--- title: "How to Restore Softness to Old Towels: Simple Home Remedies That Really Work" description: "Styler and other publications explained how to restore softness to old towels using white vinegar and baking soda, as well as how to properly dry textiles and dose laundry detergents." date: 2026-08-25T15:10:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/how-to-restore-softness-to-old-towels-home-remedies tags: [towels, laundry-tips, home-hacks, fabric-care] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # How to Restore Softness to Old Towels: Simple Home Remedies That Really Work ![Towels spilling from a woven basket: home ways to restore softness to old textiles](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/26/kak-osvezhit-starye-polotenca-domashnie-sposoby/kak-osvezhit-starye-polotenca-domashnie-sposoby-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Towel stiffness is most often caused by the buildup of detergent and fabric softener residue in the fibers, not by fabric wear. - White vinegar (100–150 ml in the softener compartment) and baking soda (2–3 tbsp) are used separately, in different wash cycles. - Towels need free space in the drum, and after washing they should be hung up immediately and shaken out before drying. - Heavily worn towels do not have to be thrown away; they can be used as reusable cloths for cleaning. Over time, even high-quality towels lose their softness, become stiff, absorb water poorly, or develop an unpleasant odor. As noted by the lifestyle project Styler (RBC-Ukraine), in most cases the cause is not that the fabric has completely deteriorated, but rather the buildup of detergent and fabric softener residue right inside the fibers. This is precisely what allows you to give old towels a second life without buying new ones, using simple household remedies. ### Why Towels Become Stiff One of the most common causes of lost softness is an excessive amount of detergent: its residue gradually accumulates between the fabric fibers, making the towel less pleasant to the touch. Fabric softener also has an unexpected effect — it does make the fabric feel softer, but it forms a coating on the surface of the fibers that, over time, reduces the towel's ability to absorb water. Therefore, the first rule for towels that have lost their properties is not to use too much laundry detergent and not to overuse fabric softener. ### White Vinegar Instead of Fabric Softener One simple way to refresh old towels is to wash them with white vinegar instead of fabric softener. Place the towels in the drum, add the usual amount of detergent, and pour about 100–150 ml of white vinegar into the softener compartment. Select the temperature according to the label's recommendations. Vinegar helps remove some of the mineral and soap deposits that accumulate on the fabric, after which the towels should be dried thoroughly. It is important not to mix vinegar with bleach or other harsh agents, and if the manufacturer has specific care instructions, follow them exactly. ### Baking Soda for Deep Cleaning If the towels have not been refreshed in a long time, you can try another option — baking soda. Place the towels in the machine, add the usual amount of detergent and about 2–3 tablespoons of soda, then start a regular wash cycle, selecting the highest temperature allowed for the fabric. Do not add large amounts of both soda and vinegar to the machine at the same time: for this kind of cleaning, it is better to use them separately, in different cycles. After washing, do not leave the towels in the drum for too long — damp textiles quickly develop a musty smell, so it is best to hang them up immediately. ### Proper Drying and Dosage Before drying, the towel should be shaken out well — this helps straighten out the fibers that became tangled during washing. If you have a tumble dryer, a short drying cycle on the appropriate setting can make terry towels significantly fluffier, whereas constant over-drying on a very hot radiator, on the contrary, makes the fabric stiff. Even the best cleaning method will not yield results if the drum is constantly overfilled: towels need space for water and detergent to pass through the fabric properly. Therefore, it is better to wash old towels not in huge piles, but leaving enough free space in the drum, and occasionally wash them without fabric softener. ### A Second Life for Old Towels If, after all these procedures, an old towel still remains stiff, thin, or has lost its ability to absorb water well, its fibers may have physically worn out. In such a case, there is no need to throw the item away immediately: old towels can be turned into reusable cloths for the kitchen, cleaning, or washing windows, and they will remain useful in the household for a long time. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [How to Restore Softness and a Beautiful Look to Old Towels: Simple Home Tricks That Really Work](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/useful/k-povernuti-m-yakist-i-garniy-viglyad-starim-1787663138.html) - Первичный источник: причины жесткости, уксус 100–150 мл, сода 2–3 ст. л., сушка и дозировка. - [Just One Product Can Restore Softness and Freshness to Stiff Towels, and It Is Not Baking Soda](https://www.unian.net/curiosities/kak-stirat-polotenca-chtob-byli-myagkimi-sovety-13344279.html) - Подтверждает акцент на уксусе как средстве для мягкости и свежести полотенец. - [One Cup in the Drum — and Old Towels Will Become Soft, Fluffy, and Absorb Perfectly Again ...](https://www.pravda.ru/news/realty/2366712-how-to-soften-hard-towels-guide/) - Согласуется с рекомендацией добавить стакан (≈100–150 мл) средства в барабан для мягкости. - [You Can Restore a Towel's Softness with a Simple Trick: What to Toss Into the Washing Machine](https://glavred.info/lifehack/vernut-myagkost-polotenca-mozhno-s-pomoshchyu-prostogo-tryuka-chto-sleduet-brosit-v-mashinku-10748414.html) - Подтверждает бытовой трюк с добавлением средства в машинку для восстановления мягкости. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why do towels become stiff over time? **A:** Most often due to the buildup of detergent and fabric softener residue in the fabric fibers, rather than from complete wear of the material. ### Q: Can vinegar and baking soda be used at the same time when washing towels? **A:** No, it is better to use them separately, in different wash cycles, rather than simultaneously in large amounts. ### Q: What to do if a towel remains stiff after cleaning? **A:** The fibers have probably physically worn out; such an item does not have to be thrown away and can be used as a reusable cloth for the kitchen or cleaning.