Nothing’s worse than pulling a towel out of the closet, expecting it to be soft and fresh, only to find it’s stiff, scratchy, or—worst of all—smells a little funky. Towels should feel fluffy and absorbent, not like you’re drying off with an old dish rag.
I’ve made just about every towel mistake out there—too much detergent, too much softener, overstuffing the washer—and learned the hard way what actually works. The good news? Keeping towels fresh and fluffy isn’t complicated. A few simple tweaks can make a huge difference, so they stay soft, absorbent, and feeling like new.
Wash Towels Separately
Towels might seem like they can handle being washed with everything else, but mixing them with clothes, especially ones with zippers or hooks, can cause snags and rough fibers. Plus, towels are thick and hold onto detergent and lint, which can transfer to your other laundry.
Washing towels separately helps them get a deeper clean and dry more evenly. It also prevents lint from sticking to dark clothes or delicate fabrics. If you want them to stay soft and absorbent, keep them in their own load.
Skip the Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets might make towels smell fresh, but they coat the fibers with a waxy residue that reduces absorbency over time. That’s why towels that once soaked up water with no problem suddenly start feeling like they’re just smearing water around.
If you like that extra softness, swap dryer sheets for wool dryer balls or a small amount of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Both help keep towels soft without affecting absorbency.
Store Towels Properly
Towels can lose their freshness fast if they’re stored in a humid bathroom or stacked too tightly in a closet. They need airflow to stay fresh, or they’ll start to smell musty, even if they’re clean. If you’re stacking them, make sure they have some space to breathe.
For extra freshness, you can tuck a small baking soda sachet or a dryer sheet (if you still use them) between the towels to help absorb moisture and odors. And if you ever grab a towel that smells off, don’t just rewash—try a vinegar rinse first to strip away whatever’s causing the smell.
Don’t Overload the Washing Machine
Stuffing too many towels into one load might seem like a time-saver, but it’s actually ruining them. When the machine is overloaded, detergent doesn’t distribute properly, and towels don’t get rinsed as well as they should. That leftover soap builds up, making towels feel stiff and less absorbent.
Keep loads light, leaving enough room for the towels to move around freely. If your towels never feel fully clean or soft, try washing fewer at a time and see if that makes a difference.
Tumble-Dry with Care
Over-drying towels in the dryer can leave them feeling crispy and worn out. If you have the option, let them dry outside in the fresh air for a bit before tossing them into the dryer. This helps cut down on drying time while keeping them fluffy.
If you’re using a dryer, don’t crank up the heat too high. Too much heat can damage the fibers, making towels feel rough over time. If your dryer has a sensor setting, use it—it’ll stop drying once they’re just right. If they’re still a little damp when the cycle ends, shake them out and hang them up to finish drying.
Toss in a Tennis Ball
Throwing a tennis ball or dryer ball into the dryer with your towels might sound odd, but it works. As they bounce around, they help break up clumps and prevent towels from getting stiff. It’s an easy trick that makes a big difference in how soft and fluffy they feel when they come out.
If you don’t have a tennis ball, dryer balls work just as well. They help speed up drying time and reduce static, which means less wear and tear on your towels. Just toss a couple in with your next load and see the difference for yourself.
Wash Towels with Vinegar and Baking Soda
If your towels feel stiff and aren’t soaking up water like they used to, they’re probably full of detergent and fabric softener buildup. The easiest way to fix this? A two-step wash with vinegar and baking soda. First, throw your towels in the washer with no detergent—just one cup of white vinegar in the detergent compartment. Wash on warm for colors or hot for whites.
When that cycle’s done, run them through again, this time with one cup of baking soda sprinkled straight into the drum. This strips out all the gunk, bringing back softness and absorbency. Once they’re dry, they’ll feel fluffier and actually dry you off like they should.
Shake Out Towels Before Washing and Drying
Towels get compacted when they sit in the laundry basket, and if you just toss them in the washer as-is, they won’t get as clean. Before washing, give them a good shake to fluff up the fibers and help them absorb detergent better. It takes two seconds and makes a difference.
Do the same before drying—especially if you’re air-drying. Line-dried towels can feel stiff, but shaking them first helps loosen the fibers so they dry softer. If you’re using a dryer, shaking them before tossing them in also prevents wrinkles and speeds up drying since they won’t be clumped together.
Hard Water Can Ruin Towels
If your towels always feel rough no matter what you do, hard water might be the culprit. Minerals like calcium and magnesium build up in fabrics, making them feel stiff and less absorbent. If you live in a hard water area, your towels might be taking a beating.
To fix it, try adding a water softener like Calgon to your wash. It helps break down those minerals before they get into the fabric. You can also run an empty wash with a cup of vinegar every so often to clean out any limescale buildup in your washer. Softer water means softer towels.
Don’t Overdo Detergent or Fabric Softener
More soap doesn’t mean cleaner towels. In fact, using too much detergent can leave behind a filmy residue that makes them feel stiff and scratchy. If your towels don’t smell fresh even after washing, they’re probably overloaded with leftover soap.
Fabric softener is another sneaky culprit. It coats towel fibers, making them feel smooth at first but ruining their absorbency over time. If your towels don’t dry you off like they used to, it’s probably from too much softener. If you use it, go easy—or skip it altogether and use vinegar instead for naturally soft, fluffy towels.
*This article was created with the help of AI.