Did you know baking soda can help to take your towels from scratchy mediocrity back to fluffy perfection? (That is, of course, for all parts except the dobby border – the name given to the non-fluffy stripe on the edge of your towels).
But recently, I spotted a warning on the label of my towel which taught me my current laundry practices might accidentally be making them less absorbent.
The tab reads: “Using too much fabric conditioner can reduce absorbency.”
And it turns out, that’s true.
Why does fabric softener make towels less absorbent?
Speaking to Martha Stewart’s site, Victoria Greene, founder of organisation business Meet Your Neat, was pretty unequivocal. “Your towels are not meant to be washed with any fabric softener,” she said, because it “will take away the towels’ ability to absorb water”.
That’s because of how fabric softener works.
It doesn’t actually directly soften the fibres of fabric itself. Instead, it coats their fibres in a thin, lubricating layer, which prevents water from breaking apart bonds in the fabric.
When these links are disrupted, wrinkles and stiffness can occur. So, the less rigid feeling you might associate with fabric softener is mostly down to this film.
But when it comes to towels, this sometimes-useful layer can pose a structural problem.
Over time, it leaves a “waxy”, water-repellent layer on their surface, which can make them feel stiff and even greasy.
Add this to the body products and hard water residue that naturally settles in the material, and it’s no wonder the addition can make towels less absorbent over time.
How should I wash my towels to keep them soft and fluffy?
Try using a bit less detergent than you think, and make sure you place your towels in a well-ventilated area after drying to ensure they don’t get stiff from unnoticed water residue.
Popping 250ml of white vinegar into your washing machine’s drum can help, too. Some experts even think it can help to break apart existing layers of old soap.
Additionally, tumble drying towels on a lower heat can prevent that “scratchy” feeling. If it’s possible at all in UK weather, putting them on the line to dry during a windy day can also recreate the sumptuous softness you might have originally relied on fabric conditioners for.
