Hard towels will turn soft and fluffy after the first wash when you use 1 natural item
If your towels have been feeling more like sandpaper than spa-worthy, you're not alone, and the fix might be sitting in your kitchen cupboards, says a cleaning influencer.
Wrapping up in a soft, fluffy towel from the shower is a comforting experience. However, hard water, friction, and constant contact with oil and dirt can degrade the fabric, leaving towels rough and stiff over time. Restoring your towels to their initial softness might seem challenging, but it turns out that the laundry solution is surprisingly simple, according to cleaning influencer @home.with.leanne.
Leanne pointed out, “Your towels aren’t old; you’re just washing them wrong.” She shared how one basic ingredient transformed her towels “from stiff and scratchy to soft, fluffy, hotel-level again”. The same humble ingredient you use for baking cakes can work wonders in the washing machine – baking soda. It has multiple uses as a household staple, acting as everything from a stain remover, odour neutraliser and drain unclogger to a towel fluffer.
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To achieve the best results, simply add approximately half a cup of baking soda, which is also referred to as bicarbonate of soda, directly into the drum of your washing machine with your towels.
As mentioned in the video, this method helps to break down the tough detergent residue that accumulates over time, making your towels feel less stiff and more fluffy.
It turns out that using more detergent doesn’t necessarily lead to cleaner towels. In fact, applying too much can have the opposite effect. Excess soap may not rinse out completely, particularly in thick materials like towels.
Instead, it tends to cling to the fibres, resulting in that undesirable crunchy texture. The popular tip recommends halving your usual detergent amount, which is often sufficient to clean towels effectively anyway.
The best part about this hack is how simple it is to follow. You don’t need any fancy products or complicated steps. Just throw your towels in, add some baking soda, and run a warm wash cycle.
Another important aspect of this method? Washing towels at the appropriate temperature, which Leanne claims to be 40C.
Warm water strikes the perfect balance, as it’s hot enough to clean thoroughly and eliminate oils and residues, yet gentle enough to safeguard the fibres from damage.
Over time, this approach helps preserve that soft, fluffy feel instead of wearing the towels down.
Those who have tried this technique report that the results are immediately noticeable. Towels emerge softer and with a fresher scent, almost as if they’ve been transformed into hotel-quality linens overnight. "Such a good and low tox hack, and nothing better than a fluffy, soft, white bath towel."
