We all love a fluffy towel, but keeping them soft after a few cycles in the can be tough. Now, an expert has revealed their secrets to keeping bathroom linens soft and clean-smelling with some top tips for washing and drying.

Mary Johnson, a former principal scientist at Proctor & Gamble, told the home blog, shared her advice in the area. Her company manufactures popular , including Tide and Downy, so she's had plenty of experience keeping linens fluffy and soft.

Her three steps for washing towels in a machine start with the advice to "wash towels with detergent" while ensuring that the machine is not overloaded.

Johnson said: "Towels are heavy and will take a toll on your machine, plus they might not wash and rinse correctly if everything is packed in."

White towels should be washed in hot water, detergent and a non-chlorine bleach or natural fabric brightener, according to Johnson, while colourful towels can be washed in warm water using detergent with colour-safe bleach.

She advised washing towels on a normal cycle or towel cycle if available.

Johnson's second step was to soften towels with vinegar, which can be a natural alternative to fabric softener in measures of around a quarter of a cup.

She warned against using fabric softener too often, cautioning that buildup can occur with consistent use. Her advice was to use the product only every third or fourth wash, while removing any buildup from fabric softener by soaking them in a tub of hot water and a mixture of Borax, washing soda, and detergent.

Johnson's final step was to shake and then dry towels. Shaking towels means they won't be allowed to bunch up before going into the dryer, avoiding stubborn creases and longer drying times.

She also advised adding a few drops of essential oil to a wool laundry ball.

Johnson added: "Wool laundry balls are a natural alternative to dryer sheets and can be used to fluff the towels and help them dry faster. Clean tennis balls (instead of wool balls) work, too, but skip the essential oils."