Try This Easy Baking Soda Hack to Freshen Up Tea Towels

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Tea towels are kitchen workhorses, drying hands, mopping spills, and even doubling as makeshift pot holders. But with constant use, they can quickly become musty, stained, or just plain tired-looking.

If your tea towels have seen better days, there's a simple, inexpensive hack to freshen them up using ingredients you probably already have: baking soda and white vinegar.

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 cup white vinegar
• A large bowl, sink, or bucket
• Hot water

Instructions:

1. Soak in baking soda

Fill a sink or large bowl with hot water, making sure it's as hot as your fabric can tolerate. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and stir until it fully dissolves.

Submerge your tea towels in the solution and let them soak for at least 30 minutes or overnight if you're dealing with particularly stubborn odors or stains.

2. Vinegar rinse

Drain the baking soda solution and gently wring out the towels. Refill the sink with fresh hot water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Place the towels back into the solution and let them soak for another 30 minutes.

3. Wash and dry

Launder the towels in your washing machine using a mild detergent, and be sure to skip the fabric softener, as it can trap residues and reduce absorbency.

Once washed, dry the towels completely, preferably outside in the sun to boost freshness and help naturally disinfect them.

Bonus tips:

• Add a few drops of lemon essential oil or tea tree oil during the vinegar soak for a natural antibacterial boost and a lovely, pleasant scent.
• If your towels are white, hang them in direct sunlight after washing to help naturally bleach and disinfect them.