My rules will get your towels to be fluffy again – stop using fabric softener, it’s even possible without tumble-drying
WHO doesn’t love a fluffy hotel-quality towel when they get out of the shower?
A cleaning pro has shared her simple hack for maintaining the balance between soft and absorbent.
In her video, Ann Russell (@annrussell03) revealed how to wash your towels so they are both fluffy and fit for their purpose.
First, the TikToker advised her audience against using a popular product when doing their laundry.
She explained that while fabric softener can be used to achieve a fluffy finish, it also hinders the practical function of the towel.
Ann compared the soft result to a bathrobe “that shunts water around and sticks to you.”
According to the experts at Tru Earth, fabric softener has a direct impact on the absorbency of towels.
“Towels are most effective when their fibers remain open and uncoated, allowing them to soak up moisture quickly,” the professionals explained.
“Fabric softeners, however, tend to leave a residue on the fibers, diminishing their ability to absorb water efficiently.”
Instead of risking your towel’s absorbency, Ann recommended adding a spoonful of washing soda to your load.
She advised her viewers to wash their towels on a hot setting and tumble dry.
If you are unable to dry your towels in a machine, there is a trick to hanging them on the clothesline.
Ann recommended removing the towels from your line every hour and giving them “a hard shake.”
According to the experts at Food Storage Moms, this move is vital for maintaining soft and fluffy towels.
“This will help loosen any wrinkles and restore some of their natural softness,” they explained.
As you replace them on the line, she suggested turning them upside down so the water doesn’t gather at one end as they drip dry.
Ann told her followers that this method would result in “remarkably fluffy towels.”
Tip to remove yellow sweat stains
Yellow armpit stains affects everyone, whether people care to admit to it or not. But there is help at hand. To remove yellow stains from your clothing, experts recommend the following methods:
- Baking soda paste: The pros at The Laundry Cafe recommend mixing one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of salt, and ½ cup of baking soda. Apply directly to the stain with a toothbrush, rub, and let the mixture sit for at least an hour, then wash as normal.
- Oxygen bleach: This method is just as useful for removing yellow stains. Mix one part of oxygen-based bleach with one part of ammonia in a non-metal bowl. Wear gloves during this application. Rub into the fabric with a toothbrush and allow the solution to sit for at least ten minutes before laundering as normal.
- Stain remover or detergent: Stains on collars can be stubborn to remove as armpit stains. So pretreat the area using a solvent-based stain-removing agent or detergent. Work the product into the collar with a toothbrush and allow it to sit for at least ten minutes before washing.
And if you’re guilty of using fabric softener on your towels in the past, don’t worry, all hope is not lost.
Ann recommends simply holding off on washing your towels with detergent for a bit and relying exclusively on your soda.
Another TikToker shared the hack she uses to freshen up musty towels.
A second cleaning pro revealed the secret button on your washing machine that will change how you do your laundry.
Another laundry expert showed her followers the budget-friendly item she swears by for fluffing up scratchy towels.