When the water no longer changes colour and is completely suds free, you know you’ve cleaned all the detergent off the material. You can then wring the towels out and move on to drying them.

Or you could wash your towels using harvested rainwater. OK, this might be a bit of a stretch, but it would solve the problem. Using white vinegar is also a great way to combat hard water. You might need to add more than ½ a cup if you live in an area which has extremely hard water. What Can You Do If Towels Get Hard After Drying? Outside of everyday laundry, more sensitive fabrics like cashmere, silk, wool, and other delicate natural fibers require fabric-specific laundering formulas,” adds Boyd. “These garments do not typically require the use of fabric conditioner when laundering with the correct fabric-specific detergent.” Lastly, towels also do not need fabric softener. While fabric softener will make your towels softer, as it is designed to do, it also weakens their absorbency, making them less effective over time. Another great multi-purpose product for the home is white vinegar – and it's very inexpensive, too. GHI Tip: When it comes to fabric conditioner, leave it out altogether every few washes as it can reduce absorption by clogging up the fibres. How your tumble dryer can keep towels fluffyDon’t overload the drum. "If you cram too much into your machine, the towels will clump together which is what creates the stiff, scratchy feeling once they have dried,' Olivia explains. To avoid this, wash your towels in light to medium loads. "Ideally only two/three medium-sized towels at once. This will make sure they can be sufficiently agitated and rinsed and will come out feeling soft."

The towels will need to be kneaded a little, so you can dislodge any detergent from the fibres. (You may have to repeat this rinsing process a few times to remove all of the residual detergent). As an added bonus, considering baking soda’s reputation for making anything smell good, those sweaty, smelly towels will smell wonderful once again. Make sure you also read our post on ways to use baking soda and vinegar together. Dry your towels until the hottest setting until they are dry, typically 40-60 minutes by varying depending on your dryer. This will help evaporate moisture and make sure there is no vinegar left over.This might sound ridiculous but does actually work. All you need to do is brush the towel using the hairbrush. Make sure you cover the whole of the towel. So, if you’re going to go down this route make sure you have plenty of time to dedicate to the task, and above all else, be patient. Now, this one may sound a little weird but it’s proven to be effective. Go out to your local sports supply store and buy a few tennis balls, and toss them in with your towels.

Towels need space to move around in the drum so that they can absorb enough water to get clean properly. The same is true during the rinse cycle when it is vitally important that the detergent is all removed from the fabric. When your washing is inside the dryer, the dryer balls roll and bounce around inside, rolling out lumps and softening the towels inside. So, here are some FAQs about fabric softener that will hopefully help you understand what fabric softener does and why it should be used in every wash. Is fabric softener necessary? Olivia adds: "Another factor could be that you are washing them too much and too intensely. If your towels are exposed to high temperatures and hard water for extended periods of time, they are likely to form a rough texture. Opt for a less intense cycle, that will still do the job but offer a more gentle clean." Can you make hard towels soft again? If you suffer from sensitive skin and have had issues with scented fabric softeners in the past, you can even now find either lightly scented or completely fragrance-free alternatives. IngredientsEcozone’s concentrated Radiance fabric softener is made with natural, gentle ingredients that will leave clothes fresh and soft, with a delicate floral fragrance. The fabric conditioner is cruelty-free, vegan, and endorsed by PETA too. Detergents are concentrated formulas which can often be too strong for washing certain items including towels. Try reducing the amount of detergent you use when washing towels to prevent the excess drying into the fabric which leaves the towels dry and scratchy. Get started and see how easy it is to have soft and fluffy towels again! No more scratchy towels, wash towels in hot water and use these tips to have towels feel new and towels soft to use again.

Using white vinegar once every 6 weeks will remove any detergent and fabric softener residue that has built up. You heard that right. If you want to keep your towels soft, you shouldn’t be using a fabric softener. If you want to buy fabric softener in bulk to save some money, but are worried about it going off before you get the chance to use it, you can rest easy.

How to make scratchy towels soft again

Don’t use fabric softener as it will make your towels less absorbent. In turn, the towel won’t be very effective at drying your body after a shower. This next method is a little unorthodox, and it doesn’t involve washing or drying. Go and grab a big brush, maybe you can clean off your dog’s expensive pet-brush or you can grab the giant styling brush you got for your birthday, and lay your towel flat on a bed.