Have your towels already lost their softness, feeling rough and scratchy, and you don’t know what to do about it?

Many assume that stiff towels are destined for the bin, but the good news is you can fix them! 

This blog will reveal simple techniques to restore that spa-like softness and absorbency to your towels, keeping them cozy for years.

Why Do Bath Towels Get Rough Over Time?

When your towels start to feel less inviting, there’s usually more than one reason behind it. The most common issue is detergent buildup. Many of us think that more detergent means cleaner laundry, but in reality, excess detergent leaves residue on cotton fibers, weighing them down and making them stiff.

Detergent Buildup

Using too much detergent leaves residue on cotton fibers, making them stiff and heavy.

Fabric Softeners

Liquid softeners and dryer sheets coat towel fibers, temporarily softening them but blocking absorbency and leading to stiffness over time.

Hard Water Minerals

Mineral deposits from hard water can settle into towels, making them feel scratchy.

Wear and Tear

Frequent washing naturally causes wear and tear.

Chemical Finishes

Brand-new towels often come with chemical finishes that can affect their initial feel.

The Best Method to Soften Bath Towels: A Two-Step Wash

The most effective, tried-and-true method for softening towels is a simple vinegar and baking soda wash. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Vinegar Wash

• Place towels in the washing machine with no detergent.
  

• Add 1–2 cups of white distilled vinegar directly to the drum or the fabric softener compartment.
  

• Run a hot wash cycle.
  

• Vinegar breaks down detergent and fabric softener residue while dissolving minerals that cause stiffness.

Step 2: Baking Soda Wash

• After the vinegar cycle, wash the towels again, still with no detergent.
  

• Add ½ or 1 cup of baking soda to the drum.
  

• Run another hot wash cycle.
  

• Baking soda helps deodorize, lift fibers, and naturally soften the fabric.

Important tip: Don’t mix vinegar and baking soda in the same wash. They cancel each other out.

Step 3: Proper Drying

• Shake out each towel before drying to separate the fibers.
  

• Dry on a low to medium heat setting with wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls to fluff the pile.
  

• Avoid dryer sheets; they coat fibers with residue that makes towels stiff over time.
  

• If air drying, give towels a good shake and let them dry in a breezy spot. For maximum fluff, toss them in the dryer for 10 minutes after air-drying.

Everyday Habits for Long-Lasting Softness

Restoring towels once is helpful, but maintaining their softness comes down to everyday laundry habits. 

Washing towels separately from clothes is key; this prevents lint transfer and ensures they get the agitation they need. Using the right amount of detergent also matters. 

Too much soap causes buildup, while too little can leave towels less clean.

It’s also best to avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets altogether. Instead, rely on natural solutions like vinegar rinses or wool dryer balls, which provide softness without reducing absorbency. Shaking towels out before drying and avoiding overloading the washer or dryer also helps fibers stay open and fluffy.

By making these small adjustments, you’ll notice that your towels maintain their plush feel for much longer, and they’ll stay fresh and absorbent, too.

Special Care for New Bath Towels

If you’ve ever noticed that brand-new towels don’t absorb water well, it’s because they often come coated with a softening finish from the manufacturer. These finishes make towels look extra fluffy in the store, but they block absorbency until they’re washed out.

The best way to prepare new towels is to wash them before first use with hot water and a cup of vinegar. This breaks down the factory coating and allows the cotton fibers to “open up.” 

At DZEE Home, our 100% cotton bath towels are designed to become softer and more absorbent with each wash, so this process works especially well with high-quality fabrics that are made to last.

Living with Hard Water? Here’s What to Do

For households with hard water, towels can stiffen more quickly. While a whole-home water softener is ideal, you can still manage this issue with regular care. Adding vinegar rinses every few washes helps dissolve minerals before they set into the fibers. You can also look for detergents formulated for hard water, which prevent mineral deposits and protect the softness of your textiles.

Our DZEE Home customers in hard-water areas often find that our premium cotton towels perform better than standard towels because the longer fibers resist mineral buildup and maintain their softness even with frequent washing.

Eco-Friendly Ways to Keep Bath Towels Fresh

If you enjoy scented bath towels, you don’t need chemical-based fabric softeners to achieve it. A simple, eco-friendly trick is to add a few drops of essential oil to wool dryer balls. Scents like lavender, eucalyptus, or lemon give your towels a fresh aroma without coating the fibers.

Vinegar is another natural, eco-friendly option. It’s affordable, septic-safe, and environmentally friendly compared to commercial fabric softeners, making it the perfect long-term solution for keeping your towels soft.

Know The DZEE Home Difference

DZEE Home offers hotel-quality bath towels for everyday use. Made from 100% long-staple cotton with a higher GSM, our towels are not only soft and absorbent but also durable enough to last through years of regular washing. Unlike cheaper towels that stiffen quickly, ours are designed to get softer with time, making them a smart choice for your home.

Final Thoughts

Soft, fluffy towels aren’t just about comfort; they add a touch of everyday luxury to your routine. With simple care methods like vinegar washes, baking soda cycles, and mindful laundry habits, you can restore and maintain the softness of your towels for years.

Browse DZEE Home today and know the DZEE Home difference in your home!