What’s the best way to soften towels naturally without fabric softener?

[LoganEL]

I’ve been trying to switch to a more sustainable laundry routine, but I’m stuck on fabric softener. I stopped using the conventional bottled kind and bought some wool dryer balls, but my towels still come out feeling stiff and scratchy. Has anyone else had this happen and found a way to soften them naturally without just going back to chemicals?

[Oliver.M]

I ditched fabric softener too and started adding about a half cup of white vinegar in the rinse. Towels softened after a couple of cycles, and the wool balls kept things fluffy without residue.

[EmmaW]

For me the stiffness came from soap buildup, so I cut detergent a lot and ran an extra rinse. They finally felt softer, though not perfectly fluffy.

[Emma57]

Hard water was the villain here; I tried a simple water-softener setup and a chelating laundry additive, which helped reduce the scratchy feel over several washes.

[Richard.C]

I mix in a bit of air drying—half in the sun if possible, then a low heat cycle at the end. The towels feel less stiff after that, though it's slower.

[Alexander_G]

The wool dryer balls helped a little, but I stopped using any oils on them. Oils left a little residue and made towels seem crusty to me.

[Sophia_R]

Do you wash towels separately from other fabrics?

[EmmaET]

Maybe your towels are just old and a bit worn; I held onto a set that started to feel rough after years, and a replacement helped more than any trick.