If your towels are feeling crunchy and hard then they have likely not been washed properly, but it can be very easy to restore their fluffy texture if you use the right items.
Towels often lose their softness if you add fabric softener to the wash as the fabric is extremely absorbent and soap residue will build up in the fibres.
If you live in a hard water area then can also appear in your washing machine and the minerals will also cause towels to have that rough brick-like texture.
However, getting towels soft again is simple; Tabitha Blue, a expert and founder of , has a natural detergent that should be able to fix them.
Tabitha said: "This DIY natural laundry detergent recipe is made with simple ingredients and ready to use in less than five minutes! All you need are four ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry or are inexpensive to buy."
How to make homemade detergent that will soften towels
You will need:
- 375g of washing soda
- 375g baking soda
- 120g of Epsom salt
- 60g of sea salt
- A few drops of essential oil (optional)
Washing soda, also known as soda crystals, is strongly alkaline which means it can break down acidic detergent residue, body oil stains and greasy soap build-up in towels.
Meanwhile, baking soda will neutralise any musty smells; and while Epsom salt is often used as a bath soak, it's a natural mineral that contains magnesium, which can help break down limescale residue in the towels.
Sea salt also helps break down soap and limescale, but it will also loosen the fabric to help the towels become softer and more flexible.
If you wish, you can also add essential oils to your towel, such as lemon oil or peppermint oil, to help make the towels smell amazing once they have been fully washed.
Method
Simply mix the solution together in an empty container. You will need three parts baking soda, three parts washing soda, two parts Epsom salt and one part sea salt.
Make sure to blend any clumps and add the essential oils at this stage if you are using them. Then, place your towels in the washing machine and add one scoop of the homemade laundry detergent to the drum.
Use the laundry detergent as usual, but only use a small amount - and do not use fabric softener. Set your towels on a warm or hot cycle to help break down any soapy build-up. Once the normal wash is done, put them on a rinse cycle.
When the towels have been washed, hang them up to dry or place them on a low heat on the tumble dryer, but be careful as excessive heat also stiffens towels.
Once dried, the clean towels should be naturally soft and fluffy, and if you used an essential oil, they will also come out smelling beautifully fresh.
