Why You Shouldn’t Use Fabric Softener on Towels

Updated April 10, 2026

Fabric softener can destroy the very thing your business needs most: absorbency. For managers of spas, salons, gyms, hotels and restaurants, plush, fluffy towels are a non-negotiable part of the guest experience. But the moment you add liquid softener or dryer sheets to the laundry cycle, you coat those high-quality cotton fibers with a waterproof layer of silicone oil.

That leads to a cascade of problems. Guests complain that towels feel slick instead of soft, odors get trapped and drying times increase. So yes. Fabric softener is bad for towels. But what do you do once the damage is done?

This ultimate guide answers three critical questions. How to get fabric softener out of towels, does fabric softener make towels less absorbent (spoiler: it does) and is fabric softener bad for towels in commercial settings? Keep reading to learn the science, the fixes and the safe alternatives which keep your premium towels truly luxurious.

Table of Contents

What Is Fabric Softener?

Fabric softener is a liquid product made from silicone oil, fragrance and other ingredients. When you pour it into your wash cycle, the silicone oil often listed as Polydimethylsiloxane (PDM), Siloxaneas or Trimethylsiloxysilicate on the packaging sticks to the fibers of your clothes. This can make the fabric feel softer and reduce static. But the greasy coating repels moisture and reduces absorbency.

With continuous use, the fabric softener builds up on your towels , creating a barrier against soap and water. Meaning your towels don’t get clean and retain a lot of the bacteria they pick up. Towels are designed mostly to absorb. This is why you don’t want to use fabric softener. The oil buildup also makes your towels lose their breathability and flattens the cotton loops. Which makes them lose their fluff and luster. So if you’re still asking yourself “Should I use fabric softener on towels,” the answer is no.

Worse still, the buildup can reduce your washing machine’s or dryer’s operating efficiency. That’s because it clogs the lint filter and other parts. Which worsens water flow and air circulation. You can continue using fabric softener on other fabrics apart from cotton, microfiber and cashmere. 

What Are Dryer Sheets?

Dryer sheets are small rectangular woven fabrics and plastics coated with chemicals, including fatty acids, waxes, fragrances, stearic acid and others. They are a popular alternative to fabric softeners that you throw in the tumble dryer instead of your washing machine drum. 

When you throw one or more dryer sheets with your towels into the dryer, the heat and the tumbling activate the sheets. This makes the fatty or stearic acid melt and creates a light coating on fabrics, infusing them with scent and creating softness. The heat and the friction inside the drum also activate the other ingredients, which reduces wrinkling and static cling.

What Are Dryer Sheets?

However, over time, the chemicals and waxes, similar to those in fabric softeners, accumulate on your towels. They form a slippery and greasy coating on your towels which decreases their absorbency. Additionally, the fragrances infused in the dryer sheet may increase drying time and could make your towels retain moisture, making them more susceptible to developing mold and mildew.

Is Fabric Softener Bad for Towels?

While fabric softener is not bad for your laundry, it can be bad for your towels. People commonly use liquid fabric softeners during the wash cycle alongside detergent. It conditions the laundry, so it is fluffy, fresh-smelling and static-resistant. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the active ingredient in most fabric softeners. However, when you use fabric softener with towels, the PDMS (a silicone oil) destroys absorbent properties.

The oil in the fabric softener latches on to clothing and creates a coating. Towels absorb water. But oil repels it. When an oil coating attaches to a towel, it causes the fibers to become greasy and slippery, which hinders its absorbency. When the soapy residue of fabric softener builds up on the towel, it causes it to become stiff instead of soft. That is why is fabric softener bad for towels.

Fabric softener is not the only laundry product which contains PDMS. It is frequently found in dryer sheets as well . Drying towels with dryer sheets can destroy their absorbency for the same reason washing them with fabric softener can. Cutting fabric softener and dryer sheets out of your wash and dry routine for your towels will help keep them absorbent.

You may wonder how to keep towels soft without fabric softener and dryer sheets. Below are various methods and tips you can use to keep your towels fluffy and absorbent.

How to Remove Fabric Softener from Towels

If you already used fabric softener on towels and are noticing stiffness, musty smells or poor absorbency, don’t worry. You can reverse the damage.
The real question is, does fabric softener ruin towels? Not if you act quickly. Prolonged use can degrade performance. But you can reverse the buildup with the right stripping method. Here’s how to get fabric softener out of towels in a few wash cycles.


Step 1: Wash with Hot Water and White Vinegar
Run your towels through a hot water cycle with no detergent. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser . Or right into the drum. The vinegar dissolves the silicone oil and wax residue from using fabric softener on towels.


Step 2: Run a Second Cycle with Baking Soda
After the vinegar cycle is done, wash the towels again. This time use ½ cup of baking soda (no vinegar or detergent). Baking soda lifts the remaining residue and neutralizes any odor.


Step 3: Dry on Low or Air Dry
Tumble dry on low heat or line dry . Avoid dryer sheets which add back the same waxy coating you just removed. Once dry test the absorbency. Do this by dropping water on a corner. If it beads up, repeat steps 1 and 2 one more time.
How Often Should You Do This?


Even after you stop asking does fabric softener ruin towels, it’s good to perform this deep-cleaning routine every 3-6 months. This is especially important if you manage a gym, spa, or hotel where towels are washed often . Knowing how to get fabric softener out of towels is an important skill. It increases the life of your linens and keeps guests happy. Without ever using fabric softener on towels again.

How to Keep Bath Towels Soft and Fluffy 

Many believe that to keep towels soft and fluffy, you need fabric softener and dryer sheets, which raises the common question: do towels need fabric softener? However, as mentioned above, fabric softener and dryer sheets contain PDMS, which will coat the towel fibers and cause them to lose absorbency and become stiff and scratchy.

Cutting fabric softener and dryer sheets out of your wash-and-dry routine for towels is the first step to keeping them soft, fluffy and absorbent. Below are a few suitable alternatives for fabric softeners and dryer sheets that ensure your towels are clean and plush. These alternatives work the same but with the added benefit of not making your towels less absorbent and rigid. There are also many tips for washing towels that will help you keep them fluffy and clean. 

1. Wash Your Towels More Often


It is recommended to wash bath towels after three uses, as long as they are properly dried. Hanging up your towel is the only way for it to dry correctly. Towels have to dry, or they will grow bacteria, viruses and mold. They can easily accumulate mold and bacteria growth when damp and left in a humid environment.

Whether you use fabric softener on towels or not, you should wash hand towels every day or every other day to prevent the spread of germs. This frequent laundering can eventually decrease the absorbency of a towel by breaking down the fibers. The best way to avoid this issue is by rotating out your towels and hand towels. This will give the towels a break in between washes.

When you buy new towels, you should wash them on their own before use. New towels are more likely to create lint, which will collect on your other towels. Additionally, many manufacturers pre-treat new towels with a silicone coating, which blocks absorbency. Washing them before use will remove this coating, allowing for maximum absorption. New colored towels also transfer dye easier, so washing them in a separate load before use prevents them from transferring dye to other linens.

Aside from washing towels more frequently, you must also wash them separately. Towels are bulky and produce lint which will collect on your other laundry. You should never wash cotton, bamboo, polyester blend or any other type of linen material with microfiber or corduroy because these fabrics attract lint. Besides the lint, towels hold water, so overloading the dryer with wet towels can prevent your other items from drying. When it comes to towels and fabric softener, remember that separating your laundry is just one step. Keeping softener away from towels is the other.

You can also do an extra rinse and spin cycle when you wash towels separately. This will help remove any accumulated detergent, preventing towels from losing their absorbency and becoming stiff.

2. Hang Damp Towels

If you intend to reuse your hand towel or bath towel, you must hang it up after use so it can dry properly. Damp towels create a warm, welcoming environment for many microorganisms. When you reuse a towel which has retained moisture, you might re-introduce yourself to these bacteria, viruses and fungi. A dry towel won’t breed as many microorganisms, so you can reuse it safely up to three times.

Aside from bacteria, viruses and funguses, wet towels are susceptible to mold and mildew. While removing mold and mildew from a bath towel is possible, it is best to prevent it from becoming an issue.


Mildew happens when harmful bacteria evolve. In towels, this occurs when they are wet for long periods. This can happen when you don’t hang your towel up to dry or throw a damp towel in the laundry pile or basket to wash it later. If you don’t wash the towel that day, it can develop mildew and a musty odor.

3. Use Less Detergent

Towels don’t need too many products during the wash. When you use too much detergent, it coats the towels and leaves residue behind, causing them to feel stiff and scratchy. Using less detergent reduces the residue and prevents buildup, keeping your towels soft. Check the directions for your detergent to see the recommended amount per load size.

In addition to using less detergent in the wash, you should decrease the wash temperature. The ideal water temperature for towels is warm or cool. This temperature won’t damage cotton fibers like hot water will. It will also prevent residue buildup by increasing detergent absorbency. The exception to this rule is white towels, which should be washed in hot water rather than warm or cool.

Different fabrics require different wash temperatures, so read the product label to determine the best water temperature. Following the care instructions will maintain your towels’ quality for years to come.

4. Dry the Towels on a Low Heat Setting

The high heat setting on the dryer can damage cotton towels regardless of their quality. It will burn the fibers, causing the towel to flatten and never become soft again. So, using a low heat setting is better to prevent this damage and keep the towels fluffy.

If you are worried the towels are too wet to dry, you can shake them out before placing them in the dryer. Shaking your towels out will fluff the fibers, aiding in absorbency. It also prevents them from bunching up in the dryer, lessening drying time. Towels take longer to dry than clothes because of their thickness, so you must ensure they are fully dry before folding them. A slightly damp towel is susceptible to mold.

You should allow your towels to air dry occasionally instead of always drying in the dryer. You can use the air dry setting on your dryer or hang your towels to dry in the sun. However, remember that the sun can bleach or fade certain fabrics, so a spot in the shade may be better to keep colored towels bright.

When using the dryer, avoid over-drying your towels or overloading your dryer. Over-drying your towels can damage the fibers and decrease absorbency. Washing and drying too large of a load will prevent your towels from becoming clean and increase the dry time. The towels won’t have room to spin around in the washer and rinse properly. In the dryer, they won’t be able to fluff up or dry and will clump together.

Substitutes for Fabric Softener 

There are two notable household commodities that you can use when washing or rinsing your towels to substitute fabric softeners for your towels. These are:

1. Vinegar

White distilled vinegar is a natural fabric softener that dissolves and removes soap, detergent and synthetic fabric softener residue on your towels without affecting their quality. Adding one-quarter to one cup of vinegar to your wash cycle will make your towels fluffier, more absorbent and leave them smelling fresh. 

Contrary to popular belief, the strong scent of vinegar won’t leave your towels or your washer smelling sour. In fact, vinegar refreshes and deodorizes towels by cleaning them and killing odor-causing bacteria in your washer and laundry. You can still infuse your clothes with your favorite scent when using vinegar by adding 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil to your rinse cycle.

Avoid bleach when using vinegar because mixing them releases toxic gas called chlorine gas, which can be potentially lethal. In general, bleach should only be used as a last resort to remove stains. If used occasionally, it can kill bacteria, but when you use too much bleach, it will dry out and weaken the towel fibers, ultimately reducing absorbency. Vinegar is great for colored towels because it sets the colors and prevents them from running.

Substitutes for Fabric Softener

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another common household commodity and natural detergent that works wonders on towels. Sprinkling half a cup of baking soda on your towels in the washing machine or adding it directly to the drum, with or without laundry detergent, helps to get rid of residue, grime, and stains on your towels.

It also makes them softer by loosening the fibers and eliminating residue. Baking soda is the best for removing musty odors from towels left in a hamper for too long, leaving them smelling fresh. If you have white towels, baking soda will lighten them slightly. 

Alternatives for Dryer Sheets

While dryer sheets make clothes smell fresh, soften fabrics and reduce static and lint, they reduce their absorbency and fluff. Here are some suitable substitutes for dryer sheets when looking to maintain the quality and absorbency of your towels:

1. Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls are an effective alternative to dryer sheets that perform the same but are more affordable and can be reused multiple times. They also lack chemical compounds that make dryer sheets less than appropriate for use with towels. 

Wool dryer balls soften towels by agitating them or lightly beating against them as they dry to get rid of any stiffness or lumps. As the wool balls bounce around, they create space between the towels, which reduces friction, wrinkles, and drying time. If you still want your towels to smell wonderful, soaking the dryer balls in an essential oil before you use them will leave your clothes smelling like you used a scented dryer sheet. 

2. Tennis Balls

Tennis balls will prevent towels from clumping together, collect lint and reduce static by beating against the towels in the dryer and preventing them from clinging. They also fluff the towels and remove any lumps that make your towels stiff. Old, clean tennis balls are the best because new ones might infuse the towels with an undesirable rubber-like scent. You can infuse them with fragrance by wrapping an old sock soaked in essential oil.

3. Aluminum Balls 

If you’d rather not use tennis balls, you can make your dryer balls using aluminum foil and pair them with wool dryer balls. Using at least one sheet of aluminum foil, crumple it into 3-inch balls that you toss into the dryer together with your towels. The aluminum agitates the towels to reduce static and cling. They also fluff out the fabric and break up any stumps, making your towels softer and more plush. 

4. Wash Cloth 

Another suitable and cost-effective alternative to dryer sheets is an old washcloth infused with a few drops of essential oil. Throw these together with the towels in the dryer, and you can wait for your clothes to come out smelling great and feeling soft and fluffy. 

Start With Quality Towels From Towel Super Center

Start With Quality Towels From Towel Super Center

No matter how you wash and dry them, towels must be high-quality to deliver the best fluffiness and softness. To enjoy quality 100% cotton towels and cotton/poly blends, Towel Super Center offers a range of options in a rainbow of colors and many sizes for a variety of industries. Spas, athletic teams, bars, restaurants, car dealerships and other businesses turn to us when they need durable, attractive and reliable towels at wholesale prices.

Towel Super Center lets you buy in bulk from the comfort of your home or office while saving money. Buying in bulk is easy with our secure online payment, and we deliver quickly to your door, saving you time as well. Browse the selection at Towel Super Center today to find the perfect towels for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions on Fabric Softener and Towels

Is fabric softener bad for bath towels?

Yes. Fabric softener is bad for bath towels because it coats cotton fibers with a waterproof silicone oil. This oil blocks the towel’s natural ability to pull in water making the towel feel greasy instead of absorbent. Over time the buildup traps detergent residue and body oils which causes stiffness and a musty smell. A bath towel treated with softener cannot dry your skin properly because the water simply slides off the coated surface. For daily use, fabric softener turns a plush towel into a slick non-absorbent cloth. Which is why most experts recommend skipping softener entirely for bath linens.

How do hotels keep towels soft and fluffy?

Hotels keep towels soft and fluffy by never using fabric softener or dryer sheets. Instead they wash towels in hot water with a mild detergent and add white vinegar to the rinse cycle. The vinegar dissolves alkaline residue from soap and restores natural fiber softness without any waxy coating. Hotels also tumble dry towels on low heat and remove them while slightly damp to prevent fiber damage. They replace towels frequently. And avoid overloading washing machines so each towel has room to agitate properly. This method preserves the cotton loops which create fluffiness while maintaining high absorbency for guests.

Is it better to wash towels without softener?

Yes, it is better to wash towels without softener because softener destroys the very qualities that make a towel useful. A towel washed without softener stays absorbent dries your skin faster and resists odors since water can rinse away soap completely. Towels washed with softener require more drying time because the oily coating traps moisture inside the fibers. Without softener you also avoid the stiff scratchy feeling which appears after softener residue builds up over multiple washes. The natural friction of clean cotton fibers against each other in the dryer creates plenty of softness on its own. Skipping softener also extends the life of your towels by preventing chemical breakdown of the cotton loops.

What is a good alternative to fabric softener for towels?


A good alternative to fabric softener for towels is white distilled vinegar added to the rinse cycle. Use one-quarter to one-half cup of vinegar per load. Vinegar removes soap residue balances the pH of the fabric and softens towels naturally without any oily coating. Another excellent alternative is wool dryer balls tossed into the dryer. These balls bounce against the towels during drying which separates fibers reduces static and cuts drying time by up to twenty-five percent. Baking soda works well too. When added directly to the wash drum with detergent. For a fresh scent put a few drops of essential oil on a clean washcloth and throw that into the dryer instead of a dryer sheet.

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