Young children can overheat so if they are old enough to use a full size bed, we recommend using a single size 4.5 tog duvet. Tog rating

Hand-washing towels is a great alternative to washing them in a washing machine. However, this method does take longer to complete, and is arguably a more tiring cleaning process. While scent booster beads are a helpful way to mask odors, they're not technically a fabric softener. However, you might prefer them if priority is infusing scent into your clothes, so we still wanted to include them. Booster beads should also not be used in every load of laundry; certain fabrics, like elastics and spandex, can wear down from too much product exposure. And, as is always a possibility with laundry products, the added fragrance can be irritating for people with sensitive skin. Still, if you want your clothes to smell nice out of the wash, give these a try. Ecozone’s concentrated Radiance fabric softener is made with natural, gentle ingredients that will leave clothes fresh and soft, with a delicate floral fragrance. The fabric conditioner is cruelty-free, vegan, and endorsed by PETA too. The first step you should always take when washing new towels is to read their care label. The small tag, usually found near one of the towel’s corners, will tell you how to wash your towel and how to dry it. Some formulas are available in multiple ways; you might have a favorite brand that can be found as a liquid, a pod, or a sheet. Like with detergents, you may also see iterations of formulas with different scents, too. If you're sensitive to scents or fragrances, many softeners come in a free + clear option (fragrance-free).Yep – Baking Soda. It is always there when we need you, especially when our towels have become stiffer than we could imagine. You can soften your towels with baking soda by mixing roughly a cup of baking soda in with your detergent before running the washing machine. Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. If the skin sensitivity is due to artificial ingredients, you might be better off looking at a product made with only natural ingredients and is approved by Allergy UK, such as the Ecover Zero fabric conditioner. Environmental impact You heard that right. If you want to keep your towels soft, you shouldn’t be using a fabric softener. When washing towels, add ½ a cup of bicarbonate of soda to the wash cycle. This will help to remove dirt, oils and chemicals. It will also help to remove any bad smells from the towels too. Use A Hairbrush

Once dried, don't leave your towels sitting in the dryer. Take them out straight away and give them a shake to fluff them up. Optional: You can bleach towels, but make sure you use a colour-safe oxygen bleach and always do a patch test first! You don’t need to do this every single time you wash your towels, every so often would do. Be careful if drying towels outside - don't place them in direct sunlight as the sun's UV rays can fade them. If you do dry your towels outside on the washing line, you can throw them into the dryer for a few minutes on a low heat, to give them a little bounce and warmth

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If you suffer from sensitive skin and have had issues with scented fabric softeners in the past, you can even now find either lightly scented or completely fragrance-free alternatives. Ingredients There are many chemicals in fabric softener that have been linked to forms of cancer and other nasty diseases. The second method is to lower the temperature you wash your towels at. Detergent soap is absorbed by water that’s hovering around body temperature, so turning the setting on your washer to warm, unless you really need it hot to clean a heavy stain, can lead your towels having a longer lifespan.

The scent of a fabric softener is easily one of the most important considerations. After all, you don’t want to be wearing clothes all day that have a scent you can’t stand.

3. Reduce Washing Frequency

It's never a good idea to overfill your washing machine, as it pretty much always results in a less effective wash because the clothes won’t have enough room to move around in the machine.

The water soaking into the fabric loosens the fibres allowing oils, dirts, stains and bacteria to flow out of the material. The second way you can have softer towels is a rather old-fashioned method of drying your clothes. Just wait around for a nice, windy day and hang your clothes out on a clothesline outside. Fabric softener, also known as 'fabric conditioner,' is a fabric care product designed to deposit a coating that makes fibers feel smoother and more supple,” says Lindsey Boyd, co-founder of The Laundress. That means, it can make your clothes feel soft, scented, and free of wrinkles and static. So, long story short: The necessity of fabric softener ultimately comes down to personal preference and how you want your clothes to feel when they come out of the dryer.When washing, avoid overdosing with detergent as it can leave towels stiff. Follow the detergent manufacturer's advice for dosage. For brightly coloured towels, use a colour-safe detergent to prevent fading. If you have a soft spot (pun intended) for the Snuggle bear, you're not alone. The cozy mascot has been associated with the brand since the 1980s and, in our experience, is a great representation of the soft and snuggly results you'll get from this fabric softener—not to mention the consistency and reliability. Clothes come out of the wash feeling both fresh and soft to the touch, and smelling noticeably clean. We'd describe the scent as floral and sweet, but not overpowering. Make sure you don’t confuse baking soda with bicarbonate of soda,' warns Deyan. 'You can find baking soda at any regular supermarket. Add half a cup of baking soda directly to the washing machine drum, sprinkling it over your towels, to keep them naturally clean. Do not add laundry detergent.' 4. Add half a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle Once your towel is clean and dry, use a hairbrush to brush out the surface. It will help break down the dried detergent residue that causes scratchy towels as well as separate the threads to make your towel softer to the touch. Most types of brushes would work, including paddle brushes with plastic bristles.