Why your towels feel rough and stop absorbing water? The simple laundry mistake and how to fix it

Have your towels become rough, stiff and less absorbent despite washing them regularly? The problem may not be the age of the towels. It happens due to a buildup of laundry detergent and fabric softener inside the towel fibres can make them feel increasingly stiff and prevent them from absorbing water properly.

The good news is that you may not need to replace those old towels just yet. A simple towel-refresh routine using two common household ingredients — white vinegar and baking soda — can help remove the residue and bring back some of the softness.

Why do towels become rough and stiff?

Towels are designed to absorb moisture through their fibres. But repeated washing with excessive amounts of detergent and fabric softener can leave a coating behind.


This can be particularly noticeable in homes with soft water, where less detergent is generally needed. Using more detergent than necessary can result in residue remaining on the fabric instead of being completely rinsed away.

Fabric softener can make the problem worse. Although it is designed to make clothes feel softer, it can coat towel fibres and reduce their ability to absorb water.

Over time, towels can therefore start feeling stiff, scratchy and almost cardboard-like.

The simple two-wash towel refresh

Experts recommend a deep-cleaning routine to help remove accumulated residue from towel fibres.

Start by putting the towels through a hot wash at around 90°C, where the fabric and care label allow it. Instead of adding laundry detergent, add about one cup of white vinegar.

The vinegar can help break down detergent and other residue trapped in the fibres.

Once that cycle is complete, run another hot wash. This time, add about one cup of baking soda directly into the washing machine drum.

Baking soda can help neutralise odours and loosen remaining buildup.

The two-step process can be particularly useful when towels have developed a musty smell or have become noticeably less absorbent.

Why white vinegar can help

White vinegar is commonly used as a household laundry aid because its acidity can help dissolve some mineral and detergent residues.

It can also be useful in areas with hard water, where minerals can accumulate on fabrics over time.

Despite concerns that vinegar might leave towels smelling strongly, the smell generally disappears during washing and drying.

However, vinegar should not be mixed directly with chlorine bleach. If bleach is part of your normal laundry routine, keep the two products separate.

Baking soda can tackle lingering odours

Baking soda has long been used as a household odour neutraliser. Adding it during a separate wash can help freshen towels and loosen some of the buildup left behind after repeated washing.

Using vinegar and baking soda in separate cycles is important. They should not simply be poured into the washing machine together because they react with each other, reducing the effectiveness of both.

Stop using too much detergent

Once towels have been refreshed, changing your regular laundry routine can help prevent the problem from returning.

Experts suggest using considerably less detergent than many people normally use, particularly when washing in soft water. Around half the recommended amount may be sufficient in some circumstances.

More detergent does not necessarily mean cleaner towels. In fact, excessive detergent can leave behind residue that eventually makes fabrics feel stiff.

A small amount of white vinegar can also be added to a hot wash as part of regular towel maintenance.

Be careful with fabric softener

Fabric softener may make some fabrics feel smoother, but towels are different.

The coating left by fabric softeners can interfere with the fibres' ability to absorb water. That means a towel may feel soft when you touch it but perform poorly when you actually try to dry yourself.

For this reason, fabric softener is best used sparingly with towels — and many households can skip it altogether.

How you dry your towels matters too

Washing is only part of the equation. Drying can also affect how towels feel.

Whenever possible, allow towels to dry outside on a breezy day. Air movement helps the fibres dry thoroughly and can leave towels feeling fresher.

A tumble dryer on a low or moderate heat setting can also help fluff the fibres.

Avoid repeatedly using very high temperatures because excessive heat can damage fabric fibres over time.

Drying towels slowly indoors, particularly when they are left over a radiator, can also leave them feeling stiff.

Don't overload the washing machine

Towels need enough space to move around in the drum. An overloaded washing machine can prevent water and detergent from circulating properly, making it harder to rinse away residue.

Washing towels in a reasonably sized load can therefore help improve both cleaning and rinsing.

It is also important to remove towels from the machine soon after the cycle ends. Leaving damp towels sitting in the drum can encourage unpleasant musty smells.

Shaking each towel before putting it out to dry can also help separate the fibres and reduce creases.

How often should you refresh towels?

A deep towel-refresh wash does not necessarily need to be part of every laundry cycle.

It can be useful every few months or whenever towels begin to feel unusually rough, stiff or less absorbent.

Regular maintenance is more important. Using the right amount of detergent, limiting fabric softener, avoiding overloaded washing machines and drying towels promptly can all help maintain their condition.

Can old towels become soft again?

Many towels can be improved if the fibres are still in reasonably good condition.

However, a cleaning routine cannot reverse normal wear and tear indefinitely. Towels that have become extremely thin, damaged or worn out may not return to their original softness.

For towels that are still structurally sound but have simply become stiff and less absorbent, however, a thorough refresh may be worth trying before buying replacements.

The takeaway

If your towels have suddenly started feeling rough and are no longer absorbing water properly, excessive detergent and fabric-softener buildup could be the reason.

A two-stage hot wash using white vinegar followed by baking soda can help remove accumulated residue and freshen the fabric. After that, using less detergent, limiting fabric softener and drying towels properly can help keep them fluffy and absorbent.

So before throwing those scratchy towels away, give them a deep refresh. The fix may already be sitting in your kitchen cupboard.