The laundry secret for spa-like, fluffy towels — and all it takes is one cheap household staple

Six white towels stacked and rolled on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

There’s nothing like a relaxing shower or a soak in the bath, then wrapping yourself in a soft, fluffy towel. But the reality is often far from the ideal. After a few washes, those once spa-like towels become stiff and scratchy.

However, it turns out there’s one cheap household staple you can add to your wash to bring back that soft feeling, and it will neutralize odors too.

There are lots of ways you can use vinegar around the home, both inside and out, from cleaning your dishwasher to spraying it outside in the summer to get rid of ants. What’s more, you can add vinegar to your laundry to soften towels while also cleaning mold and mildew from your machine.

How to soften your towels with vinegar

White vinegar in washing machine — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

To soften your towels with vinegar, add it to the rinse cycle of your load. Pour ¼ to ½ cup of vinegar into your load and allow it to soften and neutralize the odors as the towels rinse.

Brighten white towels

Vinegar can also be used before a wash to brighten white towels. Soak them in a solution of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar. Leave the towels for at least one hour, or overnight, before putting them through a wash cycle.

Will vinegar leave a lingering smell on my towels?

Lavender flowers on a tabletop with a small bottle of lavender oil — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Your towels should come out smelling fresh after a wash cycle, as the odor will be washed out during the rinse. However, if the vinegar scent still lingers, air your towels outside, or mix a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender, lemon or eucalyptus, with water and give them a light spritz.

Why use vinegar rather than fabric softener

Traditional fabric conditioner leaves behind a waxy coating on fabric, reducing a towel’s absorbency and making it less efficient at its job.

Adding vinegar to your wash helps strip away detergent buildup and hard-water minerals from the fabric, resulting in a towel that is soft and absorbent.

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Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides.

Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.

Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.