My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Housekeeping

'Crispy' bath towels

25 replies

misspollysdolly · 27/07/2013 14:50

Not quite sure what's happened but I've managed to end up with lots of crispy towels at the moment - haven't changed the washing arrangements but I think it's down to drying them in the hot sun - they have literally baked - Grrr!! Some of the older ones especially are really scratchy feeling and will not be nice to use anywhere 'sensitive' Shock

Is there anyway that they can be salvaged and less scratchy?? Or is it time to get new towels and put these baked ones into the clothing recycling?!

OP posts:
Report
sonlypuppyfat · 27/07/2013 14:53

I aim to get them crispy you can't get dry on fluffy towels I like them to take a layer of skin off. I think you should take them off the line when just a tiny bit damp and finish them in the tumble.

Report
HappyAsASandboy · 27/07/2013 14:54

If you put some white vinegar in the fabric softener bit of the machine, they'll come out all soft again :)

White vinegar makes a great fabric softener, and doesn't reduce the absorbency like fabric softener does.

Also, tumble drying them will help, but seems a bit daft in this weather!

Report
VenusSurprising · 27/07/2013 15:00

I also aim to get my towels crispy. Fluffy towels are useless at getting you dry.
We use thin towels and as sparse a pile as possible. I use large muslins too. Wash them often in 60 or 90 as they also exfoliate like Turkish bath towels.

Cant stand the useless fluffy ones: marketing for comfort fabric softener gone mad, I say!

Report
Jan49 · 27/07/2013 15:22

You could just put them back in the wash and see if they are softer afterwards when they haven't been dried in hot sun. Or try ironing them.

Report
ilovepowerhoop · 27/07/2013 18:27

I like crispy towels too

Report
spots · 27/07/2013 18:34

So happy to see all these endorsements for crispy towels!! Me too, dammit!

Report
StealthPolarBear · 27/07/2013 18:36

Another vote for crispy

Report
lostblonde86 · 27/07/2013 22:58

I'm having this problem currently too, v. Crispy towels, will try the vinegar see if that helps. They need to be soft as I have skin probs and it's to painful for crispy :(. Failing that I'll try my mums tumble dryer. Smile

Report
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 27/07/2013 23:00

Oooh, how much white vinegar?

Report
Doingthedo · 27/07/2013 23:00

I aim to them crispy and DHs socks too, he hates it! Ha ha

Report
sonlypuppyfat · 27/07/2013 23:07

Now I do draw the line at a sock that can hold its own shape.

Report
fuckwittery · 27/07/2013 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fussychica · 28/07/2013 14:34

Thought I was the only crispy lover around - good to know some others like their towel to actually dry them Grin

Report
MadeOfStarDust · 28/07/2013 14:35

I like crispy towels too!!!

Report
Fluffycloudland77 · 28/07/2013 14:38

It could be a detergants build up, wash on a hot wash with no detergants and then tumble dry without softener because it makes towels less absorbent.

Report
FairPhyllis · 28/07/2013 14:50

Crispy, practically threadbare towels are the best.

Report
SupermansBigRedPants · 28/07/2013 14:58

Mmm crispy towels, a good layer or two of skin off - lovely!

Tumble dryer the buggers that'll soften them up.

Report
marriedinwhiteisback · 28/07/2013 14:59

I like a nice crispy towel too. Those new soft one's just move the wet around. But as others have said put them through the wash again and then tumble dry.

Report
HappyAsASandboy · 28/07/2013 15:11

I use about a small fabric softener kids worth (though I just slosh it in, don't think it matters how much).

Make sure it is white (clear) vinegar, not malt, or you'll smell like a chippy :)

Report
buttercrumble · 28/07/2013 17:04

Love crispy towels

Report
happyreindeer · 28/07/2013 17:17

I like crispy towels but I also like soft towels so do half in the tumble dryer half on the rope.

Report
chocolatemartini · 28/07/2013 17:59

I like crispy too Grin. It's how I know it's clean

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

treesntrees · 30/07/2013 23:08

Throw the dry towels in the tumble dryer with a wet face flannel for a few minutes. Lacking a tumble dryer I find after the first use they are softer and smaller items such as briefs soften if rubbed between the hands. I use vinegar in the rinse but so far haven't found it softens clothes. Maybe it takes time.

Report
DramaAlpaca · 30/07/2013 23:09

I love crispy towels too.

Report
Showtime · 31/07/2013 09:59

I'm trying to stock up on old-fashioned huckaback (linen) towels, which dry skin on touching and dry themselves equally fast, the kind of thing people used before fluffy towels, so only available in charity shops as far as I know. (Ask your Gran).

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.