Scratchy grey towels will turn soft and white again if washed with 3 simple items

If your towels have turned scratchy and grey, you are likely them wrong, but there is a simple way to fully restore them. Towels are super absorbent, which means they should never be washed with fabric softener, as the soap will build up in the fabric over time and stiffen the material.

This soapy coating will not rinse out of the towels, trapping dirt and discolouring the fabric. However, Sarah Gibson, an expert and founder of has shared that you can make towels soft and white again in one wash by using a simple method called stripping.

Sarah explained: "It's basically a cleaning process that involves soaking your laundry for hours at a time to deep clean, eliminate odour and tough stains, and restore softness and absorbency."

Deep cleaning your towels to remove any soap residue from fabric softener is the only way to fix them and make them feel fluffy and look brand new again.

How to laundry strip towels to make them soft again

You will need:

• 120ml of Borax
• 120ml of OxiClean or washing soda
• 120ml of your favourite laundry detergent

Borax helps break down oil and soap in the towels and has mild disinfecting properties, so they can be cleaned once again.

OxiClean can remove tougher stains and lighten fabric to help towels become white again. If you cannot find Oxiclean in stores, you can use washing soda instead, which can be found in the cleaning aisle of most supermarkets.

Method:

All you need to do is fill a bathtub or basin with hot water, which will help activate the cleaning products.

Pour the cleaning ingredients in, wait until they have completely dissolved, and then add your towels.

Make sure your towels are completely submerged, and then leave them for five to six hours to soak.

During this time, the water may turn a mucky grey colour, but do not be alarmed; it just cleans the dirt that is leeching out of the towels.

Once the time is up, remove the towels and give them a quick rinse in clean, warm water to remove any loosened dirt.

Wring out the towels and then add them to your washing machine. Put them on a drain and spin cycle to get rid of the excess water, and then wash them like you normally would.

Make sure to put the towels on a cool temperature cycle and only add a little bit of laundry detergent. Do not add fabric softener, as it will simply get stuck in the material.

Place your towels on low heat in a tumble dryer or hang them outside to dry. When they are fully dry, they will feel soft, fluffy, and completely restored.

Sarah said: "That's it - your cleanest towels that have been revived to the white they once were (or the closest they can be)!"