Even high-quality towels can lose their softness and become rough over time. Indeed, they don't always get the attention they deserve when it comes to maintenance. They are usually washed with clothes, overcrowding the machine, using too much detergent and fabric softener.
How to bring back their former softness? Follow the guide!
Why Do Towels Become Rough?
Two main factors make towels rough: hard water residues and laundry products such as detergent and fabric softener. Taking care of your towels from the start will prolong their softness. Using half the recommended amount of detergent and avoiding fabric softeners will help prevent the accumulation of these residues.
Unfortunately, even with proper maintenance, the accumulation of these types of residues persists, but it's not inevitable! It is indeed possible to get rid of them with a few simple methods.
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9 Tips to Regain Soft Towels
1. Towel Brushing: The first method is to use a soft-bristled hairbrush to loosen the towel fibers. This method yields good results if they're not too rough. Otherwise, it should be combined with the other methods below.
2. Baking Soda: To soften a towel with baking soda, add half a cup to the washing machine with the towel. Choose a moderate washing temperature and air dry or use low heat. You'll enjoy a softer, fresher towel.
3. White Vinegar as Detergent Alternative: To use white vinegar as an alternative to detergent and to soften a towel, add a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment. Choose a moderate washing temperature. Then air dry or use low heat for soft, refreshing towels.
4. Baking Soda and Vinegar Combination: Mix a cup of baking soda with a cup of white vinegar. Add this mixture to the laundry during the rinse cycle. The effervescence cleans the fibers, removing detergent residues, and softens the towel. However, be careful not to use this technique too frequently to preserve the fabric's quality.
5. Citric Acid: Add a small amount of citric acid to your laundry during the rinse cycle. Its descaling action can help remove mineral residues responsible for roughness. Again, use it sparingly to avoid any corrosive effects on the fabric. You can also boil citrus peels and collect the water containing natural citric acid.
6. Tennis Balls in the Dryer: Tennis balls in the dryer can help soften towels. By adding them, they help relax the fibers, reducing stiffness. However, this technique alone is not sufficient to maintain softness in the long term as it doesn't remove the various residues responsible for stiffness.
7. Aloe Vera: Soak your towels in a solution of water and aloe vera. The softening properties of aloe vera will revitalize your towels, leaving them soft and silky.
8. Glycerin-based Softener: Prepare a homemade softener by mixing glycerin, essential oil, and mineral water. This natural solution will help maintain towel softness.
9. Lemon: Rich in citric acid, lemon can dissolve limestone, thus replacing chemical softeners. Lemon acts as a natural agent to preserve the softness and freshness of towels.
The Importance of Buying Quality Towels
At Le Jacquard Français, we take pride in offering towels made of long-fiber combed cotton. Our high-end towels and bath sheets, available in various sizes, are suitable for normal washing at a maximum temperature of 60°C. Furthermore, our towels are certified with the prestigious OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification (CQ 1190/1, IFTH), ensuring an internationally recognized guarantee of limited and meticulously controlled use of potentially harmful substances.