It can be frustrating when towels come out of the washing machine stiff and scratchy, but you can easily restore them to get them soft again using items already in your kitchen. 

The most common reason towels become hard is using too much detergent when doing laundry. The detergent will not be able to rinse out during a wash cycle which can lead to a residue build-up.

However, Courtney Walsh, a cleaning expert from the home cleaning platform Homeaglow has shared exclusively with the Express that sometimes towels losing their softness cannot be helped, but there is a very simple way to restore them.

She said: “While most of the causes can be quite easily fixed – such as using less detergent or running hotter and longer washes – hard water deposits can be a slightly more annoying issue, given that it is a more external issue that you have less control over.”

Hard water deposits, also known as limescale, are made up of minerals naturally occurring in water. These can build up over time on fabric, leading to towels becoming less flexible and rigid.

How to soften and restore hard towels 

Pre-treatment 

According to Courtney, the best way to restore “crusty and almost cardboard-like” towels is to soak them in either baking soda or lemon juice before putting them in the washing machine.

She said: “Lemon juice and baking soda are two great ways to pre-treat your towels, each of them helping to bring new life to dulled or hardened towels.”

Baking soda can soften hard water and neutralise the minerals found in limescale, but it is also mildly abrasive so it can break down detergent residue. 

Lemon juice is acidic which also helps to dissolve hard water minerals, restoring the towel’s natural softness.

All you have to do is soak the towels in hot water and add one cup of lemon juice, then leave it for two hours before sticking them in the washing machine.

Alternatively, stir one cup of baking soda into a bucket of lukewarm water, wait for the baking soda to dissolve, put your towels in the solution and leave to soak for a few hours.

Washing

For the best chance of restoring stiff towels, you will likely need to wash them two times as the first wash will break down the mineral buildup and detergent residue, and then the second wash will actually clean them.

Courtney said: “For the best results, you need to give your towels two restorative washes, both without using any detergent, fabric softener or softener sheets.”

In the first wash, you can add one cup of white vinegar to your washing machine as it is incredibly effective at dissolving the calcium and magnesium found in limescale as well as removing detergent residue. 

In the second wash, add half a cup of baking soda to your washing machine. The item is a natural deodoriser that will remove any unwanted smells or odours.

Drying

Not drying towels properly is one of the biggest reasons they begin to harden, become scratchy and develop a damp smell.

Courtney said: “It’s important to make sure you dry your towels fully and properly to help retain their fluffiness and prevent odours from occurring due to the presence of mildew or bacterial growth.”

Either hang towels out to dry in the sun or use a tumble dryer but make sure not to use a high heat as it can damage the fibres.

Courtney said: “Use a low heat setting in the dryer with dryer balls or clean tennis balls to fluff up the towels and adequately dry them out.”

Once your towels are dry they will be incredibly soft, absorbent and fluffy once again to ensure you stay comfortable when using them. 

To stop towels from becoming hard in the future, make sure to wash them without any fabric softener as it can cause residue and minerals to stick even more to the fabric.

Courtney said: “People should avoid using fabric softeners when washing their towels, as the softeners can leave waxy build-ups on your towels and make them less absorbent.

“Washing your towels regularly is also important, people should look to wash them every three to four uses – though potentially more if they don’t dry enough between uses or are heavily used. Washing your towels frequently helps to prevent the build-up of body oils and other grime in the fibres.”