There’s nothing quite like stepping out of the shower or bath and wrapping yourself in a plush, cloud-soft towel. It’s a small luxury many of us associate with five-star hotels or the feeling of brand-new linens, but over time even the softest towels can become rough, stiff and less absorbent. Frequent washing, detergent build-up and hard water can all strip towels of their softness, leaving them feeling scratchy rather than spa-worthy. The good news is that restoring that freshly laundered feel doesn’t necessarily require replacing your towel collection. Instead with the right care techniques, you can revive tired towels and keep them fluffy for longer at home.To find out exactly how to achieve softer towels, I spoke to the founder of award-winning on-demand laundry and dry cleaning service ihateironing, Matt Connelly. Read more: 10 best towels, tested“One of the easiest ways to make towels softer at home is to cut back on fabric softener and detergents,” he said. “A lot of people think that more fabric softeners and detergents equals softer towels, but too much can actually leave residue on towels, making the fibres feel stiff.” Instead, he recommends using no more than a small capful, or half the amount suggested on the bottle. Plus Connelly says to only use a softener every other wash or every few washes, rather than with every load.The temperature you’re choosing also plays a role according to the founder of ihateironing. “While hot settings are good for heavily-stained towels, frequently washing towels on overly hot cycles too often can wear down the fibres over time,” he explains. “I suggest sticking to moderate temperatures (between 30-40C) is best to strike a balance between cleanliness and softness.When it comes to drying Connelly advises that “if you're using an at-home dryer for your towels, tumble drying them on a low heat with wool dryer balls can also help fluff the fibres up naturally and make them feel softer.”Read more: Best laundry detergents, testedEcover fresh gardenia and vanilla fabric conditioner“Ecover gardenia and vanilla fabric conditioner is the best fabric conditioner you can buy,” according to laundry expert Zoe Griffin, after testing it in her round up of the best fabric conditioners. She found that its ability to soften made it stand out from the rest: “Clothes and sheets emerged from the wash feeling smooth and clean. There was no sticky or heavy residue left behind, unlike other fabric conditioners.”Lakeland towel softenerThis softener is made for towels and in practice it worked well. In her Lakeland towel softener review, Zoe said that “a dose of this in the laundry significantly reduced that crunchy feeling, giving an outdoor line-dried feel”. She added, “I approved of the gentle lavender scent, even if it felt a tiny bit more synthetic than other scents I tested”.Scooms Egyptian cotton bath towel pairExpert tester Siobhan Grogan named this the best bath towel to buy, after testing dozens. She said that “this heavenly, hotel-like towel lost none of its softness during testing, even after several washes”. She noted its excellence absorbency which halved her drying off time, adding “I also liked the fact that it comes with a hook sewn in for easy hanging and double-stitched edging to prevent fraying”. Dunelm ultimate cotton bath towelIf you’re on a budget you can’t go wrong with Dunelm ultimate cotton bath towel, which costs just £12.80. After putting it through its paces, Siobhan wrote in her review that “this towel ticks all the same boxes as more expensive options.” She added, “The zero-twist yarn reduces fibre-shredding; the long pile offers extra fluffiness, and the weighty 600 GSM cotton provides a luxurious feel.” Plus it dried pretty quickly after use.Give your bathroom a glow-up with the best bath mats for 2026