Towels are often a breeding ground for bacteria, but there’s a natural item you can add to your laundry to get them clean and smelling fresh
Summer’s just around the corner, and while we’re getting our beach gear and swimwear ready, it’s worthwhile paying some attention to your towels as they’re often harbouring far more dirt than you might think. Towels can be riddled with bacteria, mainly because many people mistakenly use fabric softener when washing them, which can result in excessive soap build-up that blocks the fibres.
This soap residue forms a waxy layer that might not be immediately apparent, but over time leaves towels feeling rather stiff, smelling musty and undermining their cleanliness. Catherine Wrench from Planet Friendly Living has shared a simple method to revive towels and wash them properly, needing nothing more than a box of washing soda.
Catherine explained: “Washing soda has a number of properties that make it especially useful around the home. It is particularly effective at breaking down acids and oils, softening water, cutting through soap scum, and removing stains.”
Washing towels properly poses difficulties, as greasy soap accumulation proves tough to remove without using harsh cleaners that could fade or harm the fabric.
While washing soda is incredibly effective, it’s a naturally occurring salt with high alkalinity, allowing it to break down fabric softener and other oils with ease, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Using washing soda strips away any residue stuck to towels, guaranteeing they come out of the wash cleaner, softer and considerably more absorbent.
Washing soda, also referred to as sodium carbonate or soda crystals, delivers a thorough deep clean for towels without the need for repeated washes, bringing them back to a pristine, like-new state.
How to properly wash towels using washing soda
First, make sure you’re washing towels separately from other clothing. Garments tend to shed considerable amounts of lint during a wash cycle, which can stick to your towels.
Place the towels into the washing machine and add roughly 120ml of washing soda directly into the drum.
Add a small quantity of laundry detergent to the drawer, but steer clear of fabric softener when washing towels, as this can lead to a greasy soap residue building up.
Set the machine to a hot cycle at 60°C or 90°C to give the towels a thorough clean and get rid of any bacteria. Once the cycle has finished, run an extra rinse cycle to flush out the loosened soap residue from the towels.
When the machine has completed all its cycles, either hang your towels outside to dry in the sunshine or pop them in a tumble dryer on a medium heat setting.
Your towels should come out smelling fresh and feeling noticeably softer, leaving you perfectly ready to hit the beach or go for a swim this summer.
