How to Make Bath Towels Soft Again | Vinegar and Baking Soda Fix

Wash towels with vinegar, then baking soda, in two separate hot-water cycles to restore softness.

Stiff, scratchy bath towels usually aren’t ruined — they’re coated in detergent residue, fabric softener wax, and mineral deposits from hard water. The fix that consistently works is a two-step deep clean that strips those layers away. Here’s the exact routine, plus how to keep them soft afterward.

Why Towels Turn Stiff In The First Place

Towels lose their plush feel when buildup accumulates on the cotton fibers. Detergent that doesn’t fully rinse away leaves a film, and fabric softener — despite the name — coats fibers with a waxy layer that reduces absorbency over time. Hard water adds mineral deposits that make fabric feel rough.

The buildup is gradual, so the change sneaks up on you. One day a towel that used to be fluffy feels like sandpaper, and no amount of regular washing seems to help. That’s because standard wash cycles with detergent actually add more residue to the problem. The deep-clean method below removes what’s already there.

The Two-Step Vinegar And Baking Soda Wash

The reliable deep-cleaning routine uses two separate washes — never combine vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle, since they neutralize each other. Each step targets a different type of buildup.

Step 1: Vinegar Wash

Load towels into the washing machine without any detergent or fabric softener. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar directly into the drum, then run the washer on the hottest water setting your towels’ care label allows.

Step 2: Baking Soda Wash

Leave the towels in the machine and run a second wash, still without detergent. Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of baking soda to the drum and wash on the same hot-water setting.

One common mistake is overloading the washer during this process. The towels need room to move freely so the water and cleaning agents can reach every fiber — pack the drum loosely, not tightly.

Step 3: Dry Thoroughly

Shake each towel out well before putting it in the dryer, which fluffs the fibers and helps them dry evenly. Dry on low to medium heat until completely dry — damp towels left in the dryer can develop a musty smell that’s harder to remove than the stiffness.

How Often To Deep-Clean Towels

Between deep cleans, skip fabric softener entirely — it’s the most common reason towels decline in the first place.

For everyday washing, use less detergent than you think you need — modern machines and detergents require less than most people use — and make sure towels are fully dry before folding. If you’re shopping for replacements because your current towels are beyond saving, see our roundup of the best bath towels to compare top-rated options that stay soft longer.