Washing Towels With These Household Staples Will Make Them Cleaner and Softer, Pros Say

• Baking soda and vinegar clean towels efficiently because of their bacteria-killing and deodorizing properties.
• Running this combo through the washing machine neutralizes the ingredients, so use this method by hand.
• Consider steam cleaning towels for efficient cleaning when a load is too much trouble.

As any pro will tell you, no home cleaning arsenal is complete without vinegar and baking soda. Both together and apart, these two ingredients are cleaning powerhouses, perfect for use on everything from windows to kitchens.

We were curious to know if they could be used for cleaning towels as well. We reached out to a few cleaning and laundry pros with this question in mind, and here’s everything they had to say about using vinegar and baking soda to wash towels.

Can You Wash Towels With Vinegar & Baking Soda? 

Not only can you use baking soda and vinegar to wash your towels, but it’s actually a natural and effective alternative to detergent.

“Vinegar kills bacteria, while baking soda removes odors and softens fabric,” explains laundry pro Ocean Van.

Fellow laundry expert James Joun agrees, noting that this combination is also great for busting oil-based stains like grease and makeup. This makes vinegar and baking soda a particularly great option for washing hand towels and kitchen towels.

“Vinegar’s acidity helps loosen oil-based stains from the hand towel, which can then be washed away through mechanical action, such as scrubbing, sloshing, or machine washing,” says Joun. 

Beyond this, baking soda creates a chemical reaction that further lifts the stain from the towel—something you can see physically in action when it starts to fizz.

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How to Hand-Wash Towels With This Combo

If you’re interested in using these two ingredients at home, Joun says you can hand wash your towels in vinegar and baking soda. This process works particularly well if you’re working with smaller towels, such as hand towels or hair wraps.

1. Mix warm water and vinegar. Using a bowl or large bucket, fill with comfortably hot water. Do not use boiling water. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar and stir.
2. Soak towels. Submerge the towel or towels and let soak for 30 minutes.
3. Add baking soda to mixture. After soaking, remove the towel or towels and add 1/4 cup baking soda to the same water. You’ll notice immediate fizzing.  
4. Agitate towels. Place the towels back inside and gently move around for 2-3 minutes. 
5. Rinse with cool water. Remove the towels and rinse under cold running water. Continue until the water runs clear and feels clean.  
6. Air dry. Squeeze out any excess water and hang to dry.

4 Additional Tips for Washing Towels

There are so many different options and methods for washing towels, so here are just a few tips to set you up for success moving forward.

Don’t Run This Combo Through the Machine

While laundry expert Frej Lewenhaupt agrees that vinegar and baking soda can be a helpful combo for washing towels, he doesn’t recommend it regularly. In fact, he warns against using them in your washing machine.

“This process requires two washing cycles as mixing the vinegar and baking soda in the same wash will neutralize one another,” says Lewenhaupt. 

Because two washes are a must, you’re actually negating some of the benefits of vinegar and baking soda—both for your water usage and your towel’s longevity.

“Since this process requires additional washing, leading to more water and energy usage, it is not something I’d recommend as it can be harmful to the fabric over time,” says Lewenhaupt. 

Skip the Fabric Softener

Van warns against using fabric softeners, as they reduce towel absorbency. 

“If towels start to smell or feel stiff, we use vinegar and baking soda every few weeks to restore their softness and absorbency,” says Van.

Consider Other Natural Alternatives

If you like the idea of vinegar and baking soda as a natural alternative, Van says there are more options you can consider for washing your towels.

• Unscented Castile soap is great for sensitive skin. 
• Lemon juice functions as a natural whitener and deodorizer.
• Air and sun drying kills bacteria, removes odors, and natural brightens light or white towels.

Try Steam-Clean Your Towels

If you’d like to avoid machine washing your towels but you’re not sure you have the energy for a full hand wash, Lewenhaupt says you can effectively steam-clean towels.

“It’s less common to use for towels than garments, but still effective for reducing bacteria and odors on lightly used ones,” says Lewenhaupt. “Less water, less energy, and kinder to the fibers.”