How do you make hard towels soft and fluffy without a tumble dryer?

[user40788]

I don't have a dryer, so just air dry towels inside on a laundry airer by open window (live in a flat). I have lots of hard crunchy towels (live in area with lots of limescale in water).

I put soda crystals/lavender/vinegar in my wash to try and make my towels light and fluffy but it never makes any difference. What am I doing wrong ?

[specialsubject]

Not drying outside in the breeze. Without the facilities to do that, stiff towels it is.

[Leeloo2]

Ironing will soften them. :)

[TitaniasCloset]

I second ironing.

[MinkowskisButterfly]

Rubbing them together would work . It is recommended for cloth nappy inserts that can't be tumble dried and they are similar texture and it would leave them really soft.

[pennycarbonara]

When you next need to replace towels, get some that aren't terry towelling, e.g. cotton waffle or peshtemals. These feel absolutely fine line dried. Wish I'd done it years ago, and don't understand why they aren't more of a thing yet.

[KoalaDownUnder]

I don't think it's possible, tbh.

I line-dry everything 95% of the year, and nothing gets towels fluffy except tumble-drying.

However, there's no way I'm ironing a towel, so they can stay stiff!

[sodablackcurrant]

I don't get soft towels at all. They do not dry you properly and slip off your skin.

I much prefer harder towels. Dry in a minute and exfoliate your skin too.

But each to their own.

Obviously I am no help to this thread whatsoever! Sorry folks.