Vinegar won't soften towels and leaves them 'smelling of chips' if not used right

White vinegar isn't just a staple for culinary adventures – it also plays a vital role in the , especially when it comes to giving older towels a new lease on life. Its ability to cut through dirt and eradicate horrible smells like mildew, even post-wash, is loved by many.

It has the added perk of enhancing detergent performance while avoiding the repellent residue that certain fabric softeners leave behind. As an all-natural remedy, it wages war against any left-over deposits from detergents or softeners which might be causing your towels to feel less than welcoming.

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Sam Whigham from Wilton London chatted with Secret Linen Store and sang the praises of white vinegar for its prowess in rescuing towels that have turned unyieldingly rigid and abrasive. If you're itching to know the magic amount that transforms towels from abrasive to snug, look no further.

Whigham's tip: "If your towels are very stiff and scratchy, try adding around 250ml of vinegar to a wash along with your laundry liquid."

And if you're worried about your linens reeking of vinegar, Whigham provides reassurance that the right quantity introduced straight into the drum before the cycle kicks in "won't leave your laundry smelling like a bag of chips".

To keep your towels perpetually plush, making white vinegar a consistent addition to your washing arsenal is a savvy move, reports .

Sam has some savvy tips for households struggling with stiff towels, warning them about the abundant use of fabric conditioner: "It's tempting to pour a load in the wash to soften super-stiff towels, but this will only add to the problem. By using too much, it will effectively clog the fibres, causing them to dry even stiffer."

He advises opting for restraint with fabric softener, saying about half a cap should do the trick for most washes, as "this is plenty". He pointed out that a little and often approach can gradually enhance towel softness.

When it comes to tumble drying, Sam recognizes its advantages but urges moderation, remarking: "The rough and tumble of a dryer is excellent for softening towels, yet over-drying is a big cause of the sandpaper effect."

For the softest results, Sam shares two key techniques. One method is to slightly under-dry the towels in the dryer right after washing, ensuring they retain some moisture to avoid roughness.

Or, as an alternative, he suggests air drying towels before giving them a short, cool tumble dry for 20 minutes to fluff up the fibres and achieve a more pleasing texture.