Towels may feel super soft when you first purchase them, but you may find that after a few washes they begin to harden and get scratchy.

There are numerous hacks that are said to help soften them while washing – white vinegar, baking soda, fabric softener – but there’s something else that may be causing your towels to harden.

Overuse of detergent is one reason towels can start feeling rather tough, according to the experts at inthewash.co.uk.

They advised halving the amount of detergent being used, when washing your towels, explaining: “Too much detergent can actually make towels quite stiff and packed full of soapy residue!

“This in turn makes towels feel really tough and the opposite of a fluffy paradise…

“To solve this problem all you need to do is halve the amount of detergent you use in your washing machine when washing towels.”

Ultimately, this will lead to softer towels and will help you save a little bit of money as it’ll cost you less per wash, and it’ll be longer than usual until you need to purchase some more detergent.

The experts also advise that you should wash your towels separately from your clothes, as not doing so can transfer lint between the two – leaving your towels hard and your clothes all bobbly.

Other advice shared is to ensure you don’t overpack the washing machine, with the experts writing that five towels is typically the right amount for one cycle, although this may vary depending on the size of your machine.

They also warn against washing towels at a high temperature, writing: “Heat may be good at removing bacteria from towels but too much warmth can also damage the fibres in towels. This in turn leaves towels feeling quite scratchy and uninviting!

“To reduce this problem all you need to do is lower the temperature of your washing machine down to around 30/40 and wash your towels as normal. This will stop the material from suffering at the hands of the extreme heat.”