The ultimate guide to deep clean your towels, remove trapped residue, and restore their fresh, fluffy feel.

Nothing is worse than stepping out of a refreshing shower, only to grab a towel that smells musty or feels rough against your skin.

Over time, towels lose their softness and absorbency due to detergent buildup, fabric softeners, and bacteria, trapping odors and reducing their effectiveness.

The good news?

You can restore them to their fresh, fluffy state with a simple deep-cleaning method.

With just a few simple ingredients, you can break down stubborn residue, eliminate odors, and make your towels feel brand new again. It’s a game-changer for fresh, fluffy towels!

Table of Contents

[hide]

Sunnyside home is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, this blog earns from qualifying purchases with no additional cost to you. Click here to read our full disclosure policy.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deep Cleaning Towels

Reviving your towels is easier than you think!

Woman smells stinky black bath towel in the bathroom.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the simple process of deep cleaning your towels to remove detergent buildup and lingering odors.

Using just a coupe of household ingredients, you can strip away residue and restore their softness and absorbency.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Before you start deep cleaning your towels, gather everything you’ll need.

Of course you’ll need your dirty towels and laundry detergent, preferably one without added fillers.

I prefer to use concentrated Norwex laundry detergent, which is free from phosphates and fillers and it does an amazing job dissolving grease, grime and dirt to get your laundry cleaner and brighter.

Vinegar and baking soda on a laundry room fold table.

In addition to deep clean your towels, you’ll need white vinegar to break down residue and kill bacteria, and baking soda to eliminate odors and boost freshness.

Step 2: Load Towels

To ensure an even wash, it’s important to load your towels correctly.

If you have a top loading washing machine, placing them evenly around the perimeter of your drum.

For a front loading washing machine, just place them in the drum.

Woman places dirty black bath towels into the drum of a front loading washing machine.

Avoid overloading, as this can prevent the towels from being cleaned properly.

For best results, wash no more than 4-6 towels at a time, depending on your machine’s capacity.

This allows them to move around easily and ensures an even wash.

Are you enjoying this article?! Please pin it, save it for later and share it with a friend.

Sharing is caring!

Step 3: Add Baking Soda

Once your towels are loaded, it’s time to add the baking soda.

Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of baking soda directly into the washing machine drum, not the detergent dispenser.

Woman puts baking soda into the drum of a front loading washing machine to deep clean towels.

Baking soda works wonders by helping to break down residue, neutralize odors, and boost the effectiveness of your detergent.

It also helps soften the water, making it easier to lift away built-up oils and dirt from your towels, leaving them feeling fresher and fluffier after the wash.

If you’re new here, welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.

Let us introduce ourselves, we’re Michelle and Steph, a mom and daughter team who love to DIY and decorate our homes.

Not only are we passionate about making our homes warm, comfortable and unique, but it’s our mission to help you create that same feeling in your own home.

You’ll find ideas for repurposing, creating, decorating and making your home truly yours, while always mindful of a tight budget.

Undoubtedly we love finding ways to make your home look high-end on a small budget.

Plus you’ll also find a recipe or two as we share our family favorites with you.

We’d love it if you’d join our community of doers so you won’t miss any inspiration for your home.

We love new friends.

Step: 4 Add Laundry Detergent

For the best results when stripping your towels, it’s important to choose a high-quality laundry detergent without added fillers that can effectively break down oils, residue, and buildup.

Avoid using detergent with added softeners, as these can leave residue behind.

My favorite is concentrated Norwex laundry detergent, you only need 1 tsp. for a large load so it’s very economical.

Woman places laundry detergent into the receptacle in a front loading washing machine to deep clean towels.

Make sure to use the recommended amount of detergent based on your washing machine’s size and load.

This ensures your towels get thoroughly cleaned without leaving any detergent buildup, helping restore their softness and absorbency.

Step 5: Pour in White Vinegar

White vinegar is a key ingredient in deep cleaning your towels, as it helps to break down detergent buildup, remove odors, and restore softness.

Its natural acidity effectively dissolves residues left behind by soap and fabric softeners, leaving towels fresh and fluffy.

For best results, add 1 cup of white vinegar into your washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser.

Woman pours vinegar into the fabric softener receptacle of a front loading washing maching to deep clean towels.

If your machine doesn’t have a fabric softener dispenser add the white vinegar directly into the drum during the rinse cycle.

This helps eliminate any lingering smells and ensures your towels are completely free of buildup, making them feel soft, clean and rejuvenated.

Step 6: Start Washing Machine

Now that your towels, detergent, baking soda and vinegar are in, it’s time to start the washing machine!

For deep cleaning towels, use the hottest water setting your towels can handle—usually, hot or warm water works best.

Hot water is essential for breaking down stubborn residue, oils, and buildup, allowing the detergent, baking soda and vinegar to work more effectively.

This helps lift away dirt and detergent trapped in the fabric, ensuring your towels come out soft, fresh, and thoroughly cleaned.

Step 7: Dry Towels on Highest Setting

Once your towels are clean, it’s time to dry them on the highest heat setting.

High heat is essential for eliminating any lingering bacteria or mildew that may have remained after the wash, ensuring your towels are not only fresh but sanitized.

Woman places clean damp towels into the dryer.

For fluffier towels, give them a good tumble dry, and add a couple of dryer balls or clean tennis balls to help fluff up the fibers.

Be sure that your towels are completely dry before folding them and storing them in your linen closet.

Let’s stay connected! Follow us on social media!

How to Prevent Towels From Getting Mildew

To prevent towels from getting mildew, it’s essential to dry them thoroughly after each use.

Avoid leaving damp towels in the laundry basket or on the bathroom floor, as this creates the perfect environment for bacteria and mildew growth.

In addition avoid folds in the towel when hanging towels to dry, so they dry completely.

Hang towels in a well-ventilated area or use a heated towel rack or clothes dryer to ensure they dry completely.

Clean black bath towels hung on a black shelf, floral shower curtain and black and white tile.

If you live in a humid climate, consider using a dehumidifier in your bathroom or laundry room to reduce moisture.

If you love using fabric softener, try swapping it with white vinegar for a great alternative.

Fabric softener can leave behind a residue on towels, which builds up over time with regular use.

White vinegar works similarly by softening your towels but also has the added benefit of killing bacteria and preventing static.

It’s a natural, effective way to keep your towels fresh and soft without the buildup.

Regularly washing towels, avoiding fabric softener and following proper drying techniques will help keep them fresh and mildew-free.

Easy Laundry Stripping Recipe

Clean stacked black bath towels on the bathroom counter.

Easy Laundry Stripper Recipe

Michelle Dickson

This simple laundry stripping recipe uses three easy ingredients: a detergent free of fillers, baking soda, and white vinegar. The detergent cleans and breaks down oils and residues, while the baking soda boosts freshness and helps remove buildup. White vinegar works to eliminate odors and sanitize, leaving your towels fresh, soft, and absorbent. It’s an effective, natural solution for deep cleaning towels and other laundry without harsh chemicals.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 0

Ingredients

1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 tsp. Norwex laundry detergent, or equivalent

Instructions

Place towels in the washing machine drum along with 1/2 cup of baking soda.
Pour the recommended amount of laundry detergent into the dispenser, as directed on the container.
Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.
Set your washing machine to the hottest water setting your towels can handle.
Once the wash cycle is complete, transfer the damp towels to the dryer and set it to the hottest heat setting.
Ensure towels are fully dry before folding and storing.

Shop Laundry Stripper Supplies

FAQ

Where do I put vinegar in a washing machine?

To use vinegar in your washing machine, add it to the fabric softener dispenser. This allows the vinegar to be released during the rinse cycle, helping to break down detergent buildup, eliminate odors, and soften the fabric.

Why are my towels still soapy after washing?

If your towels are still soapy after washing, it could be due to a few reasons:

Too Much Detergent: Using too much detergent can leave residue on towels that isn’t fully rinsed out. Always follow the recommended amount on the detergent label.
Overloading the Washer: Overloading the washing machine prevents proper water circulation, meaning detergent can’t be fully rinsed out. Try washing fewer towels at a time.
Cold Water Wash: Washing towels in cold water may not dissolve the detergent properly. If your towels are particularly soiled, try washing them in warm or hot water (if the fabric allows it).
Water Hardness: Hard water can cause detergent to cling to towels. Consider using a water softener or adding vinegar to the rinse cycle to help break down soap buildup.

What breaks down soap buildup?

To break down soap buildup, a few common ingredients are highly effective:

White Vinegar: White vinegar is excellent at breaking down soap and detergent residue. Its acidity helps dissolve buildup, neutralize odors, and restore softness to towels and other laundry. Simply add 1 cup to the fabric softener dispenser during the rinse cycle.
Baking Soda: Baking soda helps boost the effectiveness of your detergent while also neutralizing odors and breaking down buildup. It can be added directly to the washing machine drum (about 1/2 cup) along with your detergent.
Washing Soda: Washing soda (also known as sodium carbonate) is a powerful cleaning agent that can help dissolve soap scum and detergent residue. It’s often used in laundry stripping recipes to help break down buildup.
Hot Water: Hot water helps dissolve soap buildup more effectively than cold water, allowing detergent and additives like vinegar or baking soda to work more efficiently in breaking down residues.

Using a combination of these ingredients regularly can help prevent soap buildup and keep your towels fresh and clean!

How do hotels keep towels soft?

To prevent soap buildup, hotels are careful to avoid overusing detergents. They also often add a vinegar rinse to eliminate any leftover soap and soften the towels.

After washing, towels are dried at high heat, which helps fluff up the fibers and keep them absorbent and soft. Some hotels also use dryer balls to help keep towels fluffy during drying.

Do you need to rinse after washing with vinegar?

No, you typically don’t need to do an additional rinse after washing with vinegar, as it should already be added during the rinse cycle.

When you add vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser, it will be released during the rinse cycle, which is when it works to break down detergent buildup, remove odors, and soften the fabric.

This means the vinegar should effectively rinse out during that cycle, leaving your towels fresh without any vinegar residue.

Final Thoughts

By following these simple steps, you can restore your towels to their soft, fluffy, and absorbent best.

Laundry stripping with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and a good detergent helps break down buildup, eliminate odors, and keep your towels fresh for longer.

Regularly deep cleaning your towels will not only enhance their softness but also extend their lifespan.

I like to deep clean my towels about once a month to keep them fluffy and absorbent.

When I mentioned this week’s post to my hubby, he was surprised to learn that I regularly use vinegar to deep clean our towels.

He had no idea—especially since they always smell fresh and stay perfectly absorbent!

For more deep cleaning tips, click here.

Looking for a little inspiration for your bathroom? Take a look at these ideas:

We hope you found some inspiration for your home today.

Please share your laundry tips and ideas with us.

We love hearing from you!

If you’re new here, WELCOME! We love having new readers and friends!

You can learn more about us here.

Let’s stay connected! Join our DIY community of doers and you won’t miss the weekly updates and more inspiration for you always on a budget.

Sharing is caring!

PInterest image: stacked fresh, absorbant, deep clean towels with white vinegar and baking soda.

Thanks for stopping by Sunnyside Home. Empowering you to create a home you love!

Michelle Dickson

Retailers We Love

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for even more home decor and DIY ideas.

To see what we are working on before it’s on our blog, follow us on Instagram.

You will also find our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

Decorate

DIY’s

Outdoor Living

Clean + Organize

Home Tour