I finally found the secret to keeping towels soft and fresh—even after years of washing

It’s the simplest trick.

Key Takeaways

• Towels lose softness over time as detergent residue, minerals, and body oils build up, leaving fibers stiff, less absorbent, and dull.
• Skipping fabric softener and occasionally washing towels with vinegar, then a light detergent wash and gentle drying, helps remove buildup and restore fluff.
• Even with good care, towels wear out, and poor absorbency, lingering odors, or fraying signal it’s time to repurpose or replace them.

I don’t know why, but throwing away a towel just feels wrong. Still, there comes a day when it starts looking a little worn out and it has lost its fluffy appeal, and you wonder to yourself, Has the time come?

Maybe not! In that case, your towel might just need its flat or rough texture revived, which is totally doable with the right technique. Also, keeping towels fluffy in the first place can help prolong their lifespan (and ensure they're pleasant to use after you step out of the shower). Here's how I've learned to keep towels fluffy, even if they're old and have been through countless washes.

Meet Our Expert

• Rechelle Balanzat, laundry expert and founder of Juliette NYC
• Alicia Sokolowski, cleaning expert and president of AspenClean

Why Towels Lose Their Fluff

Towels get stiff and lose their softness over time due to detergent residue, hard water minerals, and even dead skin cells and oil from your body, explains Rechelle Balanzat, laundry expert and founder of Juliette NYC. “Over time, that coating stiffens the loops, reduces absorbency, and leaves towels feeling scratchy and looking dingy," she explains.

How to Keep Towels Soft

Your natural first step might be to use fabric softener—and I’ve tried that myself—but Balanzat says that often backfires. Instead of softening the towel, it creates a deceptive waxy film that feels smooth at first, but ends up blocking absorbency which exacerbates buildup. 

The most effective way to keep towels fluffy—and to revive their fluffiness after dozens of washes—is way simpler, and actually way cheaper. 

1. Wash your towels separately in hot water without any detergent at all. Skip the fabric softener entirely. 
2. Add ½ to 1 cup of vinegar depending on how full the load is. Alicia Sokolowski, cleaning expert and president of AspenClean, says that vinegar “strips out soap, minerals, and any fabric softener residue.” 
3. Run on a normal cycle. 
4. Rewash the towels right away, this time using detergent. You only need a small amount; both Sokolowski and Balanzat say to use approximately half of the recommended amount. 
5. When drying the towels, make sure to shake each towel out, then dry on medium heat. Sokolowski warns that high heat can damage the fibers, so avoid that. You can add some wool dryer balls to help fluff the towel fibers. 

I do this fluffy towel method every third or fourth wash. On top of this, I always make sure my towels are washed separately, that I’m using less detergent (and no fabric softener), and drying gently. This ensures clean, uncoated, undamaged towel fibers, which results in that covetable, hotel-level fluff.

When It’s Time to Toss Your Towels

Like many household items, towels do have an expiration date. In other words: No amount of fluffy towel methods will work, and it’s time to bring in a new fleet. Per Sokolowski, here are some signs your towel is beyond revival: 

• Towels feel flat, slick, or crunchy no matter what (even after the trick above)
• They have a musty or otherwise unpleasant smell even after washing 
• They don’t absorb water as well 
• Edges are fraying, fabric is thinning, or there are holes 

“Cheap towels usually only last a year or two, medium-quality towels tend to last about three to five years, and high-quality cotton towels, with good care, can last five to even 10 years,” Sokolowski says. 

If your towels are past their prime, you can still use them around the house. Try cutting them into squares to use as cleaning rags, lay them in your pet’s bed for more padding and easier cleanup, or donate them to the animal shelter.

Read the original article on Real Simple