Getting out of the shower should feel like a reward. But when your towel feels more like sandpaper than a fluffy cloud, the whole experience gets downgraded fast. If your once-soft towels are now stiff, scratchy and sad, you’re not alone and the good news is, there’s a quick fix that costs less than your morning coffee.
The Reason Your Towels Feel Like Cardboard
We’ve all been there. You do your laundry regularly, you use that nice-smelling fabric softener, and yet your towels keep getting rougher. What gives? Turns out, the very things we use to keep our towels clean and fresh—detergent and fabric softener—might be doing the opposite over time.
When too much detergent is used, or your machine doesn’t rinse well, residue gets left behind. Fabric softeners make it worse by leaving a waxy coating that reduces absorbency and holds onto buildup. So, instead of softening, these products end up turning your towels into crunchy bathroom relics.
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The $5 Miracle Product Hiding In Your Laundry Aisle
According to laundry experts and eco-cleaning brands, the solution lies in a humble bag of soda crystals—also known as washing soda. You can find a 1 kg pack in the laundry aisle at Coles or Woolworths for around $5.
Don’t confuse it with baking soda. Washing soda is made from sodium carbonate and is a powerhouse when it comes to breaking down buildup from detergents, softeners, limescale, body oil and soap. This old-school cleaning staple has been around for generations, and it’s making a big comeback.
How To Use Soda Crystals To Rescue Your Towels
You want to bring those towels back to life? All you need is hot water, a handful of soda crystals, and a bit of time. Ready to bring those towels back to life? According to The Express, all you need to do is soak “them in a medium strength mixture of soda crystals and warm water. Rinse well, then wash them as normal, with half a cup of white vinegar in the fabric conditioner drawer.”
After that, wash them as usual using just one to two tablespoons of detergent. Skip the fabric softener this time and pour half a cup of white vinegar into the softener drawer to help eliminate any remaining buildup. When it’s time to dry, give the towels a good shake to loosen the fibers and hang them outside if possible. If you’re using a dryer, opt for a low heat setting to keep them soft and fluffy.
