking soda on top of the towels and starting the washing machine).
Use dryer balls
The movement of the dryer balls in the dryer helps to make the bath towels fluffy and soft. Dryer balls improve the airflow during drying and reduce static electricity, helping to maintain the softness and smoothness of the towels for a longer period. You can also roll up pieces of wool into round balls for this purpose.
Try these tips for washing your bath towels to keep them soft and luxurious. While they may not stay as plush as brand new towels forever, they will certainly provide you with a longer period of enjoyable use.
Things to note when washing bath towels:
Hang the towels up to dry after use, and hang them in a way that allows them to dry quickly. It is best to hang them with one end short and one end long. Avoid leaving towels in baskets or in places with poor air circulation, as they can become damp, moldy, and develop unpleasant odors.
Do not use an excessive amount of soap to wash the towels, especially with water-saving washing machines, as they may not be able to rinse out all the soap residue.
If you use too much fabric softener, it will have the opposite effect and make the fabric fibers dry and stiff.
Wash the towels with cold water instead of warm water. Cold water does not fade the color of the fabric, does not alter the fiber structure, and helps to easily remove dirt stains.
Source: Xe và thể thao (translated)