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THERE'S nothing worse than drying yourself with a stiff scratchy towel.
One laundry expert has revealed the tricks to maintaining the material's softness over time.
Morgan LaLonde, who works as a brand manager at Whirlpool, spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun about how to prolong the life of your towels.
Along with normal wear and tear, another issue that can eventually affect your towels is losing their soft fluffy texture.
According to the pros at , a variety of elements can contribute to a scratchy feel.
"A combination of factors makes towels hard and scratchy, including the use of fabric softeners, and an excess of detergent," they said.
The experts added that hard water can also play a role in reducing the soft texture of your towels.
To combat this, LaLonde recommends "using white distilled vinegar or baking soda as an alternative to fabric softeners."
is available to purchase for just 99 cents from Target.
"Fabric softener can sometimes leave a residue or impact the absorbency of towels," she explained.
"Simply add a half cup to the wash to help soften the fibers of the towels and help target bad odors."
LaLonde also shared some preventative tips that she said will keep your towels feeling soft after multiple washes.
First, she revealed the best washing machine settings to use when washing towels.
"In most cases, I recommend using warm or hot water on the normal or regular cycle or a cycle specifically for towels," she said.
"If the wash cycle isn't hot enough, towels can build up soapy residue that can also leave them feeling crunchy and stiff."
LaLonde added that paying attention to each item's care label is vital when doing laundry.
For her next tip, she advised against using too much detergent in each cycle.
"Over time, soapy residue from detergent can become difficult to wash out and lead to stiff or scratchy towels," she explained.
LaLonde recommended opting for , available for $17 from Amazon.
She explained that the bottle's precision pour cap helps to ensure you use the right amount of detergent in each load.
Fresh Clean Laundromat has shared their useful tips to keep towels smelling fresh and fragrant and odor-free.
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LaLonde also emphasized the importance of loading your machine the right way.
"Load your towels into the washer loosely, rather than too packed together," she said.
"This allows the towels to move around and get thoroughly cleaned."
The laundry pro recommended selecting a low to medium heat or a towel-specific cycle on your dryer.
"As always, be sure to check the care label on your towels because over-drying or high temperatures may cause damage," she added.
Finally, LaLonde revealed the best thing to do after washing and drying your towels.
"I recommend storing your towels in a cool, dry spot in your home to maintain the fresh and fluffy feeling," she said.
