Make hard towels 'fluffy' and soft again with simple two-step cleaning hack

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As temperatures drop, towels may lose their softness, with tumble dryers too harsh and air-drying causing mustiness. Overdoing it with fabric softener or washing powder can also harden towels due to chemical accumulation.

However, Bake Off star and cleaning ace Nancy Birtwhistle has a top tip for reviving your towels by incorporating soda crystals into your wash routine.

On Instagram, Nancy shared: "Just two tablespoons of washing soda dissolved in hot water is fantastic because its natural [antibacterial] qualities will dissolve any grease and dirt, neutralise any odour, and soften the water in the washing machine."

Soda crystals are a game-changer for removing stubborn detergent or softener residue and battling the hardness of the water, both of which can make towels feel rough, reports the Express.

In her social media post, Nancy highlighted that soda crystals get the nod over other home remedies like vinegar or baking soda for their superior alkaline properties, which are more effective in tackling residue on fabrics.

For softer towels, chuck them in the washer without overstuffing, ensuring they've got room to move.

To begin, place two tablespoons of soda crystals into the detergent compartment. If towels are particularly dirty, add a tablespoon of liquid soap directly into the drum of the machine, but remember to avoid any fabric softener or regular detergent.

Start your washing machine on the cycle you would normally use. At the end of the cycle, skip the tumble dryer and give the towels a good shake before hanging them to dry in the open air.

Nancy said: "What do you do with towels to get them nice and fluffy? Now you can either put them in an expensive, energy-guzzling tumble dryer, which I don't have.

"Or you can dry them outside, but if there's no wind like today, they're going to dry hard. So this is what you do. We do a workout and we give them a good shake."

She demonstrated this by firmly shaking one end of the towel, then turning it over for another thorough shake. This simple method aids in relaxing the fibres in all directions, making the towels fluffier.

If possible, hang them outside to let the wind add that extra bit of fluffiness, though drying inside is also effective. Once completely dry, the towels should regain their original softness and comfort.

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