If Your Towels Feel Scratchy After The Wash, You Might Be Overlooking One Thing

Towels are some of the most useful household textiles because of their versatility and practical value. They can be found in the kitchen and bathroom for use on everything from spills on surfaces to drying your body after a bath. There are many different kinds of towels, and each one has a specific use for the home or outside. Since they are used very often, they need to be washed regularly as well. However, frequent washing can make towels stiff and scratchy, and one of the key reasons for this unwanted texture is using hard water.

Hard water is very common in the United States, as limestone is found in many regions of the country. Calcium, magnesium, and other water-soluble minerals are absorbed by the liquid as it seeps through the limestone to the water table. Hard water causes towels to become stiff and prickly, as the minute quantities of the minerals are absorbed by the towel fibers when washed and dried. This process is then repeated for every wash, building up over time, so using hard water is a common mistake everyone makes when washing towels.

Ideally, it is best to use soft water when washing towels to retain their supple texture and absorbency. In addition, soft water helps dissolve detergents better, prevents the fabric from degrading quicker, and can remove residual odors from the fabric. Lastly, soft water prevents stains and prolongs the usability of towels, as there are no minerals that accumulate after every wash.

If there is an option to use soft water, it is best to use it for all laundry, not just towels. To see if your home has hard water, check for limescale and soap scum around plumbing fixtures like faucets, showerheads, or sinks. Alternatively, hard water test kits are available in many hardware shops and can easily be done at home. Purchasing a water softener system is the best way to address this issue, and these can cost from $300 to $2,800. Alongside laundry use, there are several other reasons your home would benefit from getting a water softener.

For towels that are already stiff and rigid from hard water, there are several simple hacks to resoften the fabric. One of the simplest is to do a couple of washes using vinegar and baking soda. Start by doing a regular wash of the towels, and once completed, place them in a plastic basin to soak in two cups of cold water and one cup of vinegar for 30 minutes. Next, pour some baking soda on the towels, apply it to both sides of the towel, and leave it on for another 30 minutes to allow for maximum absorption. After rinsing your towels and letting them dry, add a cup of vinegar to your washing machine before adding in your towels and half a cup of baking soda. Let them sit for about 15 minutes, then continue the cycle.

With proper care, towels can last a long time, and using correct laundry techniques is important. This includes separating colors, washing in warm water, and utilizing less detergent per cycle. Lastly, you're likely not washing your towels as often as you should be to avoid bacteria and germ buildup.