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Getting out of the shower and wrapping yourself in a soft, luxurious towel is one of life’s simple pleasures. However, hard water, friction and continuous exposure to oils and grime can progressively deteriorate the fabric, making towels feel rough and stiff.

Bringing them back to their original condition might seem like quite the challenge, but cleaning influencer @home.with.leanne believes the answer is surprisingly simple. Leanne stated: “Your towels aren’t old; you’re just washing them wrong.” She shared how a single straightforward ingredient transformed her towels “from stiff and scratchy to soft, fluffy, hotel-level again”.

Its domestic uses are extensive, from addressing stains and eliminating odours to clearing drains and rejuvenating towels.

For the best results, add approximately half a cup of baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda) directly into the drum with your towels before starting a wash cycle.

Adding too much detergent won’t result in cleaner towels, as it can prove counterproductive. Detergent often fails to rinse away completely, especially in denser materials like towels.

Instead, it tends to cling to the fibres, resulting in an undesirable stiff texture.

No specialist products or complicated steps are necessary. Simply place your towels in the machine, add some baking soda, and run a warm wash cycle.

Washing towels at the appropriate temperature is also vital, which Leanne says is 40°C. Warm water provides the perfect balance: hot enough to thoroughly clean and remove oils and residue, yet gentle enough to protect the fibres from damage.

This approach helps preserve that soft, fluffy texture instead of breaking down the towels. Those who have tried this method report that the results are immediately noticeable.

Towels emerge softer and smelling cleaner, almost as if they’ve been transformed to hotel-quality standard overnight. “Such a good and low tox hack, and nothing better than a fluffy, soft, white bath towel.”