Why Fabric Softener Ruins Towels—and What to Do About It

How Fabric Softener Destroys Your Towels

Here's what fabric softener does when you add it to towel loads:

1. Coats fibers with waxy chemicals: Fabric softener works by depositing a thin layer of toxic chemicals (usually quaternary ammonium compounds) onto fabric. On clothes, this creates a smooth, slippery feel. On towels, it creates a water-repellent barrier.

1. Reduces absorbency by up to 50%: That waxy coating prevents cotton fibers from absorbing moisture. That’s why, over time, you’ll notice water beading up on the towel surface instead of soaking in.

1. Traps bacteria and odors: That waxy residue creates pockets where bacteria thrive, especially in damp bathroom environments. This is why your towels smell musty even right after washing.

1. Breaks down fabric structure: Eventually, the toxic chemical buildup from fabric softener weakens cotton fibers, causing towels to feel rough, thin, and worn out faster than they should.

The irony? The product promising "softness" is actually making your towels harder, less absorbent, and shortening their lifespan.

5 Ways to Fix Towels Ruined by Fabric Softener

If you've been using fabric softener on your towels for months (or years), don't worry. Most towels can be restored with a few simple treatments. Here's how to strip away the buildup and bring back that fresh, fluffy absorbency.

1. Strip the Buildup with Baking Soda

This is the simplest method and works for mild to moderate buildup.

Step 1: Load your washing machine with the affected towels. Don't overfill—towels need room to agitate freely.

Step 2: Add 1 cup of baking soda directly to the drum (not the detergent dispenser). Don't add any laundry detergent.

Step 3: Run a hot water cycle with an extra rinse.

Step 4: Dry on medium heat. If towels still feel waxy or don't absorb well, repeat the process.

Pro Tip: Baking soda is alkaline, which helps dissolve the oily residue left by fabric softener. For heavily coated towels, you may need to do this 2-3 times.

2. Use White Vinegar to Break Down Residue

White vinegar cuts through waxy buildup and neutralizes odors trapped in the fabric.

Step 1: Load towels into the washing machine.

Step 2: Add 1-2 cups of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser or directly into the drum during the rinse cycle.

Step 3: Run a hot water cycle.

Step 4: Dry towels completely on medium heat.

If towels still smell like vinegar after drying, run one more rinse cycle with just hot water—no vinegar or detergent.

Important: Don't mix vinegar and baking soda in the same wash. They neutralize each other, and you'll get no benefit from either. Alternate between the two methods if needed.

3. Try the "Laundry Stripping" Method for Severe Buildup

For towels with years of fabric softener buildup, you may need to do a deep-strip treatment in your bathtub.

Step 1: Fill your bathtub with hot water (the hottest your tap produces).

Step 2: Add this mixture to the water:

• ¼ cup washing soda (not baking soda, that’s a different product)
• ¼ cup borax
• ½ cup laundry detergent (fragrance-free works best)

Step 3: Submerge your towels completely and stir occasionally. Let them soak for 4-6 hours.

Step 4: Drain the tub. You'll likely see murky, grayish water. Don’t be alarmed, it’s just all the trapped residue and grime coming out.

Step 5: Rinse towels thoroughly in the washing machine (no detergent, just a rinse cycle).

Step 6: Dry on medium heat.

This method is dramatic, and the water will look disgusting. But your towels will come out looking—and feeling—like new.

4. Wash Towels in Hot Water with No Additives

Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest one: stop using fabric softener and wash your towels properly going forward.

Step 1: Use a plant-based, fragrance-free laundry detergent, like Truly Free Home Laundry Wash, with no added softeners or brighteners.

Step 2: Wash towels in hot water (140°F if possible). Hot water helps release buildup and kills bacteria.

Step 3: Skip the fabric softener and dryer sheets entirely.

Step 4: Dry on medium heat. Over-drying on high heat can make towels stiff.

Within 3-5 washes, you should notice improved absorbency as the old residue gradually washes away.

5. Add a Half Cup of Vinegar to Every Towel Load

Once you've stripped the initial buildup, prevent future problems by adding white vinegar to each towel wash.

Step 1: Wash towels with your regular detergent. A non-toxic laundry detergent that rinses clean is best. 

Step 2: Add ½ cup white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser or during the rinse cycle.

Step 3: Dry as usual.

Vinegar naturally softens fabrics without coating them, breaks down detergent residue, and eliminates odors. Your towels won't smell like vinegar after they dry—promise.