Households who wash towels urged to ditch 1 thing – ‘fluffier’

One common habit means your towels aren’t getting as fluffy, experts have warned. Nothing beats arriving in a hotel and getting to use a fluffy, soft towel. And people often wonder how they can recreate that magic at home. The first step they should take is ditching one common cleaning agent, cleaning experts have said. Although it might seem counterintuitive, it actually works wonders and makes perfect sense when you understand the science behind it.

Dr Primrose Freestone, associate professor in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, told consumer experts Which? why towels lose their fluffiness over time, and why ditching one thing can help to stop that happening, especially if you have just purchased new towels. “Most towels are made of cotton, which is a natural fibre composed of many tiny filaments,” she said. “What happens to these interlocking cotton filament structures during washing determines if your towels stay soft and fluffy, or if they feel hard and scratchy.”

She advises people to actually ditch the fabric softener when washing towels. Fabric softener is often used to give clothes a lasting, pleasant smell when they come out of the washing machine, but it shouldn’t be used for everything, the expert reveals.

“Detergent and fabric softener can, over time, deposit a waxy residue on the cotton fibres,” she explained.

“With repeat washing, most towels will lose their softness in the end, although Egyptian cotton towels (often more expensive) tend to stay softer for longer. This is because the cotton fibre layers are more concentric and ordered. However, there are ways to minimise hardening of all towel types.”

She revealed that towels are best washed at 40C with a bleach-based product. The coating which makes materials feel softer for a short time actually builds up over time and can harden.

That is because they usually contain silicones and ammonium compounds. Additionally, it will prevent the detergent from cleaning the fabric properly and block water from penetrating the fibres.

Which? explains that white vinegar can help dissolve the detergent and hard water deposits left on clothes and towels. They should be soaked in vinegar and rinsed before they are put into the washing machine, rather than the white vinegar being placed in the washing machine.

However, experts say there is not much point in trying to rescue towels that are too far gone. Instead, take better care of newer towels.