Brits told 'don't do this' if they want towels to be fluffy instead of crunchy and hard

A laundry expert has shared the ultimate no-go to avoid at all costs if you want the . For that super soft, just-bought feeling, it's just as important to avoid some things, rather than add in extra steps.

Katarzyna Kurylek, head of laundry at the shared the cardinal sin with Good Housekeeping when it comes to towel washing. Her tip is linked to fabric softener because, even though it can improve softness and make towels smell fresh, too much can actually lubricate the towel fibres and cause them to lose their absorbency.

So as well as not overusing the product, she advised people against overloading the washing machine because this can make matters worse.

She explained that overloading the machine can prevent the detergent from being applied or rinsed as well as it should, so the residual detergent can linger on the towels and make them feel hard.

If this happens, the product can actually make towels feel hard and crunchy, far from the desired outcome of using fabric softener.

In general, overloading a machine is best avoided because it puts strain on the drum and can prevent it from spinning smoothly. The best bet is never filling it more than three-quarters full.

The advice is backed up by Mary Johnson, a former principal scientist at Proctor & Gamble, which manufactures popular .

She also advised against overlaoing the machine on the home blog, and warned against using fabric softener too often, cautioning that buildup can occur with consistent use.

She advised using the product only every third or fourth wash, and said any buildup could be removed by soaking towels in a tub of hot water and a mixture of Borax, washing soda, and detergent.

She also suggested softening towels with vinegar, which can be a natural alternative to fabric softener in measures of around a quarter of a cup.