There's nothing more disappointing than stepping out of a warm shower and reaching for a towel that feels like sandpaper. Crusty, scratchy towels are a common frustration, especially when they once felt plush and luxurious.

Over time, even the best towels can lose their softness, turning stiff, rough, and uncomfortable. Towels turn rough or rigid mainly because of laundry detergent and fabric conditioner accumulation within the fibres. Hard water and excessive drying can worsen this issue, but fortunately, there are methods to restore softness without relying on white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.

Posting on Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group, Jane Hindle shared: "I run a busy B&B, so I always have a problem with rough towels. Mainly hand towels, actually, because they're in use constantly, but I hate to give guests rough ones, so I tried out a new hack I saw on here.

"I had no vinegar, but I use citric acid to clean kettles, so I thought I'd give it a go, and it made them so soft, I couldn't believe it."

The cleaning fan described how she simply incorporated a modest quantity of citric acid into the wash during the rinse phase.

Its limescale-removing properties help eliminate mineral deposits that cause towels to feel harsh and abrasive.

Numerous group members supported Jane's approach, claiming citric acid surpasses vinegar in effectiveness.

Sandra Grey noted: "I used softener for years, which I thought softened towels, but I learned it doesn't. My daughter said citric acid is less aggressive on laundry and washing machines, making it better than vinegar."

Valerie Buckley added: "Towels will be super soft with this trick and when dried outside will be brightened too."

Citric acid is available in powder form from retailers like Waitrose for approximately £2 per box. It's especially potent in bathrooms, suitable for cleaning toilets, sinks and shower heads.

This natural ingredient is also excellent at eliminating limescale in kettles, dishwashers and washing machines.