Want to know how to soften towels naturally and make them feel like five-star hotel luxury at home? The secret is in how you wash them—no fabric softener required. In this post, I’ll walk you through the exact method I’ve been using for years (yes, including how to soften towels with vinegar and baking soda). It’s simple, effective, and will have your rough towels feeling fresh, fluffy, and fabulous again.
Table of Contents
- The Soft Towel Origin Story: Montreal Edition
- Why Your Towels Are Rough in the First Place
- How to Soften Towels in the Washing Machine (My Tried-and-True Method)
- Why This Works (A Little Laundry Science)
- How Do Hotels Keep Towels So Soft?
- More Ways to Keep Towels Soft Over Time
- Final Thoughts
The Soft Towel Origin Story: Montreal Edition
Let me take you back to my Montreal days, where I first discovered the magic of ultra-soft, hotel-worthy towels—at someone’s house. I remember drying my hands in the bathroom of one of my closest friends and thinking: Okay, what kind of wizardry is this?
Turns out, her mother was a professional cleaner at a very upscale hotel in Montreal and swore by a laundry method that didn’t include expensive detergents or mythical fabric softeners. Nope. Just vinegar, baking soda, and a little know-how. Naturally, I took notes. And I’ve been doing it ever since.
Why Your Towels Are Rough in the First Place
Before we fix the problem, let’s address what’s making your towels scratchy and stiff to begin with:
- Fabric softener overload: Yep, it does the opposite of what you think. It coats towel fibers and reduces absorbency.
- Detergent build-up: Using too much laundry detergent leaves residue that hardens the fabric.
- Hard water: Minerals from hard water cling to towels, leaving them crunchy.
- Overdrying: Too much time in the dryer can break down fibers and lead to stiffness.
The good news? We can fix all of this with a method that’s low-maintenance and totally natural.
How to Soften Towels in the Washing Machine (My Tried-and-True Method)
Here’s exactly how to soften towels with vinegar and baking soda:
What You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- Your stiffest, saddest towels
- A washing machine (front loader or top loader—either works!)
- Dryer or drying rack
Step-by-Step Instructions
- First Wash – Vinegar Only
Place your towels in the washing machine and add 1/2 cup of white vinegar directly into the drum (not the detergent drawer). No detergent here. Set to the hottest wash cycle. - Second Wash – Baking Soda Only
Once that first cycle finishes, run a second hot water cycle. This time, add 1/2 cup of baking soda. Still no detergent or softener! - Dry Properly
Toss your towels in the dryer (medium heat works best) or air dry. If possible, toss in a few dryer balls or clean tennis balls to help fluff.
FYI, I use the express cycle on my washer, which runs about 16-20 minutes. No need to run a full 45+ min cycle for this.
Pro Tip
If you’re using a front loader, just sprinkle the baking soda into the drum and pour the vinegar into the detergent compartment during the correct wash cycles. Easy!
Why This Works (A Little Laundry Science)
- Vinegar dissolves mineral deposits and breaks down residue from detergent and fabric softeners.
- Baking soda helps neutralize odors, balance pH, and further softens the fabric.
- No harsh chemicals, no buildup—just fresh, absorbent, fluffy towels that actually work.
How Do Hotels Keep Towels So Soft?
It’s not magic—it’s technique. Hotels avoid fabric softeners (shocking, I know), use hot water, wash in smaller loads for thorough rinsing, and rotate towels frequently to prevent wear and tear. The method I shared above? It’s straight from the playbook of one of Montreal’s top hotel cleaning pros.
More Ways to Keep Towels Soft Over Time
Now that you’ve revived your towels, here’s how to keep them luxuriously soft:
- Skip the fabric softener—always.
- Use less detergent. A little goes a long way.
- Wash towels separately from clothes. Towels love space.
- Shake them out before drying to help fluff the fibers.
- Don’t overdry. Remove from the dryer while slightly damp and hang to finish drying.
FAQ
Final Thoughts
Soft towels shouldn’t be a luxury—they should be your everyday norm. Whether you’re stepping out of a bubble bath or drying your hands after dinner, you deserve that plush, cloud-like experience. Trust me, once you try this vinegar and baking soda method, you’ll never go back to detergent-heavy, crunchy towel life again.
This method is gentle, natural, and—most importantly—it works. I’ve been doing this for years and it still amazes me every time I pull a load of soft, clean towels from the dryer.
Now go on, run your towels through their spa day.
Christopher is a food and lifestyle expert, recipe developer and the content creator behind May Eighty Five. With over 6 years of creating recipes for your favourite food brands, he also shares tips, tricks and how to’s that he has learnt over the years. Every week, he shares quick, simple and mostly healthy recipes along with some home and entertaining tips. You will find flavorful cocktails, delicious appetizers, tasty mains and some indulgent desserts.
