Most people do their laundry so many times that they are barely aware of putting the clothes in the washer or running the machine. But even if you own the best washing machine, there are rules that can damage your laundry if not followed. For example, basic things like separating jeans that are being washed for the first time into whites and blacks, but the rules we are going to cover are not well known.

You may have already broken this rule and are feeling the effects, but don't know what caused it. This is a common practice, so most people will either ignore the damage or replace the item and start over again. Here we will identify what is damaged in the washer and why.

The towels in question are towels. Towels must be durable and absorbent. Many of us use towels quite actively on a daily basis, scrubbing ourselves with them and drying our towels. When it comes to washing towels, we tend to put them together with other things, but this is where we make a mistake and end up damaging the towel.

So what does this damage look like? Basically, it is more likely to be felt than seen. The towel will lose its absorbency and will not dry as well as before. New towels are pre-treated to make them soft and fluffy before they are washed for the first time. This is not to be confused with the natural washing process.

Adding fabric softener every time they are washed will damage the towels. This is because fabric softeners are made from silicone oil, which coats the laundry with a waxy substance during washing, making the laundry feel softer. However, this coating must naturally be water-resistant in order to withstand washing, which affects the absorbency of the towels. Towel fibers become coated with the fabric softener and are unable to absorb water as well as they should.

Dryer sheets contain oils that have the same effect, and these should also be avoided when towels are washed and dried.

Some people argue that fabric softeners can be used with every wash, while others argue that they should never be used. We recommend trying the following alternatives.

It is not necessary to use fabric softener to keep towels soft. Instead, once a month, wash your towels with a cup of white vinegar instead of detergent. This will remove soap scum that gives them a rough feel and restore absorbency. In the future, try using less detergent when washing towels to reduce the amount of soap residue. Also, wash towels at as high a temperature as the towels will allow to remove dirt thoroughly.

If you want to use fabric softener for other laundry, you will need to wash the towels separately, being careful not to overload the washing machine.