Laundry expert shares big mistake leading to 'stiff' towels – but 3 steps can make them fluffy – The Mirror
One big mistake people often make with their bathroom towels is making them ‘stiff’, according to a laundry expert – but three simple steps can make them fluffy again
You're making a huge mistake with your towels, and it's making them 'stiff'.
We all know how important it is to make sure we're regularly washing our bathroom towels, but did you know there's one mistake many of us make that takes the fluffiness out of them? According to a laundry expert, most of us don't wash our towels correctly and it means that instead of drying off with nice fluffy towels, we're forced to use fabric that's become stiff and rough over time, leading to a much less pleasant experience.
So, what mistake are we making? Allen Civlak, a laundry expert and CEO of Mary's Kitchen Flour Sack Towels, claimed that it's all down to how much detergent we use.
The cleaning guru said: "The average towel lasts for two to five years, depending on the quality of the towel, how often it's used, and how it's cared for. Washing towels properly can extend their lifespan, allowing you to enjoy their spa-like softness and absorbency for much longer."
Allen explained that people often believe using more detergent means cleaner towels, but that's actually a misconception – and we shouldn't be overdoing it. The expert said using too much can "worsen your towels by leaving behind a residue that makes them stiff and less absorbent".
Cutting back on how much detergent is one way you can help restore the fluffiness to your towels, but there are two other steps you should be mindful of too – the temperature you set your wash to, and your choice of fabric softener.
The expert said towels don't do well at colder temperatures, so you should avoid washing them with other fabrics that you can wash at 30°C. For towels, you should be aiming for a 60°C wash, and a "medium heat setting" in the tumble dryer. Allen said: "Hot water, typically around 60°C, is more effective at killing bacteria and removing body oils trapped in towel fibres. To avoid damaging fibres, opt for a medium heat setting or fluff cycle when drying."
And when it comes to fabric softener, Allen explained we should never use the product on towels. Fabric softener doesn't coat towel fibres in the way it does other fabrics, so it doesn't have the desired effect. Instead, you should "embrace the natural texture of clean towels".
To help give your towels some "extra fluffiness", however, you can try adding half a cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle. Allen said: "Treat your towels to a hot wash with white vinegar every few months to remove detergent buildup and keep them smelling fresh."
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