Tea towels will feel much more hygienic if you add 1 simple item to the washing machine

Tea towels are essential for drying dishes and tackling tough kitchen , but they quickly lose their effectiveness if not properly. Lisa from has shared a big mistake people make when washing their tea towels with fabric softener and too much laundry detergent.

She said: "Always wash your tea towels in small loads and use about half the amount of detergent than you usually do and do not use any fabric conditioner." Tea towels are designed to be super absorbent, so using too much soap in the washing machine will cause oily reside to become trapped in the fabric.

Fabric softener and using a heavy amount of laundry detergent will build up over time to from a waxy layer that make tea towels less absorbent, dull their colour and make them feel scratchy to touch.

It can also cause tea towels to leave a greasy smear when drying dishes, especially glassware, which not only looks unpleasant but can also be unhygienic.

However, you do not have to throw out your tea towels just yet as there is a very easy way to wash them properly to remove any soapy build up in their fibres.

Lisa said: "Start the rinse cycle with hot water which will break down the fabric softener finish. Make sure the tea towels are completely submerged and you do not need to add detergent. Add a cup of white vinegar instead in the place you usually put the detergent."

It may sound bizarre but the white vinegar often used for salad dressing is actually one of the best items for laundry as it has antibacterial properties that can loosen soap residue.

To wash tea towels properly, add them as a small load by themselves with no other laundry as not overloading the washing machine makes it easier for rinse the soap away.

Then add 240ml of white vinegar to the detergent drawer of a washing machine and do not add anything else. Put the washing machine on hot wash of at least 60C to also break down any residue.

Once the wash cycle has finished, start the same wash cycle again but this time add 115g of baking soda as it can also help dissolve grease or detergent build up.

Both white vinegar and baking soda are very effective at restoring tea towels but do you mix both together in your washing machine in one wash as they will create a fizzy bubbling affect that will neutralise the cleaning properties of each ingredient.

Lisa said: "Don't try and cut corners by adding the vinegar and the baking soda to one wash...it will cause a big foamy mess and could damage your washing machine!"

Once your tea towels come out of the wash, they will be fresher and much more absorbent, making them perfect for picking up spills in your kitchen.

Then all you need to do is hang them up to dry or place them in the tumble dryer, and do not worry, they will be completely clean and will not smell like vinegar.