‘Crunchy’ clothing, how to wash?

[Caspianberg]

My Mil has kindly sent Ds some clothes. They are secondhand but good condition. Most are jumpers or cardigans, and although I have washed them, they all seem a bit ‘crunchy’ and not soft like his other bits.

Is it just the material? I think they are acrylic rather than wool or cotton. Or can they be salvaged?

Normally I wash everything on regular 40 wash for about 2 hrs with persil powder and it’s fine. All wools get washed with a delicate wool wash on wool setting and fine.
Should I buy fabric conditioner? Would that ‘fix’ them? Or just wash normally again?
I don’t think they can be tumble dried

Acrylic goes crunchy if it's washed above 30 unless it says on the label.

Put fabric conditioner in and they'll come out nice and soft

@tenredthings

Acrylic goes crunchy if it's washed above 30 unless it says on the label.

This. Once acrylic has done this it won't revert, though it might be tolerable with a lot of fabric softener.

@tenredthings - oh does it? I have no idea how this have been washed in the past so could have been regularly. Can they be un- crunched? Will delicate wool wash with wool liquid help?

Hmm seems like it’s the acrylic mix. I
I usually only buy 100% cotton or wool cardigans so haven’t come across the issue yet.

Il def try another low temp wash with fabric conditioner of some sort to see if it helps.