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4 Smarty-Pants Tips for Making Your Towels Feel New Again
We tried the internet's favorite towel-fluffing hacks. Here's what happened.
One of the best things about flying home to the Northeast for the holidays is the promise of soft, fluffy towels when I arrive. Compared to the rough, frequently damp variety I have in my Los Angeles apartment, my mom’s towels feel like I'm being wrapped in clouds. When I ask her how she keeps her towels so fluffy, she replies, only half-joking, “I buy expensive towels.”
Since the cost of the clouds isn’t in my budget just yet, I set out, instead, to find the best tricks to revive my thoroughly used, average quality towels to the level of plushness they had the day that I purchased them.
First, I read that the leading cause of stiff towels is often leftover detergent residue. However, while cutting back on detergent will prevent towels from growing scratchy, it may not revive the softness. Choosing a hot water cycle and washing loads of only towels are also recommended for maintaining fluff, but again may not be enough to bring it back from the dead.
Undeterred, I continued to scrounge around the internet, and eventually came across a few interesting tricks—using items that I already have lying around at home—that I decided to try. Not at all of them worked out, but here is what I discovered.
What the internet says
Mix half a cup of baking soda along with a normal detergent dose for fluffier and cleaner towels. Baking soda also naturally eliminates musty and mildew smells that come from towels remaining damp for too long.
How it worked
The towel felt thicker and bouncier, but the threads were sharper and spikier—kind of like a buzz cut texture. Not entirely ideal.
What the internet says
If you have a few clean, unused tennis balls lying around like I do, try throwing them in the dryer along with your towels. As the balls bounce around, they help remove lumps and increase softness.
How it worked
It didn’t. I noticed no difference in fluffiness from drying towels with tennis balls. My towels remained their same old scruffy selves.
What the internet says
Use a hairbrush to brush your towel once it’s clean and dry, which will help break down any dried detergent residue and separate the threads from each other, making the towel softer to the touch.
How it worked
Although I felt totally ridiculous brushing my towel out like a pet, there was a noticeable fluff increase when I did. The section of the towel that I brushed was softer and thicker than the untreated section, which felt flatter and more matted down in comparison. I used a paddle brush with plastic bristles, but I imagine most types of brushes would be effective. Realistically, I don’t think I’ll spend the time brushing every towel in the future, but I’m glad to know I can.
What the internet says
Fabric softeners actually have oils and other ingredients that make towels less absorbent. Instead, pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the fabric softener compartment, which softens the towels and kills bacteria. Don’t use detergent for this load.
How it worked
The towel felt noticeably softer and significantly newer, like it had been washed fewer times than the other towels. It had a smooth, suede-like texture. The threads felt closer together. This was definitely the winning hack.
Some people suggest doubling up on hacks and using white vinegar and baking soda in the same load. I would warn against it, as it may cause the machine to overflow. If you are looking for extra, extra fluffiness and buoyancy, try washing with baking soda and detergent first, followed by washing with white vinegar.
Have a trick for returning towels to their former fluffy selves? Tell us in the comments below!
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Written by: Morgan Goldberg
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22 Comments
I also endorse GigiR's comment, "There is a terrific down garment wash in a bottle called Nikwax." I used it when I discovered that all 5 of our sleeping bags - 2 down, 3 synthetic fill - smelled of mildew. Googling the problem brought Nikwax to my attention, and it was also there that I got the advice to throw the tennis balls in the dryer with these items - to keep the fill from clumping up. Worked like a charm. PS - I did not wash and dry all 5 at the same time, haha!
A full-wool ball is going to be more absorptive (if less inherently bouncy) than a tennis ball, so maybe I'll still give them a shot.
I like to add ammonia to hot wash water with a bit of liquid detergent for washing walls and painted trim work. You’d be surprised.
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