Stepping out of the shower to a slightly crunchy towel leaves much to be desired. But with a few expert tricks, you can give your sad, sandpapery towels some much-needed TLC and get them hotel-soft.

Sam from Wilton London has revealed the best ways to soften towels. One of the top tips is to add dryer balls to the tumble dryer. These can be purchased at the supermarket, but a tennis ball will also do. Pop one in the dryer to help agitate the fibres, decrease static, dry faster, and improve air and heat circulation.

Another tip is to go easy on the detergent and fabric softener. Many of us are guilty of overusing them, but a lighter hand means they are less likely to accumulate on the fibres and cause stiffness.

Sam also recommended using a gentler detergent and washing at a lower temperature to ensure the fibres aren’t being stripped of their natural softness.

Make sure you don’t overcrowd the washing machine, too, giving plenty of room for a few towels. Packing them in can prevent detergents and conditioners from rinsing properly.

Tumble drying towels is contentious. Doing so can make them fluffy, but overdoing it can make them crunchy. Either dry them at a low temperature or hang them out and put them in the dryer on cool to agitate the fibres.

The expert added that towels should never be dried on a radiator, as this is almost certain to make them less fluffy. If you don’t have a tumble dryer, put them on a clothes horse next to a heater or hang them outside on a windy day.

Sam finished with a bonus tip, suggesting that people add 250ml of white vinegar to their wash along with detergent. This can help remove lingering odours and detergent residue as well as help soften the fibres.