How can I make my stiff and stale bath towels fresh again?

Question

It seems like many of my bath and hand towels are stiff and still smell stale after washing. Have not changed laundry soap or softeners (I use liquid Downy). I recall some alternative method like adding vinegar to the wash or something like that? Hate to spend money on Febreeze Laundry Soap if I don't have to. Any ideas or old remedies out there?

Answer 1

~~Just add white vinegar to the bleach dispenser then do everything else as usual. The vinegar breaks down the soap build up. You will notice a difference after a wash or two. Keep doing, they just keep getting better and better.~~

Answer 2

I think the Downy is your culprit. It's your residue. Ever notice how you can get a greasy spot if you get softener directly on a piece of laundry? Wash the towels in hot water with vinegar and soda, letting them soak for a while before finishing the cycle.  

Answer 3

Use a half a cup of white vinegar..dry them with a dryer cloth to soften them up.

Answer 4

wash them with some baking soda put in with the soap and then add a little vinegar to the rinse water.  I would not use downy it doesn't always make it soft.  I would then use a dryer sheet in the dryer.

Answer 5

I added about a half cup of bleach (even to the coloured ones) and it helped a lot. add the bleach and fill the washer up, then add the towels. then just dry as usual.

Answer 6

try bleach on white towels...worked for us  

Answer 7

I'm glad to know I am not the only one with this problem.  I have tried everything, ammonia, vinegar, etc.  I have given up.  I have decided it's a build up of fabric softener. So I am in the process of replacing my towels 2 or 3 at a time and have decided that from now on I am washing them in hot water and not using any fabric softener.  just a bounce sheet for the dryer and only one of them.  So we will see.  I hate it but it makes me feel better to know its not just me with the problem.  Thanks for posting this.

Answer 8

I am not a fan of 'Downy or any other fabric softener. Go get a gallon size of vinegar and put a cupful of it in the rinse water for a few times. It should remove all that old crud

Answer 9

if you are just trying to freshen them up without washing, toss them in the dryer with a downey sheet.  that should do the trick.

Answer 10

When you store them in a closet or wherever you store them, put scented dryer sheets between the towels.  That will give them that fresh from the wash smell all the time.

EDIT:  Just thought of something.  If you're line drying your towels outdoors or on a line in your house, they will be stiff.  Towels are best off dried in a dryer to be soft.