How to make towels soft without a dryer – using only pantry essentials

Is there truly anything better than a spa-soft towel after getting out of a bath or shower?

All too often, however, towels end up hard, stiff, and scratchy from incorrect washing and drying methods which damage the fibers. While tumble dryer balls can work to re-fluff up these fibers, as someone without a dryer, I was keen to find alternative methods to refresh and revive my towels.

So, I asked professional cleaners and laundry experts for tips on keeping towels soft – even without a dryer.

How to make towels soft without a dryer

Why do towels become hard and scratchy?

'Towels can become hard from a variety of factors that occur during the washing cycle,' says Ken Doty, COO of The Maids. The most common are:

• Mineral buildup: Washing your towels in hard water can leave mineral deposits on the fibers, leading to them feeling stiffer as they accumulate.
• Detergent residue: Using too much detergent is a washing machine mistake to avoid, as excess causes buildup, reducing the absorbency of towels and making them feel stiff and scratchy.
• Using too much heat on a drying cycle: If you do have a tumble dryer, drying your towels on a heat setting that's too high can damage towel fibers and negatively impact the softness of the fibers. 'This can also be caused by using hot water during the washing cycle,' adds Doty.

How to make towels soft without a dryer

1. Wash with vinegar and baking soda

There are many things around the house you can clean with vinegar and clean with baking soda, and adding them to your laundry cycle can make your towels feel soft without a dryer and make towels last longer, too. Wondering how to use baking soda in laundry and how to wash towels with vinegar?

'A method that has been proven to regain softness and help prevent fibers from being damaged is to add one cup of white vinegar, along with half a cup of baking soda, to your wash, in either one or two full cycles,' says cleaning expert Doty. 'Do not use your detergent in this cycle.'

To try this method, we recommend using the bestselling ARM & HAMMER Pure Baking Soda, available at Walmart, along with the Great Value Distilled White Vinegar, available at Walmart, which, distilled to a 5% acidity, will also deodorize and sanitize your towels.

'Vinegar will break down the mineral deposits and detergent residue, while baking soda helps neutralize odor and soften the towel fibers,' explains Doty. You may also use half a cup of vinegar with a normal amount of detergent, 'though less is often better in this instance,' he adds. When doing so, make sure you know where to put vinegar in a washing machine, and when to add vinegar to laundry.

2. Dry with a fan

After mastering how to wash towels, the way you dry them can affect their softness, and get them feeling full, fresh, and fluffy again.

'The simplest way I can explain to people is that their towels become hard from over-processing,' says Justin Carpenter, founder of Jacksonville Maids. 'The best way to dry them is the same way that hairdressers make sure hair is soft, and dry the towels with a fan.

'First, whip the towels to loosen the fibers, then hang the towels and dry them with a fan using low to moderate speed.' Our guide to the best fans recommends the Shark FlexBreeze Pedestal & Tabletop Oscillating Fan with Remote available at Amazon as the best of the best, if your old fan needs replacing, or if you don't have one already. While there are many benefits of air-drying laundry outdoors, this should be done inside, using a clothes airer such as the Joseph Joseph Eclipse indoor clothes airer, which is perfect for small spaces, and available at Amazon.

If your towels still feel hard and scratchy, there are signs you need to replace your towels to look out for, such as a loss of absorbency, visible wear and tear, fading, or a crusty feel.

FAQs

How to hotels keep towels soft?

Hotels use specialized detergents to ensure their towels are soft and clean, which are specifically designed to clean dirt and oils while being soft on the fibers, much like washing towels with baking soda and vinegar.

Once yours are soft, learn how to roll towels for a spa-like, luxury look.

Next, learn why these are the towel colors to avoid in bathrooms, and what to buy instead.