Towels do not need fabric softener to feel comfortable. In fact, repeated softener use can work against one of the main reasons a towel exists: absorbing water.
The better way to preserve softness is to prevent detergent, mineral, oil, and laundry-product residue from building up; give towels enough room to wash and rinse; and dry them in a way that loosens the fibers without repeatedly overheating them.
Soft towels come from clean, well-rinsed fibers with enough room to move—not from repeatedly coating the surface with more product.
The Quick Answer
| Habit | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Measure detergent | Use the amount recommended for the washer, load, soil, and water conditions | Reduces residue that can leave towels stiff or coated |
| Load loosely | Leave enough space for towels to lift, turn, and rinse | Improves soil removal and water circulation |
| Use a suitable cycle | Choose the warmest label-safe water and an appropriate towel or normal cycle | Supports cleaning without unnecessary fiber stress |
| Skip routine softener | Avoid liquid softener and dryer sheets when absorbency is the priority | Prevents repeated hydrophobic coating of the towel surface |
| Shake before drying | Open and loosen each towel before it enters the dryer or goes on a rack | Reduces compacted folds and helps the pile dry more evenly |
| Avoid over-drying | Remove towels once fully dry using a care-label-safe setting | Limits unnecessary heat and fiber abrasion |
Why Fabric Softener Can Be a Problem for Towels
Fabric softener works by depositing conditioning ingredients onto the fibers. Those ingredients can make fabric feel smoother, reduce static, and add fragrance.
The drawback is that many softening ingredients are hydrophobic, meaning they resist water. The American Cleaning Institute acknowledges the concern that this may affect towel absorbency, while Maytag and Whirlpool both advise avoiding softener when maximum towel absorbency is desired. [1][2][3]
Dryer sheets can create a similar issue because they also contain softening agents that transfer onto fabric during drying.[4]
A smoother surface
Softener can reduce friction and static by leaving conditioning ingredients on the towel.
Direct water contact
Repeated coating can make it harder for water to contact the fibers and move into the towel.
One accidental use does not usually destroy a towel. The greater concern is cumulative residue from repeated use over time.
What Actually Makes Towels Feel Soft?
Softness is influenced by more than one variable:
- Fiber type
- Yarn fineness and twist
- Pile length and density
- Surface construction
- Detergent and mineral residue
- How the towel is dried
- Whether the fabric has been compressed or overheated
- Age, abrasion, and fiber damage
This is why a towel may feel firm after air drying but softer after tumbling, even though no softening product was added. Drying changes how freely the fibers and loops sit relative to one another.
Why do air-dried towels often feel stiffer?
Water evaporates while the loops and fibers remain relatively still, so they dry in a more fixed position. Machine tumbling repeatedly bends and separates the surface while it dries, creating a looser hand feel. Shaking the towel before and after air drying can reduce some of that stiffness.
Can a towel be soft but not very absorbent?
Yes. A towel can feel smooth because its surface is coated, yet absorb less efficiently because that coating resists water. Softness and absorbency should be evaluated separately.
How to Keep Towels Soft Without Fabric Softener
Start with the care label
Use the permitted wash temperature, cycle, bleach type, and drying setting for that towel. Cotton, fine-fiber plush, decorative borders, and dark dyes can all have different limits.
Do not overload the washer
Towels become heavy when wet. A packed load cannot move or rinse effectively, which can leave detergent, body oil, and soil inside the fabric.
Use the warmest water allowed by the label
Warmer water can support detergent performance and body-oil removal when the textile permits it. Do not override the care label or assume every towel needs a hot cycle.
Pause liquid softener and dryer sheets
Give the towel several normal washes without coating products. This lets you evaluate the natural feel and absorbency of the fibers.
Use an extra rinse only when residue is likely
An additional rinse can help after detergent overdosing or when towels feel soapy or coated. It should not become a substitute for correct dosing and load size.
Shake towels open before drying
Separate compressed folds and loops before placing towels in the dryer or on a rack. This helps expose more of the surface to moving air.
Use label-safe heat and avoid over-drying
Whirlpool recommends following the care label and removing towels once dry rather than repeatedly exposing them to unnecessary heat.[7]
What to Do When Towels Are Already Stiff
What best describes the towel?
Best first response: Stop softener and dryer sheets, wash a smaller load with correctly measured detergent, and use an extra rinse if residue is likely. Improvement may take more than one normal wash.
Best first response: Shake towels vigorously before hanging and again when dry. Use a brief label-safe tumble if permitted, and avoid folding the towel over itself while it dries.
Best first response: Confirm that detergent dosing accounts for hard water. Consider a laundry product specifically labeled for hard-water conditions and compatible with the textile and washer.
Best first response: Correct the wash and drying routine first. If the pile is permanently crushed, damaged, or thinning, the change may be normal wear rather than removable residue.
What About Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Laundry Stripping?
These methods are commonly presented online as universal alternatives to fabric softener, but they are not necessary for a good towel-care routine.
Not a default requirement
Acidic vinegar may be unsuitable for some fibers, dyes, seals, and appliance components. Check the towel label and washer manual before using it. Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach.
Not automatically safer
A kitchen ingredient is not automatically appropriate for every washer or textile. Start with correct detergent dosing, rinsing, and machine maintenance.
Aggressive, not routine
Maytag describes laundry stripping as an intensive process intended to remove built-up soil, detergent, and softener residue—not a normal maintenance wash.[10]
A mechanical option
Reusable dryer balls may help separate items and reduce clumping during tumbling. Use them only when compatible with the dryer and towel care instructions.
How Cotton and Signature Plush Differ
| Care point | Cotton terry | Mallo Signature Plush |
|---|---|---|
| Surface feel | Looped, lofty, or dense depending on yarn and pile | Smooth, velvety ridges made from fine synthetic fibers |
| Common stiffness issue | Mineral residue, detergent buildup, air-drying firmness, or crushed loops | Detergent, softener, oil, or lint buildup on the fine plush surface |
| Sorting priority | New cotton may release lint during early washes | Keep away from lint-heavy loads when preserving the smooth finish matters |
| Drying priority | Shake loops open and avoid unnecessary over-drying | Use label-safe heat and preserve the sculpted ridges |
| Softener | Can reduce absorbency through repeated coating | Can interfere with the intended fine-fiber surface and moisture behavior |
Mallo Signature Plush uses an 85% polyester and 15% nylon blend at 380 GSM. Its softness comes from the fine-fiber material and sculpted ridged construction rather than from fabric-softener coating. The Pure Cotton Collection uses 100% long-staple cotton at 430 GSM and provides a denser, more traditional natural-fiber feel.
Habits That Make Towels Rougher
- Pouring detergent without measuring
- Using routine liquid softener on absorbent towels
- Adding dryer sheets to every towel load
- Packing the washer too tightly
- Using the wrong detergent for an HE machine
- Skipping washer maintenance
- Drying at higher heat than the label permits
- Leaving towels tumbling long after they are dry
- Air drying towels folded over themselves
- Mixing fine-fiber plush with lint-heavy loads
- Ignoring hard-water conditions
- Trying several laundry hacks at once
Frequently Asked Questions
Can towels stay soft without fabric softener?
Yes. Correct detergent dosing, a loose washer load, effective rinsing, shaking before drying, label-safe tumbling, and avoiding over-drying can preserve softness without repeated coating products.
Why are my towels hard after washing?
Common causes include excess detergent, incomplete rinsing, hard-water minerals, softener buildup, overloaded washing, high heat, air-drying stiffness, and normal fiber wear.
Do dryer sheets make towels less absorbent?
They can. Dryer sheets contain softening ingredients that transfer onto the fabric and may reduce absorbency over time. Maytag advises avoiding them on towels when maximum absorbency matters.
Will an extra rinse make towels softer?
It may help when detergent or softener residue is present. It is less useful when the real cause is hard-water minerals, fiber damage, or over-drying.
How can I soften air-dried towels?
Shake them firmly before hanging and after drying, spread them with minimal overlap, use moving air, and add a short care-label-safe tumble when permitted.
Can I use wool dryer balls with towels?
They may help separate items mechanically during drying, but results vary. Follow the dryer instructions and avoid adding fragrance oils that could transfer to the towels.
How do I make old towels soft again?
Stop softener and dryer sheets, wash a smaller load with a measured detergent dose, add an extra rinse if residue is likely, and dry correctly. Permanent pile damage and fiber wear cannot always be reversed.
Final Takeaway
Fabric softener can create an immediate smooth feeling, but it is not required for a comfortable towel—and repeated use can compromise absorbency.
The most reliable softness routine is simple: measure detergent, avoid overloading, rinse well, skip routine coating products, shake the towel open, use care-label-safe heat, and remove it once dry.
Softness should come from the towel’s fibers, yarn, and construction—not from a layer that prevents the fabric from doing its job.
References
- American Cleaning Institute. Fabric Softeners and Enhancers: A Comprehensive Guide. View source
- Maytag. Fabric Softener vs. Conditioner vs. Laundry Detergent. View source
- Maytag Product Help. Tips for Using Fabric Softener in Washer. View source
- Maytag. What Do Dryer Sheets Do? View source
- LG USA Support. The Laundry Feels Stiff. View source
- American Cleaning Institute. Laundry Basics. View source
- Whirlpool. How to Wash and Dry Towels to Keep Them Soft. View source
- LG USA Support. Fabric Softener Cannot Be Added or Is Added Early. View source
- Maytag. What Do Dryer Sheets Do? View source
- Maytag. What Is Laundry Stripping? View source
- Whirlpool. What Is Fabric Softener and What Does It Do? View source
- Maytag. How to Remove Static From Clothes. View source
- Maytag. How to Wash Microfiber Towels and Cloths. View source
- Mallo Towels. The Marshmallow Bath Towel 2.0. View product
- Mallo Towels. Pure Cotton Collection. View collection
